Question 70

Logical Reasoning Syllogism Easy

Statements:
1. No women teacher can play.
2. Some women teachers are athletes.
Conclusions:
I. Male athletes can play.
II. Some athletes can play.

(A) Neither I nor II follows
(B) Only conclusion II follows
(C) Either I or II follows
(D) Only conclusion I follows
View Dynamic Solution & Explanation
Correct Solution: Option A

Step-by-step Solution:

Here is a breakdown of the logic for this syllogism.


The Statements

1. No women teacher can play.

2. Some women teachers are athletes.


Analysis of Statements

  • Statement 1: "No women teacher can play"
    This creates a complete separation between the group "women teachers" and the group "people who can play."
  • Statement 2: "Some women teachers are athletes"
    This creates an overlap. There is a subgroup of people who are simultaneously "women teachers" and "athletes."
  • Combined Logic: Because of statement 1, we know that the specific group of athletes who are also women teachers cannot play.

Testing the Conclusions

  • Conclusion I: "Male athletes can play."
    This is not a valid conclusion. The original statements say nothing at all about males, so we cannot make any conclusion about them.
  • Conclusion II: "Some athletes can play."
    This is also not a valid conclusion. We only have information about one subgroup of athletes (the ones who are women teachers), and we know they cannot play. The statements provide no information about any other athletes (e.g., male athletes, non-teacher female athletes). It is possible that no athletes can play, so we cannot definitively say that "some" can.

Correct answer: A. Neither I nor II follows.