Question 1
Proposed conclusionSome trainee solicitors work in the litigation team.
Watson Glaser deduction questions
Premises you must accept as true, then proposed conclusions. A conclusion follows only if it must be true.
| Questions in the test | 5 of 40 |
|---|---|
| Answers | Conclusion follows, conclusion does not follow |
| Standard | Logically necessary, no outside knowledge |
| Time | About 45 seconds a question |
Rules that decide most questions
- "Some" means at least one, and possibly all.
- "All A are B" does not mean all B are A.
- "If A, then B" and "not B" give "not A". "B" alone gives nothing.
- "Only if" gives a requirement, not a promise.
Try 5 questions
All of the firm's trainee solicitors attend the Monday briefing.
Some people who attend the Monday briefing work in the litigation team.
Question 2
Proposed conclusionEveryone who attends the Monday briefing is a trainee solicitor.
Question 3
Proposed conclusionAnyone who does not attend the Monday briefing is not a trainee solicitor.
Question 4
Proposed conclusionSome people in the litigation team attend the Monday briefing.
Question 5
Proposed conclusionNo trainee solicitor works in the litigation team.
Next step
Questions people ask
What if a conclusion is true in real life?
Ignore that. A conclusion follows only if the premises force it.
Is deduction the same as interpretation?
No. Deduction needs logical necessity. Interpretation accepts what the passage shows beyond reasonable doubt.
How do I check a syllogism fast?
Look for one arrangement where every premise is true and the conclusion false. If you find one, it does not follow.