Syllogism — One existential plus a two-step inclusion chain Statements: • Some roses are flowers. • Some flowers are buds. • All buds are leaves. • All leaves are plants. Conclusions: I) Some plants are flowers. II) Some roses are buds. III) No leaves are roses. IV) No roses are buds. Select what must be true.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Only I follows

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The structure provides a single existential inside Flowers (at Buds) and pushes it forward through two universal inclusions to Plants. The question is which conclusions are forced without assuming unintended overlaps.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • ∃b: b ∈ Flowers ∩ Buds.
  • Buds ⊆ Leaves.
  • Leaves ⊆ Plants.
  • ∃r: r ∈ Roses ∩ Flowers (separate existential).


Concept / Approach:
From b ∈ Flowers and Buds ⊆ Leaves ⊆ Plants, b is simultaneously a Flower and a Plant. Hence “Some plants are flowers” is guaranteed. However, nothing links Roses to Buds or to Leaves beyond Roses ⊆? None. Therefore, claims about Roses∩Buds or universal negatives involving Roses do not follow.


Step-by-Step Solution:

I: Take b ∈ Flowers ∩ Buds. Since Buds ⊆ Leaves ⊆ Plants, b ∈ Plants. Thus Plants ∩ Flowers ≠ ∅ ⇒ I follows.II: “Some roses are buds” would need overlap Roses ∩ Buds; no premise forces it.III & IV: Universal negatives about Leaves and Roses or Roses and Buds are not supported and may be false in many models.


Verification / Alternative check:
Create a model with a bud that is a flower and hence a plant, and with roses that are flowers but not buds. Only I is necessary.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
They include claims that require extra intersections or unjustified universal negatives.


Common Pitfalls:
Assuming that two “some” statements within the same larger set must overlap; they need not.


Final Answer:
Only I follows.

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