Syllogism — Clerks, typists, and stenos (undetermined overlap): Statements: (a) All clerks are typists. (b) Some typists are stenos. Conclusions: I. Some stenos are clerks. II. No steno is a clerk. III. All typists are clerks. IV. All clerks are stenos.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Either I or II follows

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
We have one universal and one particular statement. The relationship between Clerks and Stenos is not fixed by the premises and may vary across models.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Clerk ⊆ Typist.
  • Some Typists are Stenos (∃ Typist ∩ Steno).


Concept / Approach:
The intersection between Clerks and Stenos is undetermined: it could be empty or non-empty, consistent with the premises. Therefore, either “Some stenos are clerks” or “No steno is a clerk” will hold depending on the model, but neither is individually necessary.


Step-by-Step Evaluation:
1) If the “some typists that are stenos” are chosen from among clerks, then I is true.2) If they are chosen from non-clerk typists, then II is true.3) III “All typists are clerks” is unsupported (reverse inclusion).4) IV “All clerks are stenos” is also unsupported.


Verification / Alternative check:
Construct two models as above; one satisfies I, the other satisfies II; both keep the premises true.


Final Answer:
Either I or II follows.

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