ISAT Logical Deduction from Passages 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Passage: 'A witness testified that the suspect was either at the cafe or at the library between 6 and 7 PM. Security footage confirms the suspect was not at the library during that time.' What can be deduced? A) The suspect was at the cafe between 6 and 7 PM. B) The suspect was not at the cafe. C) The witness is unreliable. D) The suspect's location is unknown.
- The suspect was at the cafe between 6 and 7 PM. (Correct answer)
- The suspect was not at the cafe.
- The witness is unreliable.
- The suspect's location is unknown.
Correct answer: The suspect was at the cafe between 6 and 7 PM.
Given a true disjunction (cafe or library) and the elimination of library, the suspect must have been at the cafe.
Question 2: Passage: 'Applicants are accepted if and only if they meet both the GPA requirement and the recommendation requirement. Jordan met the GPA requirement but did not submit a recommendation.' What is Jordan's status? A) Accepted, because GPA was met. B) Not accepted. C) Conditionally accepted. D) Cannot be determined from the passage.
- Accepted, because GPA was met.
- Not accepted. (Correct answer)
- Conditionally accepted.
- Cannot be determined from the passage.
Correct answer: Not accepted.
The biconditional requires BOTH requirements; Jordan failed the recommendation requirement so is not accepted.
Question 3: Passage: 'No first-year student may register for graduate courses. Sam is registered for a graduate course.' What must be true? A) Sam is a first-year student. B) Sam is not a first-year student. C) Sam registered illegally. D) The registration system has an error.
- Sam is a first-year student.
- Sam is not a first-year student. (Correct answer)
- Sam registered illegally.
- The registration system has an error.
Correct answer: Sam is not a first-year student.
If first-year students cannot register for graduate courses, then anyone who is registered must not be a first-year student.
Question 4: Passage: 'The lab is open whenever the building is staffed. The building is staffed Monday through Friday. Today is Wednesday.' Which conclusion follows? A) The lab is open today. B) The lab may be closed for maintenance. C) The building is unstaffed today. D) The lab is open only on Wednesdays.
- The lab is open today. (Correct answer)
- The lab may be closed for maintenance.
- The building is unstaffed today.
- The lab is open only on Wednesdays.
Correct answer: The lab is open today.
Wednesday is within Monday–Friday, so the building is staffed, and whenever it is staffed the lab is open.
Question 5: Passage: 'Either the report was filed incorrectly or the database has a glitch. The database has been verified to have no glitches.' What follows? A) The report was filed incorrectly. B) The database still may have a glitch. C) The report was filed correctly. D) More investigation is needed.
- The report was filed incorrectly. (Correct answer)
- The database still may have a glitch.
- The report was filed correctly.
- More investigation is needed.
Correct answer: The report was filed incorrectly.
Eliminating the database glitch from the disjunction leaves only the option that the report was filed incorrectly.
Question 6: Passage: 'Renewable energy sources reduce carbon emissions. Solar and wind power are renewable energy sources.' Which of the following is logically supported? A) Solar and wind power reduce carbon emissions. B) Only solar and wind power reduce carbon emissions. C) All carbon emission reductions require renewable energy. D) Solar power is more effective than wind power.
- Solar and wind power reduce carbon emissions. (Correct answer)
- Only solar and wind power reduce carbon emissions.
- All carbon emission reductions require renewable energy.
- Solar power is more effective than wind power.
Correct answer: Solar and wind power reduce carbon emissions.
Since solar and wind are renewable sources, and renewables reduce emissions, both necessarily reduce emissions.
Question 7: Passage: 'If a patient is allergic to penicillin, the doctor prescribes amoxicillin only if no alternative exists. An alternative does exist for this patient.' What can be concluded about a patient who is allergic to penicillin? A) The doctor will prescribe amoxicillin. B) The doctor will not prescribe amoxicillin. C) The patient will be treated without medication. D) The doctor's decision is unrelated to the allergy.
- The doctor will prescribe amoxicillin.
- The doctor will not prescribe amoxicillin. (Correct answer)
- The patient will be treated without medication.
- The doctor's decision is unrelated to the allergy.
Correct answer: The doctor will not prescribe amoxicillin.
Amoxicillin is prescribed only if no alternative exists; since an alternative exists, amoxicillin will not be prescribed.
ISAT Logical Deduction from Passages 3
Passage: 'A witness testified that the suspect was either at the cafe or at the library between 6 and 7 PM.
Security footage confirms the suspect was not at the library during that time.' What can be deduced?
A) The suspect was at the cafe between 6 and 7 PM.
B) The suspect was not at the cafe.
C) The witness is unreliable.
D) The suspect's location is unknown.