Logical and Deductive Reasoning Flashcards

Statements: 'All evidence must be logged. Some logged items are photographs.' Which conclusion is definitely true?

Answer: All logged items are evidence

All evidence must be logged, so every piece of evidence is among the logged items.

A sergeant assigns tasks so that: if Task A is assigned, Task B must also be assigned; if Task B is assigned, Task C must be assigned. Task C was NOT assigned. What can be concluded?

Answer: Neither Task A nor Task B was assigned

By contrapositive: no C means no B, and no B means no A — so neither A nor B was assigned.

Officers are assigned to precincts based on seniority: the most senior officer gets first choice. If Officer Kim has more seniority than Officer Lee, and Officer Lee has more seniority than Officer Park, who picks their precinct last among the three?

Answer: Park

Park has the least seniority among the three and therefore picks last.

A dispatcher notes: 'Units are only dispatched to a scene if there is a confirmed incident.' Unit 7 was dispatched. What must be true?

Answer: An incident was confirmed

Dispatch only occurs with a confirmed incident; since Unit 7 was dispatched, an incident was confirmed.

Four departments — W, X, Y, Z — must each present once. X presents before Z. Y presents after W but before X. Which order is correct?

Answer: W, Y, X, Z

Y is after W and before X, and X is before Z, giving the sequence W → Y → X → Z.

An agency rule states: 'No supervisor may approve their own expense report.' Director Reyes is a supervisor. Which action would violate this rule?

Answer: Reyes approving her own expense report

The rule specifically forbids supervisors from approving their own expense reports.

In a logical argument: 'If public buildings are overcrowded, evacuation time increases. Evacuation time has not increased.' What can be deduced?

Answer: Public buildings are not overcrowded

By contrapositive, if evacuation time has not increased, the buildings are not overcrowded.