Question

Statements:
Some bags are purses.
All purses are containers.
All containers are suitcases.
Conclusions:
I. Some suitcases are bags.
II. All purses are bags.
III. All purses are suitcases.
IV. Some containers are purses.

• A. Only conclusions I, II and III follow
• B. Only conclusions II and III follow
• C. Only conclusions I, III and IV follow
• D. Only conclusions II, III and IV follow

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Only conclusions I, III and IV follow

Clearly, IV is the converse of the second premise and so it holds.
Some bags are purses. All purses are containers.
Since one premise is particular, the conclusion must be particular and shouldn't contain the middle term. So, it follows that 'Some bags are containers'.
All purses are containers. All containers are suitcases.
Since both the premises are universal, the conclusion must be universal and shouldn't contain the middle term. So, it follows that 'All purses are suitcases'. Thus, conclusion III follows.
Some bags are containers. All containers are suitcases.
Since one premise is particular, the conclusion must be particular and shouldn't contain the middle term. So it follows that ‘Some bags are suitcases'. I is the converse of this conclusion and so it holds.

Thus, conclusions I, III and IV follow from the given premises.