Logical Deduction from Passages Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Logical Deduction from Passages flashcards as text
Passage: 'All board members voted in favor of the proposal. Helena is a board member.' What must be true? A) Helena proposed the motion. B) Helena voted in favor of the proposal. C) Helena is the board chair. D) The proposal passed unanimously.
Answer: Helena voted in favor of the proposal.
All board members voted in favor, and Helena is a board member, so she necessarily voted in favor.
Passage: 'The ferry only operates if wind speeds are below 25 mph. If the ferry does not operate, the island cannot receive supplies. Wind speeds today are 30 mph.' What is the consequence? A) The ferry will operate with caution. B) The island cannot receive supplies today. C) Wind speeds may drop by afternoon. D) The island will find an alternative supply route.
Answer: The island cannot receive supplies today.
30 mph exceeds 25 mph, so the ferry does not operate; without ferry operation, supplies cannot reach the island.
Passage: 'Most researchers who publish in peer-reviewed journals hold doctoral degrees. Dr. Osei holds a doctoral degree.' Which conclusion is valid? A) Dr. Osei publishes in peer-reviewed journals. B) Dr. Osei is likely a researcher. C) Dr. Osei may or may not publish in peer-reviewed journals. D) All doctoral holders publish in peer-reviewed journals.
Answer: Dr. Osei may or may not publish in peer-reviewed journals.
The passage states that publishers tend to have doctorates, not that all doctorate holders publish; no definite conclusion applies to Dr. Osei.
Passage: 'The conference accepts papers written in English or French. Submissions in any other language are automatically rejected. Dr. Nakamura submitted a paper in Japanese.' What happens to the submission? A) It is accepted if the content is strong. B) It is translated and then reviewed. C) It is automatically rejected. D) Dr. Nakamura is contacted for a resubmission.
Answer: It is automatically rejected.
Japanese is neither English nor French, so it falls under 'any other language' and is automatically rejected.
Passage: 'If interest rates rise, consumer spending falls. If consumer spending falls, GDP growth slows. The central bank just raised interest rates.' Which conclusion follows? A) GDP growth will increase. B) Consumer spending will rise. C) GDP growth will slow. D) Interest rates will fall next quarter.
Answer: GDP growth will slow.
Raised interest rates cause spending to fall, which in turn causes GDP growth to slow — a valid chain of hypothetical syllogisms.
Passage: 'A vehicle passes inspection only if both its brakes and its emissions are within legal limits. This car's brakes are within legal limits, but its emissions exceed the limit.' What is the outcome? A) The car passes inspection. B) The car fails inspection. C) The car passes on a provisional basis. D) Only the emissions need to be rechecked.
Answer: The car fails inspection.
Passing requires both brakes AND emissions within limits; failing one condition is enough to fail inspection.
Passage: 'Some medications cause drowsiness. All medications that cause drowsiness carry a warning label. Medication X does not carry a warning label.' What can be concluded about Medication X? A) Medication X causes drowsiness. B) Medication X does not cause drowsiness. C) Medication X is not a medication. D) Medication X may or may not cause drowsiness.
Answer: Medication X does not cause drowsiness.
All drowsiness-causing medications have warning labels; X has no warning label, so by contrapositive X does not cause drowsiness.