LOGICAL REASONING

SYLLOGISMS
GATE ACADEMY
THALAYOLAPARAMBU

INTRODUCTION
LOGIC IS A MATTER OF PROFOUND HUMAN
IMPORTANCE, PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS
EMPIRICALLY FOUNDED AND EXPERIMENTALLY
APPLIED - John Dewey
In most of the competitive examinations like POs,
Management Trainees and Administrative Officers,
a test in logical reasoning has become an integral
part of the written test.
A majority of the candidates appearing for such
exams are bewildered to see the problems of
logical reasoning.
Because they appear to them not only silly but
totally alien to this world also.
This is more common in case of candidates who
never had an opportunity to study logic at any
stage in their academic career.

 Contd.
The questions based on logical reasoning have
a definite pattern.
You can solve all of them accurately if you have
identified each type and mastered the technique
to solve them.
You need to develop correct interpretation of
questions and the art of reasoning to solve all
types.
You need to know English language reasonably
well for the correct interpretation of key words
in the questions.
Understanding the literal meaning and the
contextual meaning is very important.
The examiners want to test your ability to draw
correct inferences and conclusions by making
you solve these questions.

DEFINITION
Logic is defined as the science of valid reasoning.
It is a science which deals with the canons and
criteria of validity of inferences and
demonstrations.
Reasoning is a special kind of directed, problem
solving type of thinking.
The questions are solved by relating this together.
Any and every kind of thinking is not reasoning.
The word logic comes from the Greek root Logus
which means expression of thought in language.
So, the logic is the science of thoughts expressed
in language.
Perception, conception and judgment are the three
stages of general reasoning.

IN LOGICAL REASONING PORTION OF TEST OF

REASONING THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF
PROBLEMS
1. PROBLEMS ON COMMON SENSE &
MISCELLANEOUS REASONING SUCH AS: CODING/DECODING
ANALOGIES
CLASSIFICATION
SERIES ETC.

2. Probabilistic reasoning
3. Strict logical reasoning
4. Contextual Reasoning

SYLLOGISMS
SYLLOGISM OR THE MEDIATE ARGUMENT IS A
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENT CONTAINING TWO PREMISES
ON THE BASIS OF WHICH THE INFERENCE/CONCLUSION
IS TO BE DRAWN.
The meaning of the word SYLLOGISM is to reason.

Syllogism, which is introduced by Aristotle, is a

form of deductive logical argument that derives a
conclusion from two propositions (premises)
sharing a common term.
Or A SYLLOGISM is composed of propositions which in
turn are composed of terms.
Premise is a statement used in an argument that purport
to provide evidence.
Or give a reason for the acceptance of another statement
called a conclusion.

A SYLLOGISM HAS NUMERICALLY SIX

TERMS
BUT IN FACT, THERE ARE THREE TERMS, EACH
OCCURING TWICE.
The premises (or statements) are selected from
four basic types of statements:
i. The universal affirmative statement: All A are B
(Symbolized by A)
ii. The universal negative statement: No A is B
(Symbolized by E)
iii. The particular affirmative statement: Some A are B
(Symbolized by I)
iii. The particular negative statement: Some A are not B
(Symbolized by O)

SYLLOGISMS..
The types of statements that occur in any particular
syllogism specify its mood

Eg., Some of the students are punctual.

None of the students are regular.
Therefore, some of the regulars are not punctual.
It is a syllogism in IEO mood.
Since each of the three syllogisms can be A,E,I, or O, there
are 64 possible moods.
The conclusion is generally analyzed in to Subject and
Predicate (S- P) and these terms must be related by a
middle term M which occurs in both the premises.

Eg. Man is mortal. Man is subject & mortal is predicate which are
joined by is, a copula.
Eg. Let him attain glory. She looks cheerful. lacks copula and hence,
not propositions.
In propositions relationship of predicate with subject is affirmed or
denied.

The traditional analysis recognizes that the order of the

two premises is logically immaterial.

SOME BASIC CONCEPTS

In competitive examinations, you are not expected to have
undergone a special study of the subject of logic but as
you are seeking entry at a higher level in the organization,
the employers expect you to have a well-ordered and
coherent mental frame and therefore even without a
special study of the subject of logic, you should be in a
position to sail through.
We are also attempting to simplify the subject so that any
graduate majoring in any subject will be in a position to
grapple with the problems in the examinations.
All the same, if we acquaint you with a few fundamental
concepts in logic, it will enable you to understand and
digest the discussions that follow in the next slides on
actual problems
The fundamental concepts of logic are the various terms
Unless, therefore, we understand what is a term and what
is the distribution of a term it will be difficult to follow
some of the explanations which are offered in the later part
of the presentation.

Concepts

First, let us understand the word concept.

There are three stages of general reasoning i.e. perception, conception and
judgment.
When a child starts on the learning process, in the initial years, concepts are
acquired by familiarization.
The child sees a barking dog and the parents point out the dog to the child
very often and having seen the dog intermittently on a number of occasions,
moving in a number of different positions, after a lapse of time, the child starts
identifying the dog.
As months and years roll by, the process of identification leads to a process of
imagery.
Now the child is so fully familiar and so much habituated to seeing and
identifying the dog that if in mere conversation, the word dog is mentioned,
the child starts conjuring up before its minds eye a picture or an image of a
dog.
Now the child has passed from the process of identification to the process of
imagery.
The word dog is no longer a physical presence for the child but that word
dog has now acquired what we can call a mental content forming an image
of the dog.
Thus, when a word acquires a mental content, it elevates itself to the position
of a concept. Concept then is a general notion or idea or thought.
Triangle, animal, motion, space, laser, Star Wars, and perestroika are
not mere words but are concepts only if you mentally understand what they
mean.

Terms

Let us now understand what constitutes a term.

A concept expressed in language constitutes a term.
The word term is derived from the Latin word terminus which means
a boundary.
A term can be a single word or can be a group of words.
e.g. men
eleven men
eleven thousand men
eleven thousand red-shirted men
eleven thousand red-shirted brave-hearted men
all the above are terms.
A term is either the subject or the predicate of a logical proposition.
However, though all terms are words, all words cannot be terms.
e.g. verbs, prepositions, articles in the English language cannot be
called terms.
We have to also bear in mind the quantity of terms.
In logic, the terms can be distinguished only in different quantities - i.e.
the particular and the universal.
This quantity characteristic is passed on by these terms to the
sentences and propositions of which they are a part.

Universal terms

Men, women, farmers, elephants, teachers, shopkeepers, tables,

chairs, etc. etc. are all universal terms in as much as by the term men,
we imply all men; by the term women, we imply all women; by term
farmers, we imply all farmers; by the term elephants, we imply all
elephants; by the term teachers, we imply all teachers; by the term
shopkeepers, we imply all shopkeepers; by the term tables, we
imply all tables; by the term chairs, we imply all chairs; etc.
In other words, when there is no adjective, no concept or no quantifier
to qualify a term, such a term maintains its universal quantity and in
turn, it lends this quantity to the proposition or sentence in which it is
used.

Particular terms

Terms which are not universal are all particular terms. e.g. some men.
99.5% women, one lakh farmers, numerous elephants, all but one
teachers, generally every shopkeeper, a few tables, many chairs
all the above are particular terms.
A simple way to recognize a universal term is to apply the test whether
the term denotes all of the items, each and everyone of its class
without exception.
Even if this smallest fraction of that class - men, farmers, elephants,
etc., is missing, the term is rendered a particular term.

The Syllogism

The term syllogism comes from the Greek language and means to say together,
hence giving the sense of putting two thoughts or two proposition together in order to
draw a logical conclusion from them. Here is a valid syllogism :1. All imported cars are small.
2. All sports cars are imported cars.
3. All sports cars are small.
The following however is an invalid syllogism:
1. All artists are sensitive people.
2. All artists are poor.
3. All sensitive people are poor.
From the above examples of syllogism,-you can further see that every valid syllogism
has a key term that appears in both premises and links these together.
This connecting term is normally called the middle term of the syllogism. In the
first example of valid syllogism, the middle term imported cars provides
connecting link between sports cars and small.
The second example has a middle term artist which occurs in each premise.
However the argument fails to be valid because the premise while indicating classes
(artists fall into the class of sensitive people and poor people) - does not inform us of
any relationship between these classes.
The rule of syllogism is that whatever is true of a class of things must be true of an,
sub-division of that class. For example, Anything true of all horses must be true of
stallions. If something, is true of all Asians, it must be true of Indians, Pakistanis,
Chinese, Sri Lankans etc. Likewise, if you den something of a class, we must also
deny it of any of its constituents or sub-divisions. If we say that no Asia deals with
Australians, it will follow that no Indian deals with Australians.

Structure of a syllogism
It is interesting to study the structure of a syllogism. Let us take an example
Man is mortal.
1
2
Ganesh is a man.

3
Ganesh is mortal.

1
3

2
As shown above, there are numerically six terms in the above syllogism, but
actually there are three terms, each occurring twice.
As in a syllogism, subject of the conclusion must occur in one of the first two
premises. The predicate must also occur in one of the premises and the
middle term, i.e. the third term must appear in both the premises as shown
below
1. All men are mortal
(middle term) (major term)
2. Ganesh is a man
(minor term) (middle term)
3. Ganesh is mortal
(minor term) (major term)
As shown above, the middle term does not occur in the conclusion, while it is
a term linking both the premises.

QUESTIONS ON SYLLOGISMS CAN BE SOLVED BY

ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING THREE METHODS

1). Venn Diagrams

2). Rules of SYLLOGISMS
3). Euler Diagrams
The answer for the same question varies,
depending on the method used.
Venn Diagram method is one of the method to
solve these types of questions.
It is to draw diagrams for all probable situations
and then reach out for a fool-proof answer.
Here we will discuss the Venn Diagram method in
detail.

Venn Diagrams

Most of the relationships between sets can be represented by means

of Ven Diagrams.
Ven Diagram is named after the English Logician, John Venn (18341883).
These diagrams consists of rectangles and closed curves, usually
Circles.
The universal set is represented usually by rectangles and its sub
sects by circles.
In Ven diagrams, the elements of the sets are written in their
respective circles.

Eg.
4 2

3
9
1

6
10 8

In the figure U = {1,2,3,4.10}

ie., it is a universal set of
figures 1,2,310 of which
A= {2,4,.6,8,10} is a Sub sect

Illustration - 2
Eg.

8
1

3
4

10

2
9

Universal set is usually

denoted by U and sub
sects A,B,C etc.
Symbol C stands
for is a sub set of
or it contained in

In the figure U = {1,2,3,4.10}

is a universal set of figures of which
A= {2,4,.6,8,10}
And B = {4,6} are Sub sects
And also B C A

Symbols
Implies
Iff If and only if
= Element
A C B if A A

A B

Will be read as A is a sub sect of B if a is an element of A

implies that A is also an element of B
Consider the sets A and B
B - set of all students in the Institute
A - set of all students in the class
Every element of A is also an element in B
A is a sub sect of B is expressed by symbol: A C B

All universal terms are shown as a set. A set is a diagram encircling

the term. Universal terms such as men, women, farmers, Elephants,
Teachers, Chairs, Tables, Shopkeepers etc. will be shown as follows .
The circumference of these
circles indicates that all of that
class are within the
circumference
e.g. say in the set of teachers
which is shown by a circle, all
the teachers in this world are
included.
Not a single teacher is outside
the circumference because the
term has a universal quantity.
So also with the other
universal terms shown above.
Here again you can recall the
Latin origin of the word term i.e.
terminus which means a
boundary. In a universal term,
there is nothing of that term
beyond that boundary.

Illustration - 3
In a class containing 150 students, 85 students passed in
Maths, 95 passed in English, 120 passed in Hindi and 65
passed in Maths and English. 60 students passed in Hindi
and Maths, 70 passed in Hindi and English and 50 passed
in all these subjects.
i) How many students have passed for only Hindi?
(a) 10 (b) 20 (c) 30 (d) 40 (e) 50
ii) How many students have passed for only Maths?
(a) 20 (b) 10 (c) 18 (d) 15 (e) 30
iii) How many students have passed for English and Hindi
and failed for Maths?
(a) 20 (b) 30 (c) 10 (d) 25 (e) 40
iv) iii) How many students have passed for English and
Maths and failed for Hindi?
(a) 45 (b) 35 (c) 25 (d) 15 (e) 30

We can easily find out the answer with

the help of a Ven Diagram
Total Students = 150

Ans. Qn.(i) d 40

Qn.(ii) b 10

Qn.(iii) a 20

Qn.(iv) d 15

Study the following diagram carefully and identify

the people who can speak only one language.

(a) D,B,G (b) A,E,G (c) ABCDEFG (d) BCDF (e) BCD
Ans. (b) A,E,G

In a group of 100 people, 30% read The Hindu, 60% read

Times of India and 10% read both The Hindu, and Times of
India. How many people read only one news paper?

(a) 50 (b) 70 (c) 80(d) 90 (e) 100

Solution: Total =100 people
20% + 50% = 70% ie., 70 people

Ans. (b) 70

Directions (Q. 26-30): The following questions are

based on the diagram given below:
The circle represents a group of
Teachers, the rectangle
represents a group of Engineers
and the triangle represents a
group of Accountants.

26. How many Teachers are neither Accountant nor Engineer?

1)20 2)32 3)22 433 5) None of these
27. How many Engineers are Accountants?
1)32 2)14 3)26 4)16 5) None of these
28. How many Accountants are both Engineers and Teachers?
1)29 V 2)20 3)11 4)18 5) None of these
29. How many Engineers are neither Teachers nor accountants?
1)18 2>16 3)11 4)13 5) None of these
30. VHV many Teachers are Engineers?
1)22 2)4 3)18 4)29 5) None of these

Answer key

Qn.26. Ans.(3)
Explanation: 10 + 12 = 22
Qn. 27.Ans.(1);
Explanation: 18+6+8=32
Qn. 28. Ans.(4);
Explanation: Encroaching all 3; 18 only
Qn.29. Ans.(1)
Explanation: 7+9+2=18
Qn. 30. Ans.(1)
Explanation : 3 + I + 18 = 22

Distribution of terms
Distribution is a technical word here, but it has a
very simple meaning.
Whether a term is fully distributed or not will
depend upon the quantity of the term and the way
in which it is related to the other term.
Let us take a proposition: All men are mortal.
The above proposition contains two terms : (i) men
and (ii) mortal. The term men is the subject and
the term mortal is the predicate.
Now, the proposition All men are mortal fully
distributes the subject term men.
It means that there is not a single men who is not
mortal.
But it does not fully distribute the predicate term
mortal.
In other words, all men are mortal would not mean
all mortal things are men.
There are other mortal things also.
Thus, of the two terms men and mortal, mortal is
a larger term and men is a smaller term.
All men are mortal will therefore be shown in a
Venn diagram with a smaller circle of men in a
larger circle of mortal things as follows.

S- men
P- mortal
( The subject term
is abbreviated as
S and the
predicate term is
abbreviated as P).

Let us take another example;

Some men are mortal.

Here also, there are two terms, men and mortal.

Men is the subject term and mortal is the predicate.
But neither of them is fully consumed, fully utilized
or fully denoted.
Therefore, both of them will be with two
overlapping circles forming a set as follows:
In this example, it is the shaded part which
indicates the men who are mortal. We do not know
about the rest of the men or rest of the mortal
things. In this example, neither of the two terms are
distributed
The meaning of every term has two aspects, (i)
what is connotes and (ii) what it denotes. For e.g.,
in the above example, the term men denotes all
human beings and it connotes animality.
If the items in its complete denotation, which
means it refers to all of its class without exception;
the term is distributed.

S- men
P- mortal
( The subject term
is abbreviated as
S and the
predicate term is
abbreviated as P).

Inductive Reasoning

Suppose a friend of yours, say Anju, takes a trip to Hyderabad. She stays there
for one month. During her stay, on the first Monday, she visits a hotel and finds
that the food served there is very spicy.
On Tuesday, she visits another hotel in a different area and finds the food very
spicy. On Wednesday, she goes to a third hotel in a different locality and here
too she finds that the food is very spicy.
With these exposures to the food in Hyderabad for three days in three different
localities, Anju can conclude that all Andhraites like very spicy food. An
argument in this form is called an inductive argument.
It moves from specific individual facts to a general conclusion. It is not that Anju has
visited every hotel and home in Andhra Pradesh. She does not say that all the hotels
she has visited serve very spicy food but she says that all Andhraites like very spicy
food, i.e., Anju now believes that the next hotel she visits and that every hotel she will
visit in Andhra will definitely serve only spicy food.
Inductive argument differs from the deductive argument; in that in the inductive
argument, the conclusion goes beyond what is stated in the premises.
For this reason with inductive arguments we do not have a guarantee that their
conclusions are absolutely true when their premises are true.
On the other hand, in deductive argument, if the premises are true, the
conclusions based on those premises will also be true.
This is how, while the truth of the premises of an inductive argument provides
support for and good reason to believe the conclusion; it does not actually
testify the truth of the conclusion.
A majority of the general propositions expressing scientific laws and general truths
about the world and inductive Generalizations are based on experience.

Deductive Reasoning
Speaking simply, a proposition means in logic, one puts ones
thoughts into sentences in some language and some of these
sentences make propositions.
Consider the example of oranges, citrus fruit and vitamin C.
1. All oranges are citrus fruit
2. All citrus fruit contains vitamin C.
3. All oranges contain vitamin C.
Each of these propositions declare something to be categorically
true.
We call the above three propositions categorical propositions;
You can also see that each categorical proposition refers to two
classes of things and the parts of the categorical proposition that
refer to these classes are called the terms of the proposition.
So in the above first proposition, the term orange is part of that
proposition referring to the class of things called oranges.
Likewise, the term citrus fruit in lines 1 and 2 refers to the uses of
fruits called citrus fruit.
It all boils down to this : our world contains objects that can be
classified in various ways according to their colours, shapes or
whatever.

Propositions
People think about these objects and classifications.
Statements of and arguments about classifications are said
to express propositions about such classifications.
A categorical proposition has two terms and expresses a
relationship between the classes referred to by these two
terms.
Consider the above three propositions again. Let us take a
set of things containing vitamin C. The above sentences
tell us that citrus fruit is among the things containing
vitamin C.
Of course, there are other things that contain vitamin C
such as potatoes.
We are also told that all oranges belong to the class of
citrus fruit.
It therefore follows that oranges contain vitamin C.
You can now see the structure of this argument if you
consider an arrangement of circles in which each circle
represents a class of things mentioned in the argument.

Deductive Argument
An argument like the one we found is called a deductive
argument.
We deduce something, a conclusion, from some other fact or facts.

Then, what this argument says is since citrus fruit contain

vitamin C and all oranges are citrus fruit, it follows that all
oranges contain vitamin C.
Deductive reasoning of this sort are common as are the
classification upon which they are based.
Eg., A description of effective writing:
All good writing aims at communicating effectively. Since,
effective communication requires clarity, good writing is clear
writing.
The conclusion is stated at the end of the second sentence.
The word since in the 2nd sentence cues a premise and the first
sentence states another premise.
The passage therefore, provides the following deduction
argument.
1. All good writing is writing that effectively communicates.
2. All writing that effectively communicates is clear writing.
3. Therefore, all good writing is clear writing.

Logical Venn Diagrams

In these tests the relationship is to be established between two or

more items represented by diagrams.
The items represented by diagrams may be individuals, a particular
group /class of people (items) etc.
If you are given a group of three items:-

1. If the items evidently belong to three different

groups, the Ven diagram is as follows: Eg., Doctor, Engineer, Architect

A: Doctors
B: Engineers
C: Architects

These three items bear no

Relationship to each other
So they are represented by
disjoint figures

2. If one item belongs to the class of second and second

belongs to the class of third, the representation in the form of
three concentric circles is as follows

Eg., Days, weeks, months

A- Days
B- Weeks
C- Months
Here days are part of the week
and weeks are part of the month.
So the circles are represented by
Encroaching the figures

3. If two separate item belongs to the class of third, they are

represented by two disjoint circles inside a bigger circle as
follows

Eg. Table, chair, furniture

A- Table
B- Chair
C- Furniture
Here table and chair are two
separate items but both are items
of furniture. So they are
represented as in the figures
shown here.

4.If two item belongs to the class of third such that some
items each of these groups have a common relationship, then
they are represented by two intersecting circles inside a
bigger circle as follows

Eg. Men, Fathers, Brothers

A- Father
B- Brother
C- Men
Here Father and Brother are
two separate items but both
are items of Men. Though not
all, some Fathers may be
brothers also. So they are
represented as in the figures
shown here.

5. Three intersecting circles represent two items that are

partly related to the third and independent of each other

Eg. Dog, pets, Cats

A- Dog
B-Cats
C- Pets

Here some Dog and Cats may

be pets but all are not pets.
So they are represented as in
the figures shown here.

6.Three partly related items are

represented as follows
Eg. Boys, Students, Athletes
A- Boys
B-Students
C-Athletes

Here Boys and Students and

Athletes are partly related. So
they are represented as in the
figures shown here.

7. If one item belongs to the class of second, while the item is

entirely different from the two, they are represented as
follows

Eg., Sparrows, Birds, Mice

A- Sparrows
B- Birds
C- Mice
Here Sparrows are part of the Bird
But Mice not part of both
Sparrows and Birds. So the
circles are represented as shown
here

8. If one item belongs to the class of second and the

third item is partly related to these two, they are
represented as follows.

Eg., Men, Nephews, Cousins

A- Nephews
B- Men
C- Cousins
Here Nephews and Cousins
are partly related and belongs to
Men

Short cut method for positive

conclusions
Method of minimum cutting or encroachment.
The method says that we try not to cut or
encroach some other circle as far as possible.
Cutting is not only physical cutting but
encroaching upon the space also.

Eg., The diagram 1 above is a bigger cutting

than 2.

EXAMPLE

If the statements are:1. Some cats are dogs.

2. Some dogs are elephants.
We cannot avoid cutting /encroaching cats and
dogs circles. We cannot avoid cutting
/encroaching dogs and elephants circles also.
But we can avoid cutting cats and elephants or
encroaching the space of cats by elephants.
Thus the diagram obtained by the Method of
minimum cutting is;
C D E
C cats, D- dogs, E - elephants

Other possible diagrams are given below

C

D
E

But in order to decide on positive conclusions, we need not

have to draw the above diagrams.
Thus we can draw just one diagram obtained by the
Method of minimum cutting/encroachment
If the conclusion follows in that particular diagram, then it
follows in all other probable diagrams. Just say Follows.
We need not check it up.

If it does not follow in the diagram obtained, then

our conclusion should be: does not follow.
Even if it does not follow in one, our conclusion
should be: does not follow.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE !

THIS METHOD IS TO BE APPLIED ONLY FOR POSITIVE
CONCLUSIONS. SINCE MAJORITY OF THE CONCLUSIONS
GIVEN WILL BE POSITIVE CONCLUSIONS, MAJORITY OF THE
CONCLUSIONS CAN BE DRAWN FROM DRAWING ONLY ONE
DIAGRAM

NEGATIVE CONCLUSIONS
WHENEVER WE COME ACROSS NEGATIVE
CONCLUSIONS, SEE WHETHER THE CONCLUSIONS
FOLLOWS IN THE DIAGRAM DRAWN.
IF IT DOES NOT FOLLOW, SAY IT does not follow AND

PROCEED TO THE NEXT CONCLUSION.

IF IT FOLLOWS, DO NOT DECIDE THE ANSWER AS FOLLOWS.
Draw the other probable diagram. IF IT FOLLOWS Draw the next
probable diagram till all probable diagrams are exhausted.
IF IT FOLLOWS, in all the diagrams then only the ANSWER is
FOLLOWS.

Otherwise at whatever stage you get a diagram

where it does not follow you say does not
follow and proceed to the next conclusion.
Arrive at a fool proof answer in case of negative
conclusions.

Answer either

When we have to say either 1 or 2

follows, it means, when 1 follows, 2 does
not follow.
At the same time when 2 follows, 1 does not
follow.
It is represented as:1. : \/
x
2. : x
\/
This entire combination is called either 1 or 2
follows

When to look for the possibility of

the answer either ?
There is a possibility when there are two
contradictory conclusions.
Eg.i) Conclusion 1 : Pintu is cat.
Conclusion 2 : Pintu is not cat.
Another example
ii) Conclusion 1 : Some cats are dogs.
Conclusion 2 : No cat is dog.

Example to illustrate answer either

Statement 1 : Some cats are dogs.
Statement 2 : Pintu is cat.
Conclusion 1 : Pintu is dog.
Conclusion 2 : Pintu is not dog.
Cats

Since Pintu is dog and Pintu is not dog are contradictory conclusions, we
should look for possibility of answer either. As shown in the diagram
Pintu can be either at position 1 or at Position 2.

Conclusion Considering

Considering

Pintu at position 1 Pintu at position 2

Pintu is dog

Does not follow (x)

Outside the dog
circle

Follows ( \/ )

Pintu is not dog

Follows ( \/ )
(Outside the dog

Does not follow (x)

circle)

Another Example to illustrate answer either

Statement (a) : Some papers are pens.
Statement (b) : Some pencils are pens.
Conclusion 1 : Some pens are pencils.
Conclusion 2 : Some pens are papers.

Conclusion

Considering Pens at position 1

Considering Pens at position 2

Some pens are pencils

Does not follow (x) Outside the

pencil circle

Follows ( \/ )

Some pens are

papers.

Follows ( \/ )

Does not follow (x)

Points to remember for solving

syllogism questions.
i.
ii.

Check conclusions irrespective of the nature of statements.

If one of the conclusions is negative, draw one diagram of
minimum cutting and one diagram of maximum
encroachment. Sometimes we may have to draw all possible
diagrams.
iii. Check the conclusions for a possibility of either or answer
options.
iv. Sometimes either or answer option is possible but in a
question, the right answer is none of these.
v.
A positive conclusion follows when it follows in minimum and
maximum encroachment diagrams.
vi. If a negative conclusion follows in minimum encroachment
check if it follows in other diagrams also. If it follows in other
diagrams also, declare it as follows.
vii. If a negative conclusion does not follow in one diagram (eg.,
minimum encroachment) even if it follows in maximum
encroachment we can safely declare it does not follow.

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-1

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three

statements, followed by four conclusions numbered (I),(II),
(III) & (IV). You have to take the given statements to be
true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly
known facts and then decide which of the given
conclusions logically follow(s) from the given statements,
dis-regarding commonly known facts.
Statement (i) : All sunnys are trains.
Statement (ii) : All trains are poles.
Statement (iii) : No pole is bike.
Conclusion 1 : Some poles are cars.
Conclusion 2 : No bike is sunny.
Conclusion 3 : Some trains are sunnys.
Conclusion 4 : Some bikes are poles.
(1) Only (ii) and (iii) follow
(2) Only (IV) follows
(3) Only (i), (ii) and (iii) follow (4) All follow
(5) None of these

Ven diagram Drawn will be as follows

Statements
(I) : All Sunnys are Trains.
(ii) : All Trains are Poles.
(iii) : No Pole is Bike.
S Sunnys
T - Trains
P Poles
B - Bikes

Now compare the Conclusions with the

diagram
1 : Some poles are cars does not follow
2 : No bike is sunny.. follows
3 : Some trains are sunnys..follows
4 : Some bikes are poles. does not follow
Answer choices are:

(1) Only (ii) and (iii) follow

(2) Only (iv) follows
(3) Only (i), (ii) and (iii) follow (4) All follow
(5) None of these

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-2

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three statements,

followed by four conclusions numbered (I),(II), (III) & (IV). You have to
take the given statements to be true, even if they seem to be at
variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the
given conclusions logically follow(s) from the given statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

Statement (i) : All towns are villages.

Statement (ii) : some villages are cities.

Statement (iii) : No city is state.

Conclusion 1 : Some cities are towns.
Conclusion 2 : Some villages are state.
Conclusion 3 :No city is town.
Conclusion 4 : Some villages are not cities.
Mark Answer: (1) Only (i), (iii) and (IV) follow
(2) Only (ii) follows

(3) Only (i), and (IV) follow

(4) All follow

(5) None of these

Ans. (5) None of these

Statements
(i) : All towns are villages.
(ii) : some villages are cities.
(iii): No city is state.
Thus the diagram obtained by the
Method of minimum cutting is;

T Towns
V - Villages
C Cities
S - States
or

TVC
Conclusion 1 : Some cities are towns.,,,,,Doesn't follow.
Conclusion 2 : Some villages are state Doesn't follow.
Conclusion 3 :No city is town. . Follows
Conclusion 4 : Some villages are not cities. Follows

Such an answer is not there in the options; So try other alternatives

also before concluding.

or

Statements
(i) : All towns are villages.
(ii) : some villages are cities.
(iii): No city is state.

Conclusion 1 : Some cities are towns...either (i) or (iii) follows

Conclusion 2 : Some villages are state.Does not follow
Conclusion 3 :No city is town. .
Either (iii) or (i) follows
Conclusion 4 : Some villages are not cities.Does not follow

Thus answer is either (i) or (iii) follows but it is also not

given in the options. Therefore, we conclude that the answer
is (5) None of these

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-3
DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three
statements, followed by four conclusions numbered (I),(II),
(III) & (IV). You have to take the given statements to be true,
even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known
facts and then decide which of the given conclusions
logically follow(s) from the given statements, dis-regarding
commonly known facts.
Statement (i) : All post cards are envelops.
Statement (ii) : some post cards are inlands.
Statement (iii) : No inland is stamp.
Conclusion 1 : Some post cards are stamps.
Conclusion 2 : Some stamps are envelops.
Conclusion 3 : Some post cards are envelops.
Conclusion 4 : Some envelops are inlands.
(1) Only (iii) and (IV) follow
(2) Only (iii) follows
(3) either (i) or (iii) follow
(4) All follow
(5) None follow

 Statements
(i) : All post cards are envelops.
(ii) : some post cards are inlands.
(iii) : No inland is stamp.

E envelops
P - post cards
I - Inlands
S - Stamps
Conclusion 1 : Some post cards are stamps.. Does not follow
Conclusion 2 : Some stamps are envelops. Does not follow
Conclusion 3 : Some post cards are envelops. ..follows
Conclusion 4 : Some envelops are inlands. .follows

That is, the answer only (iii) and (iv) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-4

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three statements,

followed by four conclusions numbered (I),(II), (III) & (IV). You have to
take the given statements to be true, even if they seem to be at
variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the
given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

Statement (i) : some Blades are knives.

Statement (ii) : No blade is cutter.
Statement (iii) : No scissor is cutter.
Conclusion 1 : Some scissors are blades.
Conclusion 2 : Some knives are cutters.
Conclusion 3 : Some cutters are scissors.
Conclusion 4 : Some knives are blades.
(1) Only (ii) follows (2) either (ii) or (iii) with (iv) follow
(3) Only (IV) follow (4) Only (i) and (iv) follow
(5) None follows

Thus we can draw just one diagram obtained by the

Method of minimum cutting/encroachment

B Blades
K - Knives
C - Cutters
S - Scissors

Conclusion 1 : Some scissors are blades Does not follow

Conclusion 2 : Some knives are cutters. ..Does not follow
Conclusion 3 : Some cutters are scissorsDoes not follow
Conclusion 4 : Some knives are blades.follows

That is only (iv) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-5

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three statements, followed by

four conclusions numbered (I),(II), (III) & (IV). You have to take the given
statements to be true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly
known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follow
(s) from the given statements, dis-regarding commonly known facts.

Statement (i) : All fruits are juicy.

Statement (ii) : All vegetables are sweet.
Statement (iii) :Some vegetables are fruits.
Conclusion 1 : Some fruits are sweet.
Conclusion 2 : Some vegetables are juicy.
Conclusion 3 : Some fruits are juicy.
Conclusion 4 : Some sweets are juicy.
(1) Only (1) and (ii) follow
(2) Only (IV) follow
(3) either (i) or (iv) follow
(4) All follow
(5) None follows
Thus we can draw just one diagram obtained by the
Method of minimum cutting/encroachment

Conclusion 1 : Some fruits are sweet. ..follow

Conclusion 2 : Some vegetables are juicy... follow
Conclusion 3 : Some fruits are juicy. .follow
Conclusion 4 : Some sweets are juicy.. follow

F- Fruits
V- Vegetables
S - Sweet
J - Juicy

That is (iv) All follow

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-6
Study the following Venn Diagram and answer questions 1 to
3.

A Clerks
B Graduates
C Government Employees

Q.No.i. Some graduates are Government employees, but not clerks. They are
represented by the area marked ..?
(a) h (b) g (c) f (d) e (e) C
Ans. (c) f
Q.No.ii. Which area represents clerks who are graduates and Government employees?
(a) e (b) f (c) g (d) h (e) B
Q.No.iii. Graduates who are clerks, but not Government employees are represented by
the area marked..?
(a) h (b) f (c) g (d) e (e) B

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-7

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given two statements, followed by two

conclusions numbered (I) & (II). You have to take the given statements to be
true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then
decide which of the given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give answer: (1) If Only conclusion (i) follows (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows (3)
If either (i) or (ii) follows (4) If neither (i) or (ii) follows (5) None follows
Statement (i) : All stones are pebbles.
Statement (ii) : All pebbles are rocks.
S Stones
Conclusion 1 : All stones are rocks.
P Pebbles
R Rocks
Conclusion 2 : All rocks are pebbles.

Conclusion 1 : All stones are rocks.. ..follows

Conclusion 2 : All rocks are pebbles.... Doesnt follow

Ans. (1) If Only conclusion (i) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-8

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given two statements, followed by two

conclusions numbered (I) & (II). You have to take the given statements to be
true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then
decide which of the given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give answer: (1) If Only conclusion (i) follows (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows (3)
If either (i) or (ii) follows (4) If neither (i) or (ii) follows (5) If both conclusions (1)
and (2) follows
Statement (i) : All Kings are rulers.
K Kings
Statement (ii) : Some rulers are Queens.
Q Queens
Conclusion 1 : Some Kings are Queens.
R Rulers
Conclusion 2 : At least some rulers are Queens.

Conclusion 1 : Some Kings are Queens.... Doesnt follow

Conclusion 2 : At least some rulers are Queens..... follows

Ans. (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-9

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given two statements, followed by two

conclusions numbered (I) & (II). You have to take the given statements to be
true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then
decide which of the given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give answer: (1) If Only conclusion (1) follows (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows (3)
If either conclusion (1) or (2) follows (4) If neither (1) or (2) follows (5) If both
conclusions (1) and (2) follows
Statement (i) : No letter is a fax.
L Letter
Statement (ii) : All messages are faxes.
F Fax
Conclusion 1 : No message is a letter.
M Message
Conclusion 2 : At least some faxes are messages.

Conclusion 1 : No message is a letter...... follows

Conclusion 2 : At least some faxes are messages..... follow

Ans. (5) If both conclusions (1) and (2) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-10

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given two statements, followed by two

conclusions numbered (I) & (II). You have to take the given statements to be
true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then
decide which of the given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give answer: (1) If Only conclusion (i) follows (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows (3)
If either (1) or (2) follows (4) If neither (i) or (ii) follows (5) None follows
Statement (i) : Some gardens are parks.
Statement (ii) : Some parks are areas.
G Gardens
P Parks
Conclusion 1 : At least some areas are Parks.
A Area
Conclusion 2 : No garden is an area.

Conclusion 1 : At least some areas are Parks..... follows

Conclusion 2 : No garden is an area...... Doesnt follow

Ans. (1) If Only conclusion (1) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-11

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given two statements, followed by two

conclusions numbered (I) & (II). You have to take the given statements to be
true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then
decide which of the given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give answer: (1) If Only conclusion (i) follows (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows (3)
If either (1) or (2) follows (4) If neither (i) nor (ii) follows (5) None follows
Statement (i) : Some boards are plains.
Statement (ii) : No plain is a square.
B Boards
P Plains
Conclusion 1 : All squares are boards.
S Square
Conclusion 2 : All plains are boards.

Conclusion 1 : All squares are boards...... Doesnt follow

Conclusion 2 : All plains are boards...... Doesnt follow

Ans. (4) If neither (1) nor (2) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-12

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three statements, followed by four

conclusions numbered (I),(II), (III) & (IV). You have to take the given statements
to be true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give answer: (1) If all follow (i) follows (2) If Only conclusion (i), (ii) and (iii) follow
(3) If Only conclusion (i), (ii) and (iv) follow (4) If Only conclusion (ii), (iii) and
(iv) follow (5) None of these
Statement (i) : Some books are pens.
B Books
Statement (ii) : All pens are chairs
P Pens
Statement (iii) : Some chairs are tables.
C Chair
Conclusion 1 : Some books are chairs.
T - Table
Conclusion 2 : Some chairs are books.
Conclusion 1 : Some books are chairs...... follow
Conclusion 3 : All tables are chairs.
Conclusion 2 Some chairs are books. follow
Conclusion 4 : Some tables are chairs
Conclusion 3 : All tables are chairs.. Doesnt
follow
Conclusion 4 : Some tables are chairs.follow

Ans. (3) If Only conclusion (i), (ii)

and (iv) follow

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-13

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three statements, followed by two

conclusions numbered (I) & (II). You have to take the given statements to be
true, even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then
decide which of the given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give answer: (1) If Only conclusion (i) follows (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows (3) If
either (1) or (2) follows (4) If neither (i) nor (ii) follows (5) If both (i) and (ii)
follows
Statement (i) : Some books are stories.
B Books
Statement (ii) : All stories are fictions.
P Poems
Statement (iii) : All fictions are poems.
S Stories
Conclusions:
F - Fictions
Conclusion 1 : Some poems are books.
Conclusion 2 : All stories are poems.

Conclusion 1 : Some poems are books.. follow

Conclusion 2 : All stories are poems...... follow

Ans. (5) If both (1) and (2) follows

ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION-14

DIRECTIONS: In the question below is given three statements, followed by two

conclusions numbered (I) & (II). You have to take the given statements to be true, even if
they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which of the
given conclusions logically follow (s) from the given statements, disregarding commonly
known facts.

Give answer: (1) If Only conclusion (i) follows (2) If Only conclusion (ii) follows (3)
If either (1) or (2) follows (4) If neither (i) nor (ii) follows (5) If both (i) and (ii)
follows
Statement (i) : All plants are trees.
T Trees
Statement (ii) : Some trees are leaves.
P Plants
Statement (iii) : Some leaves are flowers.
L Leaves
Conclusions:
F - Flowers
Conclusion 1 : Some plants are leaves.
Conclusion 2 : Some plants are flowers.

Conclusion 1 : Some plants are leaves.. Doesnt follow

Conclusion 2 : some plants are flowers...... Doesnt follow

Ans. (4) If neither (1) nor (2) follows

SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Directions(Qns.01-06). In each question below is given some statements and
conclusions. You have to take the given statements to be true even if they
seem to be at variance from commonly know facts and then decide which of
the given conclusions logically follows.
(1) Only I (2) Only II (3) Both I and II (4) Either I or II (5) Neither I nor II
Qn.1. Statements: All papers are files. Some pens are files
Conclusions: I. No paper is a pen
II. Some pens are paper.
Qn.2. Statements: Some cities are villages. Some towns are villages.
Conclusions: I. Some cities are towns.
II. No town is city.
Qn.3. Statements: All stones are water. Some water are clean.
Conclusions: I. Some stone are clean II. No stone is clean.
Qn.4. Statements: Some scooters are trucks. All trucks are trains.
Conclusions: I. Some scooters are trains. II. No truck is a scooter.
Qn.5. Statements: Rashmi is brilliant. Rashmi is a girl.
Conclusions: I. Girls are brilliant. II. Rashmi is brillianf because she is girl.
Qn.6. Statements: All keys are locks . All locks are screws.
Conclusions: I. All screws are keys. II. Some locks are keys.

Answer Key: SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS-1-6

Qn.1. None of the given conclusions follows using all statements but conclusion;
I and II are complementary (I - E) pair, therefore either conclusion I or II follows.

Hence, option (4) Either I or II is the right answer.

Qn.2. None of the given conclusions follows using all statements but conclusions
I and II are complementary pair (I - E)pair. Therefore, either conclusion I or II
follows. Hence, option (4) Either I or II is the right answer.
Q.3. None of the given conclusions follows using all statements but conclusions I
and II are complementary pair (A - E), therefore either conclusion I or II follows.

Hence, option (4) Either I or II is the right answer.

Qn.4. Some scooters are trucks. (I - type) All trucks are trains. (A - type)
Some scooters are trains. (.. I+A = I) follows. II. No truck is a scooter. Doesn't.

Therefore conclusion (1) is true.

Qn.5. None of the given conclusions follows using all statements therefore none
conclusion is true.
Qn.6. All keys are locks. (A-type) (1) All locks are screws. (A-type) (2)
Conclusions: I. All screws are keys not follows.
From statement (1) Some locks are keys. (Conversion of A)

Therefore, conclusion II follows.

SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS-7-10

07-10. In each question below is given some statements and
conclusions. You have to take the given statements to be true even
if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows.

Qn.7. Statements: Some alpha are beta. All beta are gamma.
Conclusions: I. Some alpha are gamma. II. No alpha is a
gamma. Ill. Some gamma are beta. IV. No gamma is a beta.
(1) Only I follows (2) Only Ill follows (3) Either I or II follows
(4) Either Ill or IV follows (5) I and III follows.
Qn. 8. Statements: All bars are coins. Some bars are books.
Conclusions: I. Some books are bars II. Some books are
coins. Ill. Some books are not bars IV. Some books are not
coins.
(1) Only I follows (2) I and II follows (3) Either I or Ill follows
(4) Either 11 or IV follows (5) I and Either II or IV follows

SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS-7-10

Qn.9. Statements: Some states are capitals. No town is a
capital.
Conclusions: I. Some states are not towns. II. All states
are towns. III. Some towns are not states. IV. All towns are
state.
(1) Only I follows (2) Only III follows (3) Either I or II follows
(4) Either Ill or IV and I follows (5) I and III follows
Qn.10. Statements: Some blanket are pillow. All pillow are
bananas.
Conclusions: I. Some bananas are blankets II. Some
bananas are pillow III. No banana is a pillow. IV. Some
blankets are not bananas.
(1) I and IV follow (2) I and II follow (3) II and either II or Ill
followed I or Ill follows. (4) I Either I or IV and II follow (5)
Either I or IV or I

Answer Key: SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS-7-10

7. Some alpha are beta. (I-type) All beta are gamma. (A - type)
Some alpha are gamma. (I+A=l). Therefore, conclusion I follows. Conclusions III
and IV are complementary pair (I - E). So (4) either conclusion Ill or IV follows
8. All bars are coins. (A-type).. (1) Some bars are books. (I - type) .(2)
From statement (2), Some books are bars.(3)
Therefore, conclusion I follows.
From statements (3) and (1) Some books are coins. (.1 + A = I)
Therefore, conclusion II follows. Ans. (2) I and II follows
9. Some states are capital. (I -type) (1)
No town is a capital. (E-type) (2)
From statement (2) No capital is a town. (conversion of E)
From statements (1) and (3) Some states are not towns. (I+E=O)
Therefore conclusion I follows. Conclusions Ill and IV are complementary pair
(A-O), therefore, (4) either conclusion Ill or IV follows.
10. Some blankets are pillows, (I-type).(1). All pillows are bananas. (A - type)..(2)
From statements (1) and (2)
Some blankets are bananas. (.I+A= I). Therefore conclusion I follows.
From statement (2) Some bananas are pillows. (conversion of A).Therefore
conclusion II follows. So,(2) I and II follow

SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS:11-15

Directions: (Qn.Nos.11-15). In the following questions two statements are given followed by four conclusions.
Read the statements carefully and then decide which of the conclusions follow as a result of the given statements. (You
have to take the given statements as wholly true, even if they appear to be at variance with commonly known facts).

11.Statement: All books are hooks. Some books are ducks.

Conclusions: I. Some books are hooks.
II. Some ducks are hooks III. Some ducks are not hooks. IV. All hooks are books.
(1) Only I follows (2) Only I and II follow (3) Only I and Ill follow (4) Only IV follows (5) I and either II or III
follow
12. Statement: Some roses are pens.
No pen is a pencil.
Conclusions: I. Some pens are roses. II. Some pencils are not roses. III. Some roses are pencils. IV.
Some roses are not pencils.

(1) Iand II follows (2) Only I follows (3) I and IV follow (4) Only IV follows (5) II and IV follow
13. Statement: All tops are ducks. All ducks are watches.
Conclusions: I. Some tops are watches. II. Some tops are not watches. III. All watches are tops. IV.
Some ducks are not tops.

(1) Either I or II follows (2)Either III or IV follows (3) I and either Ill or IV follows (4) III and either I or II
follow (5) None of these
14. Statement: No comb is a tomb. Some tombs are bombs.
Conclusions: I. Some combs are not bombs. II. Some bombs are not combs. III. All combs are
bombs. IV.No combs are bombs.

(1) Only I follows (2 ) Only IV follows (3) I and IV follows (4) Either I or III and II follow (5) Only II
follows
15. Statement: Some big are small. All big are beautiful.
Conclusions: I. All big are not beautiful. II. Some small are beautiful. III. Some beautiful are small.
IV. Some beautiful are not small.

(1) Either III or IV follows (2) Either I or Ill follows (3)11 and Ill follows (4)11 and either III or IV follows
(5) II, Ill and IV follows.

Answer Key: SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS-11-15

11. All books are hooks. (A -type ...(1) Some books are ducks, (I-type). (2)
From statement (1),Some books are hooks, conversion of (A).Therefore conclusion I follows.
From statement (2) , Some ducks are books (3)
From statements (3) and (1), Some ducks are hooks. (. . I +A =1)
Therefore conclusions II follows. Hence, option (2) is the right answer.
12. Some roses are pens. (I-type) .(1) No pen is a pencil. (E-type) (2)
From statements (1) and (2), Some roses are not pencils. (.I +E = O)
Therefore conclusion IV follows
From statement (1), Some pens are roses. Therefore, conclusion I follows.
Hence, option (3) is the answer
13. All tops are ducks. (A-type). (1) All ducks are watches. (A-type). (2)
From statements (1) and (2), All tops are watches. (.A + A = A) or Some tops are watches.
Therefore conclusion I follows.
Conclusion II and Ill are complementary pair (A - 0), therefore either conclusion II or III
follows. So, option (4) is the answer.
14. No comb is a cave. (E-type). (1)
Some caves are bombs. (I -type).. (2)
From statements (1) and (2) Some bomb are not combs. (.. E + l =O)
Therefore conclusion II follows. Conclusions I and Ill are complementary pair (I - E),
therefore either conclusion I or Ill follows.
15. Some big are small. (I-type) (1) All big are beautiful. (A-type). (2)
From statement (1),Some small are big. (conversion of I)..(3)
From statements (3) and (2), Some small are beautiful, or Some beautiful are small.
Therefore conclusions II and Ill follow..

SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS:16-20

16-20. In each question below there are three statements followed by
four conclusions numbered I, II, Ill and IV You have to take the
given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance
with commonly known facts and then decide which of the given
conclusions logically follow(s) from the given statements.
16. Statement: All watches are prizes. All prizes are scholarships. Some
date are prizes. Conclusion: I. All scholarship are date II. Some scholarships are prizes.
III. Some scholarships are watches. IV. All scholarships are watches.
(1) All follow (2) II and III fallow (3) None follows (4) Only II follows (5)
None of these
17. Statement: Some fuel are dangerous. Some watches are not fuel.
Some dangerous are not machines.
Conclusion: I. Some dangerous are fuel. II. Some watches are not
dangerous. Ill. Some machines are not dangerous. IV. No watch is a
dangerous.
(1) I and IV follow (2) Only II follow (3) II and Ill follow (4) Only I follows (5)
Either II or IV follows

SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS:18-20

18. Statement: All services are elements. Some elements are traders. No
trader is blind.
Conclusion: I. Some traders are services II. Some elements are blind.
III. Some elements are not blind. IV. Some services are not traders.
1) Either I or IV follows (2)1 and Ill follow (3) III and either I or IV follows
(4) II and IV follow (5) I and IV follow
19. Statement: Some jokes are needle. Some elements are needle. All
elements are funny.
Conclusion: I. Some needle are jokes. II. Some funny are not elements.
III. Some needle are funny. IV. Some needle are not elements.
(1) Only I follows (2) I and III follow (3) Only IV follows (4) II and Ill follow
(5) None of these
20. Statement: All series are alternate. No alternate is a pen. Some series
are pencils.
Conclusion: I. No series is a pen. II. Some series are pens. Ill. Some
pencils are alternate. IV. Some pencils are not alternate
(1) Only I follows (2) Only III follows (3) I and III follow (4) Either Ill or IV
and I follow (5) Only IV follows.

Answer Key: SYLLOGISM PRACTICE QUESTIONS:16-20

16. All watches are prizes. (A-type) (1) All prizes are scholarship. (A - type). (2)
Some date are prizes. (I - type) (3) From statement (2) Some scholarship are prizes,
(conversion of A)

From statements (1) and (2), All watches are scholarship (A + A = A) or Some scholarship
are watches, (conversion of A). There fore conclusion II and Ill follows.
17. Some fuel are dangerous. (I - type) (1) Some watches are not fuel. (0-type) (2)
Some dangerous are not machines. (0-type) (3)
From statement (1), Some dangerous are fuel. Therefore conclusion I follows.
18. All services are elements. (A-type) (1) Some elements are trader. (I - type) (2)
No trader is a blind. (E-type) (3) From statements (2) and (3) Some elements are not blind.
(.l+E=0). Therefore conclusion Ill follows. Conclusions I and IV are complementary pair (I0), therefore either conclusion I or IV follows.
Therefore, right answer is, option (3) III and either I or IV follows
19. Some jokes are needles. (I-type) (1) Some elements are needles. (I - type).. (2)
All elements are funny. (A-type) (3)
From statement (1), Some needles are jokes. Therefore conclusion I follows,
From statement (2), Some needles are elements (4)
From statements (4) and (3) Some needles are funny. Therefore, conclusion Ill follows.
20. All series are alternate; (A - type).. (1) No alternate is a pen. (E-type) (2) Some series are
pencils. (I - type) (3). From statements (1) and (2), No series is a pen. (A + E = E)
Therefore conclusion I follows. From statement (3) Some pencils are series. (I - type)
(4). From statements (4) and (1), Some pencils are alternate. (l+A=l) Therefore conclusion
Ill follow.

SYLLOGISM (MEDIATE INFERENCE)BY

LOGICAL EULER DIAGRAMS

SYLLOGISM OR THE MEDIATE ARGUMENT IS A DEDUCTIVE

ARGUMENT CONTAINING TWO PREMISES ON THE BASIS OF WHICH
THE INFERENCE/CONCLUSION IS TO BE DRAWN.
The meaning of the word SYLLOGISM is to reason.
A SYLLOGISM HAS NUMERICALLY SIX TERMS
BUT IN FACT, THERE ARE THREE TERMS, EACH OCCURING TWICE.
The premises (or statements) are selected from four basic types of
statements:
i. The universal affirmative statement: All A are B (Symbolized by A)
ii. The universal negative statement: No A is B (Symbolized by E)
iii. The particular affirmative statement: Some A are B (Symbolized by I)
iii. The particular negative statement: Some A are not B (Symbolized by O)

The types of statements that occur in any particular

syllogism specify its mood

Eg., Some of the students are punctual.

None of the students are regular.
Therefore, some of the regulars are not punctual.
It is a syllogism in IEO mood.