RBI Assistant — Syllogism: Complete Concept Guide + 10 Practice MCQs
This study guide covers Syllogism in depth — from foundational concepts and shortcuts to exam-pattern MCQs — designed specifically for RBI Assistant 2026 aspirants.
Syllogism — Concept Guide
Syllogism is a form of logical reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given premises. It is a high-priority topic in banking and SSC reasoning sections because it can be solved quickly once you master the rules.
Types of Statements
- Universal Affirmative (A): All A are B.
- Universal Negative (E): No A is B.
- Particular Affirmative (I): Some A are B.
- Particular Negative (O): Some A are not B.
Venn Diagram Method
Draw circles for each category and check if the conclusion is possible or definite based on all valid Venn diagram configurations.
⚡ Key Rule: "Some A are B" → B and A circles must overlap. "No A is B" → circles cannot touch. A conclusion is true only if it holds in ALL possible diagrams.
Common Patterns in Exams
- Complementary pairs: "Either I or II follows" — when one of two contradictory conclusions must be true.
- Reversed conclusions: If "All A are B" then "Some B are A" is definitely true, but "All B are A" may or may not be.
- Combined statements: Multi-statement syllogisms require chaining: A→B, B→C ∴ A→C.
Practice MCQs — Syllogism
Test your understanding with these 10 MCQs. Each question mirrors the difficulty and format of actual RBI Assistant exam questions.
Q1. Statements: All cats are dogs. All dogs are birds. Conclusion I: All cats are birds. Conclusion II: Some birds are cats. Which conclusion follows?
- A) Only I
- B) Only II
- C) Both I and II
- D) Neither
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: C) Both I and II
All cats→dogs→birds, so All cats are birds (I). Since all cats are birds, some birds must be cats (I→II follows by conversion).
All cats→dogs→birds, so All cats are birds (I). Since all cats are birds, some birds must be cats (I→II follows by conversion).
Q2. Statements: No pen is a book. All books are pencils. Conclusion: Some pencils are not pens.
- A) True
- B) False
- C) Cannot be determined
- D) Partially true
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) True
No pen is a book → No book is a pen. All books are pencils → some pencils are books → those books are not pens → some pencils are not pens. ✓
No pen is a book → No book is a pen. All books are pencils → some pencils are books → those books are not pens → some pencils are not pens. ✓
Q3. Statements: Some tables are chairs. All chairs are desks. Conclusion I: Some desks are tables. Conclusion II: All desks are chairs.
- A) Only I
- B) Only II
- C) Both
- D) Neither
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) Only I
Some tables are chairs → some chairs are tables → since all chairs are desks, some desks are tables (I ✓). All desks are chairs is too strong — not supported (II ✗).
Some tables are chairs → some chairs are tables → since all chairs are desks, some desks are tables (I ✓). All desks are chairs is too strong — not supported (II ✗).
Q4. Statements: All A are B. Some B are C. Conclusion: Some A are C.
- A) Definitely true
- B) Definitely false
- C) May or may not be true
- D) Cannot follow
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: C) May or may not be true
'Some B are C' does not tell us whether those particular B's are also A's. So the conclusion is possible but not definite.
'Some B are C' does not tell us whether those particular B's are also A's. So the conclusion is possible but not definite.
Q5. Statements: No flower is a fruit. All fruits are vegetables. Conclusion: No flower is a vegetable.
- A) True
- B) False
- C) Uncertain
- D) Partially true
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: C) Uncertain
No flower is a fruit, but some vegetables may not be fruits, so a flower could still be a vegetable (if it's a vegetable that's not a fruit). The conclusion is not definite.
No flower is a fruit, but some vegetables may not be fruits, so a flower could still be a vegetable (if it's a vegetable that's not a fruit). The conclusion is not definite.
Q6. Statements: All cats are dogs. All dogs are birds. Conclusion I: All cats are birds. Conclusion II: Some birds are cats. Which conclusion follows?
- A) Only I
- B) Only II
- C) Both I and II
- D) Neither
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: C) Both I and II
All cats→dogs→birds, so All cats are birds (I). Since all cats are birds, some birds must be cats (I→II follows by conversion).
All cats→dogs→birds, so All cats are birds (I). Since all cats are birds, some birds must be cats (I→II follows by conversion).
Q7. Statements: No pen is a book. All books are pencils. Conclusion: Some pencils are not pens.
- A) True
- B) False
- C) Cannot be determined
- D) Partially true
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) True
No pen is a book → No book is a pen. All books are pencils → some pencils are books → those books are not pens → some pencils are not pens. ✓
No pen is a book → No book is a pen. All books are pencils → some pencils are books → those books are not pens → some pencils are not pens. ✓
Q8. Statements: Some tables are chairs. All chairs are desks. Conclusion I: Some desks are tables. Conclusion II: All desks are chairs.
- A) Only I
- B) Only II
- C) Both
- D) Neither
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: A) Only I
Some tables are chairs → some chairs are tables → since all chairs are desks, some desks are tables (I ✓). All desks are chairs is too strong — not supported (II ✗).
Some tables are chairs → some chairs are tables → since all chairs are desks, some desks are tables (I ✓). All desks are chairs is too strong — not supported (II ✗).
Q9. Statements: All A are B. Some B are C. Conclusion: Some A are C.
- A) Definitely true
- B) Definitely false
- C) May or may not be true
- D) Cannot follow
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: C) May or may not be true
'Some B are C' does not tell us whether those particular B's are also A's. So the conclusion is possible but not definite.
'Some B are C' does not tell us whether those particular B's are also A's. So the conclusion is possible but not definite.
Q10. Statements: No flower is a fruit. All fruits are vegetables. Conclusion: No flower is a vegetable.
- A) True
- B) False
- C) Uncertain
- D) Partially true
Show Answer & Explanation
Answer: C) Uncertain
No flower is a fruit, but some vegetables may not be fruits, so a flower could still be a vegetable (if it's a vegetable that's not a fruit). The conclusion is not definite.
No flower is a fruit, but some vegetables may not be fruits, so a flower could still be a vegetable (if it's a vegetable that's not a fruit). The conclusion is not definite.
Quick Revision Checklist
- ✅ Understand the core concept, not just the formula
- ✅ Practice at least 30 questions per subtopic before the exam
- ✅ Review mistakes immediately — don't skip the explanation
- ✅ Take 2 timed mock tests per week in the last month
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