Syllogism — Evaluate: (a) All politicians are intelligent. (b) Some women are politicians. Conclusions: I) Some women are intelligent. II) All intelligent persons are women.
Verbal Reasoning
Syllogism
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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AOnly conclusion I follows
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BOnly conclusion II follows
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CBoth conclusions I & II follow
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DNeither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows
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ENone of these
Answer
Correct Answer: Only conclusion I follows
Explanation
Introduction / Context:The task is to deduce what must be true from two premises linking politicians, intelligence, and women.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- (a) Politicians ⊆ Intelligent.
- (b) Some Women are Politicians (Women ∩ Politicians non-empty).
Concept / Approach:Chain subsets: if some women are politicians, and all politicians are intelligent, then those women are intelligent. Conversely asserting that all intelligent persons are women reverses the direction without support.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Pick w with w ∈ Women ∩ Politicians.Step 2: From (a), Politicians ⊆ Intelligent, hence w ∈ Intelligent.Step 3: Therefore, 'Some women are intelligent' holds.Step 4: Nothing implies Intelligent ⊆ Women, so II fails.Verification / Alternative check:Countermodel for II: there can be intelligent men; II is thus not necessary.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Only II follows: converse error.
- Both follow: II is false.
- Neither follows: I must follow.
Common Pitfalls:Confusing subset direction in universal statements.
Final Answer:Only conclusion I follows.