Discussion Forum



1)

In question below are given two statements followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to take,the given-two statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from commonly known facts. Read the conclusion and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the two given statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

 

Statements : No gentleman is poor. All gentlemen are rich

Conclusions : I. No poor man is rich. II. No rich man is poor.


A) if only conclusion I follows

B) if only conclusion II follows

C) if either conclusion I or II follows

D) if neither conclusion I nor II follows

E) if both conclusions I and II follow

Answer:

Option D

Explanation:

The first premise is an E-type proposition. So, the middle term 'gentleman' forming the subject is distributed. The second premise is an A-type proposition. So, the middle term 'gentlemen' forming the subject is distributed. Since the middle term is distributed twice, the conclusion cannot be universal. Since one premise is negative, the conclusion must be negative. Thus, it follows that 'Some rich men are not poor'. Thus, neither I nor II follows