Introduction / Context:
This critical-reasoning item asks you to judge whether a conclusion follows strictly from two spatial premises. You must ignore world knowledge and focus on logical consistency using relative positions (east/west) as described.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The hotel is two blocks east of the drugstore.
- The market is one block west of the hotel.
- Blocks are along a straight east–west line; east is the positive direction.
- No other locations or exceptions are introduced.
Concept / Approach:
- Model the street as a number line. Assign a convenient coordinate to one landmark (e.g., the drugstore) and place the others using the offsets stated.
- Compare the resulting coordinates to check whether the drugstore lies west of the market (i.e., has a smaller coordinate).
Step-by-Step Solution:
Place the drugstore at position 0 for simplicity.From Premise 1: hotel is two blocks east → hotel at 0 + 2 = 2.From Premise 2: market is one block west of hotel → market at 2 − 1 = 1.Compare drugstore (0) and market (1): 0 < 1, so the drugstore is west of the market.
Verification / Alternative check:
Relative statement chain: drugstore —(2 east)→ hotel; market is one block west of hotel, so market sits between drugstore and hotel but still east of the drugstore. Therefore, drugstore is indeed to the west of market.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
false: Contradicts the derived positions (0 vs. 1).uncertain: We have sufficient information; the relation is determinate.both true and false: Logical conclusions cannot be both; this is a distractor.
Common Pitfalls:
Switching east/west directions or misreading “west of the hotel” as “east of the hotel.” Some test-takers also forget that “two blocks east” places the hotel beyond the market’s repositioning.
Final Answer:
true
Discussion & Comments