FREE Wonderlic Syllogisms and Deductive Reasoning Questions and Answers

Question 1

All chefs are good cooks. Maria is a good cook. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

Nothing can be concluded about whether Maria is a chef.

Answer

The first statement says that being a chef guarantees you are a good cook, but it does not say that all good cooks are chefs. Maria is a good cook, but she may or may not be a chef. Therefore, no conclusion can be drawn about her profession.

Question 2

No birds are mammals. All bats are mammals. Therefore...

Accepted Answer

No bats are birds.

Answer

This is a valid deductive argument. If no birds belong to the group 'mammals', and all bats do belong to the group 'mammals', then the two groups (birds and bats) must be mutually exclusive. Therefore, no bats can be birds.

Question 3

All squares are rectangles. All rectangles have four sides. Therefore...

Accepted Answer

All squares have four sides.

Answer

This is a transitive relationship. If group A (squares) is a subset of group B (rectangles), and group B is a subset of group C (things with four sides), then group A must also be a subset of group C. Thus, all squares have four sides.

Question 4

If it is raining, the ground is wet. The ground is not wet. Therefore...

Accepted Answer

It is not raining.

Answer

This is a logical form known as 'modus tollens'. The first premise establishes a condition (If P, then Q). The second premise denies the consequence (not Q). The valid conclusion is to deny the antecedent (not P). If the ground isn't wet, it cannot be raining.

Question 5

All employees received a bonus. John is an employee. What can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

John received a bonus.

Answer

This is a direct application of the first premise. Since all employees received a bonus and John is an employee, it logically follows that John must have received a bonus. This is a form of reasoning called 'modus ponens'.

Wonderlic Practice Test

Wonderlic Practice Test

FREE Wonderlic Syllogisms and Deductive Reasoning Questions and Answers