Deductive Reasoning or Syllogism Practice Questions Paper2

• ◄◄ Reasoning Section
• Tips
• Examples
• Previous Questions
• Practice Questions

Instruction: In each question below are given two statements followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the given two statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts. Read the conclusion and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the two given statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

Give answer:

(A) If only conclusion I follows
(B) If only conclusion II follows
(C) If either I or II follows
(D) If neither I nor II follows and
(E) If both I and II follow.

Deductive Reasoning or Syllogism Question Paper -2

1) Statements: All roads are waters. Some waters are boats.

Conclusions:

(I)Some boats are roads.
(II)All waters are boats.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option d) Answer: Neither I nor II follows

Explanation:

The first premise is A type and distributes the subject. So, the middle term 'waters' which forms its predicate, is not distributed. The second premise is I type and does not distribute either subject or predicate. So, the middle term 'waters' forming its subject is not distributed. Since the middle term is not distributed even once in the premises, no definite conclusion follows.

2) Statements: No bat is ball. No ball is wicket.

Conclusions:

(I)No bat is wicket.
(II)All wickets are bats.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option d) Answer: Neither I nor II follows

Explanation:

Since both the premises are negative, no definite conclusion follows.

3) Statements: All flowers are trees. No fruit is tree.

Conclusions:

(I)No fruit is flower.
(II)Some trees are flowers.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option e) Answer: Both I and II follow

Explanation:

As discussed above, the conclusion must be universal negative and should not contain the middle term. So, it follows that 'No flower is fruit'. I is the converse of this conclusion and thus it follows. II is the converse of the first premise and so it also holds.

4) Statements: Every minister is a student. Every student is inexperienced.

Conclusions:

(I)Every minister is inexperienced.
(II)Some inexperienced are students.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option e) Answer: Both I and II follow

Explanation:

'Every' is equivalent to 'All'. Thus, since both the premises are universal and affirmative, the conclusion must be universal affirmative and should not contain the middle term. So, I follows. II is the converse of the second premise and thus it also holds.

5) Statements: All roads are poles. No pole is a house.

Conclusions:

(I)Some roads are houses.
(II)Some houses are poles.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option d) Answer: Neither I nor II follows

Explanation:

Since both the premises are universal and one premise is negative, the conclusion must be universal negative. So, neither I nor II follows.

6) Statements: All good athletes win. All good athletes eat well.

Conclusions:

(I)All those who eat well are good athletes.
(II)All those who win eat well.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option d) Answer: Neither I nor II follows

Explanation:

Since the middle term 'good athletes' is distributed twice in the premises, the conclusion must be particular and should not contain the middle term. So it follows that 'Some of those who win, eat well'.

7) Statements: All film stars are playback singers. All film directors are film stars.

Conclusions:

(I)All film directors are playback singers.
(II)Some film stars are film directors.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option e) Answer: Both I and II follow

Explanation:

Since both the premises are universal and affirmative, the conclusion must be universal affirmative and should not contain the middle term. So, I follows. II is the converse of the second premise and so it also holds.

8) Statements: All hill stations have a sun-set point. X is a hill station.

Conclusions:

(I)X has a sun-set point.
(II)Places other than hill stations do not have sun-set points.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option a) Answer: Only conclusion I follows

Explanation:

Since both the premises are universal and affirmative, the conclusion must be universal affirmative and should not contain the middle term. So, only I follows.

9) Statements: Some dreams are nights. Some nights are days.

Conclusions:

(I)All days are either nights or dreams.
(II)Some days are nights.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option b) Answer: Only conclusion II follows

Explanation:

Since both the premises are particular, no definite conclusion follows. However, II is the converse of the second premise and thus it holds.

10) Statements: All jungles are tigers. Some tigers are horses.

Conclusions:

(I)Some horses are jungles.
(II)No horse is jungle.

a) Only conclusion I follows
b) Only conclusion II follows
c) Either I or II follows
d) Neither I nor II follows
e) Both I and II follow

✔Answer is: Option c) Answer: Either I or II follows

Explanation:

Since the middle term 'tigers' is not distributed even once in the premises, no definite conclusion follows. However, I and II involve only the extreme terms and form a complementary pair. So, either I or II follows.

• ««
• Paper1
• Paper2
• Paper3
• Paper4
• »»