BDS Admission Test Logical Reasoning Syllabus

In a categorical syllogism, what is the middle term?

The term that appears in both premises but not in the conclusion; it links the major and minor terms.

What is the rule about the middle term being distributed?

In a valid categorical syllogism, the middle term must be distributed (refer to all members of its category) in at least one premise.

What does 'distributed term' mean in a syllogism?

A term is distributed when the statement refers to every member of the category it denotes (e.g., the subject of universal 'All' statements and the predicate of negative 'No' statements).

What conclusion follows from 'All cats are mammals; All mammals are animals'?

All cats are animals (valid universal affirmative conclusion).

What conclusion validly follows from 'No A are B; All C are A'?

No C are B.

Why is the conclusion invalid for 'Some A are B; Some B are C'?

From two particular ('some') premises no valid conclusion can be drawn; the middle term is undistributed and the groups may not overlap.

What is the rule about negative premises in syllogisms?

If either premise is negative the conclusion must be negative, and two negative premises yield no valid conclusion.

What is the rule about particular premises in syllogisms?

Two particular premises yield no valid conclusion; if one premise is particular, the conclusion must be particular.

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning?

Deductive reasoning moves from general premises to a certain specific conclusion; inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to a probable general conclusion.

What makes a deductive argument 'valid'?

An argument is valid when the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises; if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

What is the difference between a valid argument and a sound argument?

A valid argument has a correct logical structure; a sound argument is valid AND has all true premises, guaranteeing a true conclusion.

When drawing valid conclusions, what should you avoid assuming?

Avoid adding outside knowledge or assumptions beyond the given statements; conclude only what the premises strictly guarantee.

What is a 'possibility' conclusion versus a 'definite' conclusion?

A definite conclusion must be true given the premises; a possibility conclusion only could be true and is therefore not a valid logical inference.

In analytical puzzles, what is the recommended first step?

List all the elements and read every clue, then build a grid or table to track the relationships systematically.

What is an elimination grid (matrix) used for in logic puzzles?

A grid that maps each item against every category so you can mark confirmed (✓) and impossible (✗) combinations to deduce the unique solution.

In seating/arrangement puzzles, how should direction be interpreted for a circular table facing center?

For people facing the center, their left and right are opposite to the observer's; a person's right is the neighbour to the observer's left.

In a linear arrangement, what does 'A sits immediately to the left of B' mean?

A is directly next to B with no one between them, and A occupies the position on B's left side.

What strategy helps solve blood-relation or ranking arrangement problems?

Translate each statement into a fixed reference (e.g., a line from tallest to shortest or a family tree) and place definite clues first, then fit conditional clues.

In ranking puzzles, if A is 5th from the top and 8th from the bottom, how many people are there?

Total = (position from top) + (position from bottom) − 1 = 5 + 8 − 1 = 12 people.

What is the difference between a 'definite' and 'conditional' clue in arrangement problems?

A definite clue fixes a position absolutely; a conditional clue depends on another element's position and is applied after definite clues are placed.

What does 'identifying the appropriate response' test in logical reasoning?

It tests selecting the most logical, relevant, and proportionate action or reply given a described situation, based on reasoning rather than emotion or bias.

In decision-making scenario questions, what is the best general approach?

Identify the objective, weigh available options against given criteria, consider consequences, and choose the response that best satisfies the stated goal logically and ethically.

What is a causal relationship?

A relationship in which one event (the cause) directly produces or brings about another event (the effect).

What three conditions strengthen a claim that X causes Y?

(1) X precedes Y in time, (2) X and Y are correlated/covary, and (3) no plausible alternative cause (confounding variable) explains Y.

Why does correlation not imply causation?

Two variables can move together due to coincidence, a reverse causal direction, or a common third (confounding) variable, so correlation alone cannot establish that one causes the other.

What is the 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' fallacy?

Assuming that because event B followed event A, A must have caused B — mistaking sequence in time for a causal link.

How do you distinguish a cause from an effect?

The cause occurs first and brings about change; the effect occurs afterward as the result. Check temporal order and whether removing the proposed cause eliminates the proposed effect.

What is a confounding variable in causal reasoning?

A hidden third variable that influences both the supposed cause and the supposed effect, creating a misleading apparent causal link between them.

What is reverse causation?

An error in which the assumed cause and effect are actually swapped — Y causes X rather than X causing Y.

In cause-and-effect statement questions, how do you decide which statement is the cause?

Determine which event is independent and occurs first triggering the other; the event that is a consequence or response is the effect, while the triggering, prior event is the cause.