Future Aptitude Selection Tool Logical Reasoning Flashcards

A cat has 4 legs, a dog has 4 legs, and a horse has 4 legs. What is the best inductive generalization from these observations?

Answer: Most mammals have 4 legs

Inductive reasoning from these examples best supports that many mammals have 4 legs, not that every animal does.

Which statement is an example of inductive reasoning?

Answer: I have observed 100 white swans; therefore all swans are white

Inductive reasoning draws a general conclusion from specific observations, like concluding all swans are white after observing many.

Which argument contains a logical fallacy? 'Some cats are black. Whiskers is a cat. Therefore, Whiskers is black.'

Answer: The argument is a fallacy because 'some' does not mean 'all'

Concluding Whiskers is black from 'some cats are black' is a fallacy because 'some' does not imply 'all.'

Three students from the same class scored 90, 85, and 95 on a test. A fourth student is most likely to score:

Answer: Around 85 to 95

Inductive reasoning suggests the fourth student would likely score in a range similar to the observed results.

'Every time I eat peanuts I get a stomachache; therefore peanuts cause my stomachaches.' This is an example of:

Answer: Inductive reasoning

This is inductive reasoning — drawing a general conclusion from repeated specific personal observations.

Which argument uses valid deductive reasoning?

Answer: All prime numbers greater than 2 are odd; 7 is prime and greater than 2; therefore 7 is odd

This is valid deductive reasoning — if the premises are true the conclusion follows with certainty.