Basic Ability Test Basic Ability Logical Deduction and Syllogisms 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If it rains, the ground gets wet. The ground is wet. What can you conclude?
- It rained
- It did not rain
- Nothing definite about rain (Correct answer)
- The ground is always wet
Correct answer: Nothing definite about rain
Affirming the consequent is a fallacy; the wet ground could have another cause.
Question 2: All pilots have flight licenses. No amateurs have flight licenses. Which is valid?
- All amateurs are pilots
- No pilots are amateurs (Correct answer)
- Some amateurs are pilots
- All pilots are amateurs
Correct answer: No pilots are amateurs
Since all pilots have licenses and no amateurs have licenses, the two groups cannot overlap.
Question 3: Some books are bestsellers. Some bestsellers are fiction. What must be true?
- Some books are fiction
- All books are bestsellers
- Some books are bestsellers that are fiction
- Nothing definite about books and fiction (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Nothing definite about books and fiction
The overlapping sets of books/bestsellers and bestsellers/fiction may or may not intersect at all three.
Question 4: Either the report is late or the manager approved an extension. The report is not late. What follows?
- The manager did not approve an extension
- The manager approved an extension (Correct answer)
- The report is late
- Nothing can be concluded
Correct answer: The manager approved an extension
In a valid disjunction, if one option is false the other must be true.
Question 5: All engineers know math. Sam does not know math. What follows?
- Sam is an engineer
- Sam is not an engineer (Correct answer)
- Some engineers don't know math
- Math is only for engineers
Correct answer: Sam is not an engineer
By contrapositive, if Sam doesn't know math, Sam cannot be an engineer.
Question 6: Most employees prefer remote work. Carlos is an employee. What is the most logical conclusion?
- Carlos definitely prefers remote work
- Carlos definitely prefers office work
- Carlos probably prefers remote work (Correct answer)
- Nothing can be said about Carlos
Correct answer: Carlos probably prefers remote work
Since most employees prefer remote work, it is more probable than not that Carlos does too.
Question 7: All valid arguments have true premises. Argument Y is not valid. Which is certain?
- Argument Y has false premises
- Argument Y may still have true premises (Correct answer)
- Argument Y has no premises
- All invalid arguments have false conclusions
Correct answer: Argument Y may still have true premises
An argument can be invalid for structural reasons even when its premises are true.
Basic Ability Test Basic Ability Logical Deduction and Syllogisms 3
If it rains, the ground gets wet.
The ground is wet.
What can you conclude?