PSEE Logical Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: All public servants must complete annual training. Marie is a public servant. Which conclusion is valid?
- Marie may complete annual training.
- Marie must complete annual training. (Correct answer)
- Marie completed training last year.
- Marie teaches the annual training.
Correct answer: Marie must complete annual training.
If all public servants must complete annual training and Marie is a public servant, she must complete it.
This is a categorical syllogism. Premise 1: All public servants must complete annual training. Premise 2: Marie is a public servant. Conclusion: Marie must complete annual training. The word 'must' in the premise makes 'may' incorrect — the obligation is definite.
Question 2: No classified documents may leave the building. The file marked 'Top Secret' is a classified document. What follows logically?
- The Top Secret file may be emailed externally.
- The Top Secret file must leave the building.
- The Top Secret file may not leave the building. (Correct answer)
- The Top Secret file can be declassified at the door.
Correct answer: The Top Secret file may not leave the building.
The universal rule 'no classified documents may leave' applies to the Top Secret file.
Universal negative + specific case = specific negative. No classified documents may leave. Top Secret file = classified document. Therefore: Top Secret file may not leave the building. This is a classic PSEE deductive reasoning pattern.
Question 3: If an employee works overtime, they receive a pay supplement. Jean did not receive a pay supplement. What can be concluded?
- Jean worked overtime.
- Jean did not work overtime. (Correct answer)
- Jean refused the supplement.
- Jean was absent that day.
Correct answer: Jean did not work overtime.
By contrapositive: if no supplement, then no overtime. Jean did not get a supplement, so Jean did not work overtime.
The statement 'If overtime then supplement' has contrapositive 'If no supplement then no overtime.' Jean did not receive a supplement, so Jean did not work overtime. This tests understanding of contrapositive logic, a key PSEE skill.
Question 4: A committee has 5 members: Ana, Ben, Carlos, Diana, and Eve. Ana and Ben cannot serve together. If Ana is on the committee, who is excluded?
- Carlos
- Diana
- Ben (Correct answer)
- Eve
Correct answer: Ben
Ana and Ben cannot serve together. If Ana is included, Ben must be excluded.
Constraint: Ana and Ben cannot both serve. Given Ana is on the committee, Ben must be excluded. This tests conditional exclusion logic common in PSEE logical reasoning.
Question 5: Some managers are certified trainers. All certified trainers attend the annual conference. Which statement must be true?
- All managers attend the annual conference.
- Some managers attend the annual conference. (Correct answer)
- No managers attend the annual conference.
- All trainers are managers.
Correct answer: Some managers attend the annual conference.
Some managers are certified trainers, and all certified trainers attend the conference, so some managers attend the conference.
Some managers are certified trainers (partial overlap). All certified trainers attend the conference (universal rule). Therefore, at least those managers who are certified trainers attend — i.e., some managers attend. 'All managers' is not guaranteed because not all managers are certified trainers.
Question 6: Four files — W, X, Y, Z — must be processed in order. Y must be processed before Z. X must be processed before Y. W must be processed last. What is the correct order?
- X, Y, Z, W (Correct answer)
- Y, X, Z, W
- Z, X, Y, W
- X, Z, Y, W
Correct answer: X, Y, Z, W
X before Y, Y before Z, W last: the order is X, Y, Z, W.
Constraints: X before Y, Y before Z, W is last (4th). This gives the chain X → Y → Z, with W at the end: X, Y, Z, W. Sequencing problems are frequently tested in PSEE logical reasoning sections.
PSEE Logical Reasoning 2
All public servants must complete annual training.
Marie is a public servant.
Which conclusion is valid?