What Syllogism Questions Test
- Basic two-statement syllogisms
- Multi-statement chains (three or more premises)
- Possibility conclusions ("can be true")
- Either-or (complementary pair) cases
Question bank coverage by sub-pattern
How Syllogism Appears in SSC CGL
Syllogism is part of the General Intelligence & Reasoning section (25% of the SSC CGL syllabus). See the full SSC CGL Tier-I breakdown.
Syllogism Solved Examples for SSC CGL
Exam-pattern questions from the practice bank, with full solutions.
Statements: Some cars are trucks. All trucks are buses. No bus is a cycle. Conclusions: I. Some cars being cycles is a possibility. II. No car being cycle is a possibility. Which of the following conclusions does NOT possibly follow?
- A.Only I
- B.Only II
- C.Both I and II
- D.Neither I nor IICorrect
Solution
Statements: Some cars are trucks. All trucks are buses. No bus is a cycle. Conclusion I: Some cars being cycles is a possibility. Since some cars are trucks, and all trucks are buses, and no bus is a cycle, it is possible that the cars that are trucks cannot be cycles, however, the remaining cars could be cycles. Thus, some cars being cycles is a possibility. Conclusion II: No car being cycle is a possibility. Since some cars are trucks, and all trucks are buses, and no bus is a cycle, then some cars (which are trucks/buses) cannot be cycles. However, the cars that are not trucks/buses COULD be cycles. Thus it is possible that SOME cars could be cycles. Therefore, the conclusion that NO car is a cycle, is a possibility. Therefore, neither I nor II does NOT possibly follow.
Statements: Some books are novels. All novels are poems. No poem is a song. Conclusions: I. Some books being songs is a possibility. II. No book being song is a possibility. Which of the following conclusions does NOT possibly follow?
- A.Only I
- B.Only II
- C.Both I and II
- D.Neither I nor IICorrect
Solution
Statements: Some books are novels. All novels are poems. No poem is a song. Conclusion I: Some books being songs is a possibility. Since some books are novels, and all novels are poems, and no poem is a song, it is possible that some books that are not novels are songs. Thus, this is a possibility. Conclusion II: No book being song is a possibility. Since some books are novels, and all novels are poems, and no poem is a song, then some books (those that are novels/poems) cannot be songs. However, the remaining books that are not novels/poems, could be songs. Thus it is possible that SOME books could be songs. Therefore, the conclusion that NO book is a song, is a possibility. Therefore, neither I nor II does NOT possibly follow.
Statements: All pens are books. Some books are copies. No copy is a page. Conclusions: I. Some pens being pages is a possibility. II. Some books being pages is a possibility. Which of the following conclusions does NOT possibly follow?
- A.Only I
- B.Only II
- C.Both I and II
- D.Neither I nor IICorrect
Solution
Statements: All pens are books. Some books are copies. No copy is a page. Conclusion I: Some pens being pages is a possibility. Since all pens are books, and some books are copies, and no copy is a page, pens cannot be pages. Thus, the possibility of pens being pages does not exist. Conclusion II: Some books being pages is a possibility. Since some books are copies and no copy is a page, those books that are copies cannot be pages. However, some books are not copies, and therefore could potentially be pages. The part of books which are copies, cannot be pages. Thus the possibility of books being pages does not exist. Therefore, neither I nor II does NOT possibly follow.
Syllogism — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest method for syllogism questions?
Venn diagrams — draw the minimal diagram the statements force, and test each conclusion against it. For "possibility" conclusions, ask instead whether ANY valid diagram allows it.
When does an either-or answer apply?
When two conclusions are individually not certain but form a complementary pair — same subject and predicate, covering all cases between them (e.g. "some" + "no"). Then "either I or II follows".
How many Syllogism practice questions does Parikshala have for SSC CGL?
100 exam-pattern Syllogism questions for SSC CGL Reasoning, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.