Syllogism — Choose the conclusion(s) that follow Statements: All benches are desks. Some desks are roads. All roads are pillars. Conclusions: (I) Some pillars are benches. (II) Some pillars are desks. (III) Some roads are benches. (IV) No pillar is a bench.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Only II follows

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This item requires careful separation of what is guaranteed versus what is merely possible. We chain subsets and one existential statement to test each conclusion.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • All Benches are Desks (B ⊆ D).
  • Some Desks are Roads (∃ D ∩ R).
  • All Roads are Pillars (R ⊆ P).


Concept / Approach:

  • From ∃(D ∩ R) and R ⊆ P, it follows that ∃(D ∩ P): some Pillars are Desks.
  • No information forces any Bench to be a Road; Benches are a subset of Desks but need not participate in the Desks∩Roads region.


Step-by-Step Solution:

(II) “Some pillars are desks” necessarily follows: take the “Some Desks are Roads,” then map Roads into Pillars, yielding Desks that are also Pillars.(I) “Some pillars are benches” is not compelled; the Desks that are Roads (hence Pillars) could be entirely outside the Benches subset of Desks.(III) “Some roads are benches” is likewise not necessary; the roads that intersect desks need not intersect the benches portion of desks.(IV) “No pillar is a bench” is a universal negative not supported; pillars could include some benches if the “desk-road” overlap happened to lie within benches, but this is not guaranteed.


Verification / Alternative check:

Create a model where Benches are a small part of Desks, and the Desks∩Roads area lies away from Benches. All premises hold; (II) true; (I), (III), (IV) false. Hence only (II) must be true.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Any choice adding (I), (III), or (IV) asserts overlaps or disjointness not mandated by the premises. “All follow” is clearly too strong.


Common Pitfalls:

Assuming subset membership (B ⊆ D) forces benches into every region where desks appear. That is invalid.


Final Answer:

Only II follows

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