CCAT Syllogisms and Deductions 5

Question 1

Some politicians are lawyers. All lawyers passed the bar exam. Which of the following is definitely true?

Accepted Answer

Some politicians passed the bar exam

Answer

The politicians who are also lawyers must have passed the bar exam, so some politicians passed it.

Question 2

If it rains, the ground gets wet. The ground is not wet. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

It did not rain

Answer

By contrapositive, if the ground is not wet, then it did not rain.

Question 3

All X are Y. All Y are Z. No Z are W. Therefore:

Accepted Answer

No X are W

Answer

X → Y → Z, and since no Z are W, no X can be W.

Question 4

Some birds cannot fly. All penguins are birds. Which conclusion is valid?

Accepted Answer

Penguins might or might not be able to fly

Answer

The premises do not specify whether penguins are among the birds that cannot fly, so we cannot determine their ability.

Question 5

Every employee who works overtime gets a bonus. James got a bonus. What can you conclude?

Accepted Answer

James may or may not have worked overtime

Answer

The conditional only guarantees a bonus for overtime workers; bonuses could also be given for other reasons.

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