Read the conclusions and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the given statements, disregarding the known facts.
Statements:
A. All boys are tough.
B. No tough is sweet.
C. Some sweet is paper.
Conclusions:
I. Some boys are paper is a possibility.
II. All boys are paper.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Only conclusion I follows
A conclusion follows only if it is true in every diagram that fits the statements. A conclusion that something “is a possibility” follows if at least one diagram that fits the statements shows it.
“All boys are tough”: the boys circle lies inside the tough circle
“No tough is sweet”: the tough and sweet circles do not touch
“Some sweet is paper”: the sweet and paper circles overlap; nothing is said about paper and boys
Conclusion I (Some boys are paper is a possibility) follows: no statement keeps paper away from boys, so the paper circle may reach into the boys circle, as the dashed circle shows.
Conclusion II (All boys are paper) does not follow: the paper circle can also be drawn touching only the sweet circle, and that diagram still fits all three statements.