Free GMA Syllogisms Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Statements: 1. All roses are flowers. 2. Some flowers fade quickly. Conclusion:
- All roses fade quickly.
- Some roses fade quickly.
- No conclusion can be drawn. (Correct answer)
- No roses fade quickly.
Correct answer: No conclusion can be drawn.
The middle term 'flowers' is not distributed in the first premise ('All roses are flowers'). We know some flowers fade quickly, but we don't know if those flowers include the roses. Therefore, no definite conclusion can be drawn about roses fading quickly.
Question 2: Statements: 1. No manager is a leader. 2. All leaders are charismatic. Conclusion:
- No manager is charismatic.
- All charismatic people are leaders.
- Some charismatic people are not managers. (Correct answer)
- Some managers are charismatic.
Correct answer: Some charismatic people are not managers.
From the premises, we can deduce the relationship between managers and charismatic people. Since all leaders are charismatic, but no manager is a leader, it logically follows that some charismatic people (the ones who are leaders) are not managers. This is the most certain conclusion.
Question 3: Statements: 1. All computers are machines. 2. All machines require energy. Conclusion:
- All computers require energy. (Correct answer)
- All machines are computers.
- Some computers do not require energy.
- No conclusion can be drawn.
Correct answer: All computers require energy.
This is a classic transitive syllogism. If the set of 'computers' is entirely within the set of 'machines', and the set of 'machines' is entirely within the set of 'things that require energy', then the set of 'computers' must also be entirely within the set of 'things that require energy'.
Question 4: Statements: 1. Some artists are painters. 2. All painters are creative. Conclusion:
- All artists are creative.
- Some artists are creative. (Correct answer)
- No artists are creative.
- Some painters are not artists.
Correct answer: Some artists are creative.
We know that there is an overlap between 'artists' and 'painters'. Since every single painter is creative, the artists who are in that overlapping group (the painters) must also be creative. Therefore, we can conclude that at least 'some' artists are creative.
Question 5: Statements: 1. No dogs are cats. 2. No cats are birds. Conclusion:
- No dogs are birds.
- Some dogs are birds.
- All dogs are birds.
- No conclusion can be drawn. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No conclusion can be drawn.
Both premises are negative statements ('No...'). When you have two negative premises, you cannot draw a valid logical conclusion about the relationship between the end terms (dogs and birds). Dogs are not cats, and birds are not cats, but this tells us nothing about whether dogs are or are not birds.
Question 6: Statements: 1. All squares are rectangles. 2. Some rectangles are green. Conclusion:
- All squares are green.
- Some squares are green.
- No squares are green.
- No conclusion can be drawn. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No conclusion can be drawn.
This is similar to the first question. We know all squares belong to the larger group of rectangles. We also know that a portion of the rectangle group is green. However, we do not know if the 'square' subgroup overlaps with the 'green' subgroup, so no valid conclusion can be made.
Free GMA Syllogisms Questions and Answers 1
Statements: 1.
All roses are flowers. 2.
Some flowers fade quickly.
Conclusion: