Basic Ability Test Basic Ability Logical Deduction and Syllogisms 5

Question 1

All mammals breathe air. Dolphins breathe air. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

Dolphins may or may not be mammals

Answer

Breathing air is necessary for mammals but not exclusive to them, so dolphins' status cannot be determined from this alone.

Question 2

Some doctors are researchers. Some researchers publish papers. What must be true?

Accepted Answer

Nothing certain about doctors and papers

Answer

Two partial overlaps do not guarantee a third overlap between the first and last category.

Question 3

If the switch is off, the light is off. The light is on. What follows?

Accepted Answer

The switch is on

Answer

By contrapositive, if the light is on (not off), the switch must be on (not off).

Question 4

All novels are books. Some books are rare. Which conclusion must hold?

Accepted Answer

Nothing definite about novels and rarity

Answer

The rare books may be entirely outside the set of novels, so nothing definite can be concluded.

Question 5

Every prime number greater than 2 is odd. 17 is a prime number greater than 2. What follows?

Accepted Answer

17 is odd

Answer

17 satisfies the condition, so by modus ponens it must be odd.

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