CCTST Deductive Reasoning 4

Question 1

All birds have wings. Penguins are birds. Which statement must be true?

Accepted Answer

Penguins have wings

Answer

Universal syllogism: penguins belong to the class birds, so they inherit the property of having wings.

Question 2

If a shape has four equal sides and four right angles, it is a square. Shape Q has four equal sides but its angles are not all right angles. What follows?

Accepted Answer

Shape Q is not a square

Answer

Both conditions (equal sides AND right angles) are required; missing one is sufficient to conclude Shape Q is not a square.

Question 3

No valid argument has a false conclusion when its premises are true. Argument Z has true premises and a false conclusion. What follows?

Accepted Answer

Argument Z is not valid

Answer

The definition directly excludes Argument Z: true premises with a false conclusion = invalid.

Question 4

All lawyers passed the bar exam. Some bar exam passers work in tech. What must be true?

Accepted Answer

Nothing certain can be said about lawyers in tech

Answer

The 'some' who work in tech may or may not overlap with the lawyers subset; no conclusion is forced.

Question 5

If you are a citizen, you may vote. If you may vote, you can influence elections. Carlos is a citizen. What follows?

Accepted Answer

Carlos can influence elections

Answer

Chained modus ponens: citizen → may vote → can influence elections, and Carlos is a citizen.

(CCTST) California Critical Thinking Skills Test Practice Test

(CCTST) California Critical Thinking Skills Test Practice Test

CCTST Deductive Reasoning 4