Question Details

In the following question, some statements are given followed by two conclusions. You must assume the statements to be true even if they contradict commonly known facts. Read the conclusions and decide which of the conclusions logically follows from the statements.

Statements:
Only a few P is Q
No Q is R
All R is S.
Conclusions:
I. Some S is not Q
II. All P can be R

Options

A

If neither conclusion I nor II follows

B

If either conclusion I or II follows

C

If only conclusion II follows

D

If both conclusions I and II follow

E

If only conclusion I follows

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option E

If only conclusion I follows

Solution :

The correct answer is "If only conclusion I follows".

Let us carefully analyze the given statements and conclusions using Venn diagram logic and syllogism rules.

Given Statements:
1. Only a few P is Q
2. No Q is R
3. All R is S

Step 1 – Interpret the Statements

Statement 1: "Only a few P is Q"
This means: Some P is Q, and Some P is NOT Q. It does not say all P is Q. So there is a partial overlap between P and Q — some members of P are in Q, but some are definitely outside Q.

Statement 2: "No Q is R"
This means Q and R are completely separate (disjoint) sets. No element that belongs to Q can belong to R, and vice versa.

Statement 3: "All R is S"
This means the entire set R is contained within S. Every member of R is also a member of S.

Step 2 – Build the logical picture

From Statements 2 and 3 combined:
- Since No Q is R, and All R is S → R exists inside S, but completely away from Q.
- This means S contains R (at minimum). Since R and Q are disjoint, those R-elements inside S are certainly NOT Q.
- Therefore: Some S (at least those that are R) is NOT Q.

Step 3 – Evaluate Conclusion I: "Some S is not Q"

We know All R is S (Statement 3) and No Q is R (Statement 2).
This means all elements of R are in S, and none of them are in Q.
So those elements of S (which came from R) are definitely not Q.
Therefore: Some S is not Q — this is definitely TRUE. ✔

Step 4 – Evaluate Conclusion II: "All P can be R"

Statement 1 says "Only a few P is Q" — meaning some P is Q.
Statement 2 says "No Q is R" — meaning Q and R share no members.
Now, since some P is Q, and No Q is R → those P-members that are Q cannot be R.
This directly means: NOT all P can be R, because at least some portion of P is Q, and Q members cannot be R.
Therefore, the possibility of "All P can be R" is ruled out. Conclusion II does NOT follow. ✘

Final Verdict:

✔ Conclusion I — follows (Some S is not Q — confirmed because All R is S and No Q is R)
✘ Conclusion II — does not follow (Some P is Q, and Q cannot be R, so not all P can be R)

Hence, the answer is: If only Conclusion I follows.

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