Statements: All the poets are goats. Some goats are trees. Conclusions: (1)…
2025
Statements:
All the poets are goats.
Some goats are trees.
Conclusions:
(1) Some poets are trees.
(2) Some trees are goats.
- A.
Only (1) conclusion follows
- B.
Only (2) conclusion follows
- C.
Neither (1) nor (2) follows
- D.
Both (1) and (2) follow
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept: In statement-based syllogism questions, a definite conclusion must hold in every diagram consistent with the given statements. A universal statement (all A are B) combined with a particular statement about a different term (some B are C) never fixes a certain relation between A and C; that combination only supports a possibility, tested by drawing every distinct valid diagram. A particular statement given directly, however, always reverses safely: some X are Y guarantees some Y are X, because sharing a region is the same fact stated either direction.
Apply this to the given premises (poets is a sub-circle inside goats; goats overlaps trees):
Diagram A: the goats-trees overlap sits entirely in the part of goats outside poets, so no poet is a tree in this valid diagram.
Diagram B: the goats-trees overlap extends into the poets sub-circle too, so some poets are trees in this equally valid diagram.
Since Diagram A already satisfies both premises without any poets-trees overlap, some poets are trees is not certain, so conclusion (1) fails. In both diagrams, the stated some goats are trees overlap exists, and since sharing a region is the same fact viewed from either side, some trees are goats holds in both diagrams too, so conclusion (2) is certain.
Cross-check: Check independently, without diagrams: some goats are trees means the goats circle and the trees circle share a region. Sharing a region is a symmetric fact, so some trees are goats is automatically true as well. This matches what both diagrams showed, confirming conclusion (2) is definite while conclusion (1) is only a possibility.
Only conclusion (2) follows, so Only (2) conclusion follows is the correct option.
