SYLLOGISM

Syllogism

• Syllogism is a verbal reasoning type problem in which a conclusion is

drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premises); a common
or middle term is present in the two premises but not in the
conclusion.
• The best method of solving the Syllogism’s problem is through Venn
Diagrams.
• There are four ways in which the relationship could be made.
Category 1

• All A are B – Means the whole circle representing A lies within the
circle representing B.
Category 2

• No A is B – means that circles representing A and B does not intersect

at all.

• Example : No chair is a table.

Category 3

• Some A are B
• Means that some part of the circle represented by A is within the circle
represented by B.

• Some A are B, also indicates that – Some A are not B.

• Example: Some mangoes are pears.
Category 4
• Some A are not B
• Means that some portion of circle A has no intersection with circle B
while the remaining portion of circle A is uncertain whether this
portion touches B or not.
• (i) Some A are not B also indicates that – Some A are B.

• (ii) Some A are not B also indicates that – No A is B.

Complementary Pairs
• (Either & or) – Either and or cases only take place in complementary pairs.
• Conclusions: (i) Some A are B. (ii) No A are B.
• From the given above conclusions, it is easy to understand that one of the given
conclusions must be true, which is represented by option either (i) or (ii).
• These types of pairs are called complementary pairs.
• Note: ‘All A are B’ & ‘Some A are not B’ are also complementary pairs.
• It is important to note that, in complementary pairs, one of the two conclusions is
true and other will be false simultaneously.
• For example: Statement: All A are B. Some B are C.
Conclusion: I. All C are A. II. Some C are not A.
• Here we can make conclusion, either I or either II follows.
Possibility cases in Syllogism

• In possibilities cases, we have to create all possibilities to find whether

the given conclusion is possible or not.
• If it is possible and satisfies the given statement then given conclusion
will follow otherwise conclusion will not follow.
PRACTICE EXERCISE
State whether the given conclusion is True or False.

1. Statement: All A are B. Some B are C.

Conclusion: All A being C is a possibility.

(a) True (b) False

State whether the given conclusion is True or False.

2. Statements:
Some mouse is cat.
All mouse are pets.
No pet is animal.
Conclusions:
All mouse being animal is a possibility.

(a) True (b) False

3. Which of these is a logical conclusion?
Statements :
Some Red Boxes are Green Boxes. All Red Boxes are Yellow Boxes.
Conclusions :
I. Some Yellow Boxes are Green Boxes.
II. All Green Boxes are Red Boxes.
Options.
a) Only I can be true always
b) Only II can be true always
c) Both I and II can be true always
d) Both I and II cannot be true always
4. Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
Statements :
No animals are plants.
All sheep are animals.
Conclusions :
a. All sheep are plants.
b. All animals are sheep.
c. Some sheep are plants.
d. None of the above
5. Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
Statements:
Some actors are singers.
All the singers are dancers.
Conclusions:
1. Some actors are dancers.
2. No singer is actor.
a) Only conclusion (1) follows
b)Only conclusion (2) follows
c) Either (1) or (2) follows
d)Neither (1) nor (2) follows
e) Both (1) and (2) follow
6. Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
Statements:
All states are towns.
Some villages are not towns.
Conclusion:
1. All states are villages.
2. Some states are villages.
3. Some villages are not states.
4. Some states are not villages.
a) None follows
b)Only 2 and 4 follows
c) Only 2 and 3 follows
d)All follows
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
7. Statements:
Some mangoes are yellow.
Some tixo are mangoes.
Conclusions:
1. Some mangoes are green.
2. Tixo is yellow.
a) Only conclusion 1 follows
b)Only conclusion 2 follows
c) Either 1 or 2 follows
d)Neither 1 nor 2 follows
e) Both 1 and 2 follow
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
8. Statements:
All the trucks are flies.
Some scooters are flies.
Conclusions:
1. All the trucks are scooters.
2. Some scooters are trucks.
a) Only conclusion (1) follows
b) Only conclusion (2) follows
c) Either (1) or (2) follows
d) Neither (1) nor (2) follows
e) Both (1) and (2) follow
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
9. Statements:
All the books are pencils.
No pencil is eraser.
Conclusions:
1. All the pencils are books.
2. Some erasers are books.
3. No book is eraser.
4. Some books are erasers.
a) Only (3)
b)Only (1) and (3)
c) Only (1) and (2)
d)Only (2) and (3)
e) Only (3) and (4)
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
10. Statements:
No man is sky.
No sky is road.
Some men are roads
Conclusions:
a. No road is man
b. No road is sky
c. Some skies are men
d. All roads are men
a) Only a and c follow.
b) Only b and c follow.
c) Only b and d follow.
d) None follows
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
11. Statements:
All players are spectators.
Some spectators are theatres.
Some theatres are dramas
Conclusions:
a. Some dramas are spectators
b. Some players are dramas
c. Some theatres are players.
d. All spectators are players
a) Only a and c follow.
b) Only b and c follow.
c) Only b and d follow.
d) None follows
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
12. Statements:
All the papers are books.
All the bags are books.
Some purses are bags.
Conclusions:
1.Some papers are bags.
2.Some books are papers.
3.Some books are purses.
a) Only (1)
b) Only (2) and (3)
c) Only (1) and (2)
d) Only (1) and (3)
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
13. Statements:
Some trains are cars.
All cars are branches.
All branches are nets.
Some nets are dresses.
Conclusions:
a. Some dresses are cars.
b. Some nets are trains.
c. Some branches are trains.
d. Some dresses are trains.
a) Only a and c follow.
b) Only b and c follow.
c) Only b and d follow.
d) All follow
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
14. Statements:
Some jackfruits are lilies.
No lily is a canoe.
All canoes are oceans.
Conclusions:
a. Some jackfruits are oceans.
b. Some oceans are canoes.
c. Some oceans are jackfruits.
d. Some lilies are jackfruits.
a) Only a and c follow.
b) Only b and c follow.
c) Only b and d follow.
d) All follow.
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
15. Statements:
Only stars are moons.
b. No galaxy is a star.
c. No planets are moons.
Conclusions:
1. Some moons are not planets.
2. No moon is a galaxy.
3. No galaxy is a planet.
4. No stars are planets.
a) 1, 2 and 4 follow
b) 1, 3 and 4 follow
c) 2, 3 and 4 follow
d) 3 and 4 follow
e) 1 and 2 follow
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
16. Statements:
No navies are air forces.
All armies are navies.
All air forces are combats.
Conclusions:
I. No air forces are navies.
II. Some combats are air forces.
III. Some combats are not navies.
IV. No armies are air forces.
a) Only either I or II follows
b) Only II follows
c) Only either I or IV follows
d) All follows
e) None follows
Which of these is a logical conclusion ?
17. Statements:
All petals are flowers. Some flowers are buds.
Some buds are leaves. All leaves are plants.
Conclusions:
1. Some petals are not buds.
2. Some flowers are plants.
3. No flower is plant.
a) Only 1 and 2 follow
b) Either 2 or 3 follows
c) Only 1 follows
d) 1 and 3 follows
e) 1, 2 and 3 follow
Each question contains six statements followed by four sets of combinations of
three. Choose the set in which the statements are most logically related.

18. A. All roses are fragrant.

B. All roses are majestic.
C. All roses are plants.
D. All roses need air.
E. All plants need air.
F. All plants need water.
(a) CED
(b) ACB
(c) BDC
(d) CFE
Each question contains six statements followed by four sets of combinations of
three. Choose the set in which the statements are most logically related.

19. A. Some mammals are carnivores.

B. All whales are mammals.
C. All whales are aquatic animals.
D. All whales are carnivores.
E. Some aquatic animals are mammals.
F. Some mammals are whales.
(a) ADF
(b) ABC
(c) AEF
(d) BCE
20. The below question consists of six statements followed by options consisting
of three statements put together in a specific order. Choose the option, where
the third statement is a conclusion drawn from preceding two statements.
A. Six is five.
B. Five is not four.
C. Some five is ten.
D. Some six is twelve.
E. Some twelve is five.
F. Some ten is four.
(a) ABC (b) ADE (c) AEF (d) EDC
Directions for Q21 to Q25: In each of the questions below are given two statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the two given
statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts
and decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the two given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give your answer as
(a) If only conclusion I follows
(b) If only conclusion II follows
(c) If either I or II follows
(d) If neither I nor II follows
21. Statements
1. Some players are singers. 2. All singers are tall.
Conclusions
I. Some players are tall. II. All players are tall.
Directions for Q21 to Q25: In each of the questions below are given two statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the two given
statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts
and decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the two given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give your answer as
(a) If only conclusion I follows
(b) If only conclusion II follows
(c) If either I or II follows
(d) If neither I nor II follows
22. Statements
1. Some vegetables are fruits. 2. No fruit is black.
Conclusions
I. Some fruits are vegetables. II. No vegetable is black.
Directions for Q21 to Q25: In each of the questions below are given two statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the two given
statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts
and decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the two given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give your answer as
(a) If only conclusion I follows
(b) If only conclusion II follows
(c) If either I or II follows
(d) If neither I nor II follows
23. Statements
1. All stones are water. 2. Some water are clean.
Conclusions
I. Some stones are clean. II. No stone is clean.
Directions for Q21 to Q25: In each of the questions below are given two statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the two given
statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts
and decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the two given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give your answer as
(a) If only conclusion I follows
(b) If only conclusion II follows
(c) If either I or II follows
(d) If neither I nor II follows
24. Statements
1. Some visitors are Indians. 2. Some visitors are Americans.
Conclusions
I. Some Indians are visitors. II. All Indians are visitors.
Directions for Q21 to Q25: In each of the questions below are given two statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the two given
statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts
and decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the two given
statements, disregarding commonly known facts.
Give your answer as
(a) If only conclusion I follows
(b) If only conclusion II follows
(c) If either I or II follows
(d) If neither I nor II follows
25. Statements
1. Some ants are parrots. 2. All the parrots are apples.
Conclusions
I. All the apples are parrots. II. Some ants are apples.
Directions for Q26 to Q28: In each of the questions below are given three statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the given statements to be
true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which
of the given conclusions logically follow(s) from the statements disregarding commonly
known facts.
Give answer (a) if only conclusion I follows.
Give answer (b) if only conclusion II follows.
Give answer (c) if either conclusion I or conclusion II follows.
Give answer (d) if neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows.
Give answer (e) if both conclusions I and II follow.
26. Statements
1. Some casual are formal.
2. All formal are expensive.
3. All expensive are elegant.
Conclusions
I. All formal are elegant.
II. Some casual are expensive.
Directions for Q26 to Q28: In each of the questions below are given three statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the given statements to be
true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which
of the given conclusions logically follow(s) from the statements disregarding commonly
known facts.
Give answer (a) if only conclusion I follows.
Give answer (b) if only conclusion II follows.
Give answer (c) if either conclusion I or conclusion II follows.
Give answer (d) if neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows.
Give answer (e) if both conclusions I and II follow.
27. Statements
1. All roses are red.
2. Some red are colour.
3. All colour are paints.
Conclusions
I. Some red are paints.
II. All red are roses.
Directions for Q26 to Q28: In each of the questions below are given three statements
followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take the given statements to be
true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts and then decide which
of the given conclusions logically follow(s) from the statements disregarding commonly
known facts.
Give answer (a) if only conclusion I follows.
Give answer (b) if only conclusion II follows.
Give answer (c) if either conclusion I or conclusion II follows.
Give answer (d) if neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows.
Give answer (e) if both conclusions I and II follow.
28. Statements
1. All towns are cities.
2. All cities are urban.
3. Some urban are rural.
Conclusions
I. Some towns are rural.
II. All rural are towns.
Directions for Q29 to Q35: In each of the question below, there are two or three statements
given followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given
statements to be true even If they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the given statements.
29. Statements
1. All cats are bulls.
2. Some bulls are dogs.
Conclusions
I. All bulls are cats.
II. Some cats are dogs.
III. No cats are dogs.
IV. Some bulls are cats.
(a) Only IV follows
(b) Only III follows
(c) Only II follows
(d) Only IV and either II or III follows
Directions for Q29 to Q35: In each of the question below, there are two or three statements
given followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given
statements to be true even If they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the given statements.
30. Statements
1. All nibs are tips.
2. Many nibs are ribs.
Conclusions
I. Some nibs are tips.
II. Some tips are nibs.
III. All nibs are ribs.
IV. Some nibs are not ribs.
(a) Only I follows
(b) Only II follows
(c) Either II or IV follows
(d) Only I and II and either III or IV follow
Directions for Q29 to Q35: In each of the question below, there are two or three statements
given followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given
statements to be true even If they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the given statements.
31. Statements
1. Some boxes are dogs.
2. All dogs are pens.
Conclusions
I. Some boxes are pens.
II. Some pens are boxes.
III. Some pens are dogs.
IV. All pens are dogs.
(a) None follows
(b) I, II and III follow
(c) II, III and IV follow
(d) I, III and IV follow
Directions for Q29 to Q35: In each of the question below, there are two or three statements
given followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given
statements to be true even If they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the given statements.
32. Statements
1. All rats are cows.
2. No cow is white.
Conclusions
I. No white is rat.
II. No rat is white.
III. Some whites are rats.
IV. All cows are rats.
(a) None follows
(b) Only II and IV follow
(c) Only II or III follows
(d) Only I and II follow
Directions for Q29 to Q35: In each of the question below, there are two or three statements
given followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given
statements to be true even If they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the given statements.
33. Statements
1. Some charts are darts.
2. All darts are carts.
Conclusions
I. Some charts are carts.
II. Some carts are darts.
III. Some darts are smarts.
IV. Some smarts are charts.
(a) Only I and III follow
(b) Only I and III follow
(c) Only II and II follow
(d) Only I, III and IV follows
Directions for Q29 to Q35: In each of the question below, there are two or three statements
given followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given
statements to be true even If they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the given statements.
34. Statements
1. All grasses are brasses.
2. All brasses are wickets.
Conclusions
I. Some brasses are grasses.
II. Some wickets are grasses.
III. Some grasses are not wickets.
IV. All wickets are brasses.
(a) Only I and II follow
(b) Only II and III follow
(c) Only I and III follow
(d) Only I and IV follow
Directions for Q29 to Q35: In each of the question below, there are two or three statements
given followed by four conclusions numbered I, II, III and IV. You have to take the given
statements to be true even If they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and
then decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the given statements.
35. Statements
1. All teachers are students.
2. Some students are gypsies.
Conclusions
I. All teachers are gypsies.
II. Some gypsies are teachers.
III. Some gypsies are students.
IV. All students are teachers.
(a) Only I follows
(b) Only I, II and III follow
(c) Only III follows
(d) Only II and III follow