Civil Service Exam Logical Reasoning:

Argument= Premis (es) + Conclusion

Premiss
Statement which provides reason for accepting the conclusion
Premiss indicator: because

Conclusion
statement which is established by the premiss(es)
conclusion indicator: therefore

Assumption
Unstated premiss in the argument

Example 1:
Superheroes have supernatural powers. (major premiss)
Bruce is a superhero (minor premiss)
What can be concluded?
Therefore, Bruce has supernatural powers. (conclusion)

Example 2:
Scientists are nerds. (major premiss)
Sheldon is a scientist. (minor premiss)

What can be concluded?

Therefore, Sheldon is nerd. (conclusion)

Example 3:
James is a spy (minor premiss)
Therefore, James has exceptional talent (conclusion)

What is the underlying assumption?

Spies have exceptional talent. (the major premiss is missing)

Stated otherwise:
Spies have exceptional talent (major premiss)
James is a spy (minor premiss)
Therefore, James has exceptional talent(conlusion)

Example 4:
Veronica is a private investigator (minor premiss)
Therefore, Veronica solves complex mysteries (conclusion)

What is the underlying assumption?

Private investigator solves complex mysteries (the major premiss is missing)
Stated otherwise:

Private investigators solve complex mysteries. (major premiss)

Veronica is a private investigator (minor premiss)
Therefore, Veronica solves complex mysteries (conclusion)

Example 5:
Mothers are naturally protective of their children. (major premiss)
Therefore, Angelina is naturally protective of her children. (conclusions)

What is the underlying assumption?

Angelina is a mother. (the minor premiss is missing)

Stated otherwise:
Mothers are natural protective of their children (major premiss)
Angelina is a mother. (minor premiss)
Therefore, Angelina is naturally protective of her children. (conclusion)

Example 6:

Entrepreneurs are ambitious. (major premiss)

Therefore, Steve is ambitious. (conclusion)

What is the underlying assumption?

Steve is an entrepreneur. (the minor premiss is missing)

Stated otherwise:

Entrepreneurs are ambitious. (major premiss)

Steve is an entrepreneur. (minor premiss)
Therefore, Steve is ambitious. (conclusion)
Civil Service Exam Logical Reasoning: Deductive Argument

*valid or invalid
*if the premiss are true, the conclusion is true
* the conclusion is absolutely supported by the premisses

Example 1:
All zombies crave for human flesh
Liv is a zombie
Therefore, Liv crave for human flesh.

Example 2:

All zombies crave for human flesh.

Liv does not crave for human flesh.
Therefore, Liv is not a zombie.

Civil Service Exam Logical Reasoning: Inductive Argument

*Never described as valid or invalid

*the conclusion is probably supported by the premisses

Example 1:
Most zombies crave for human flesh.
Liv is a zombie.
Therefore, Liv probably craves for human flesh.

Example 2:

Most zombies crave for human flesh.

Liv does not crave for human flesh.
Therefore, Liv is probably not a zombie.

Civil Service Exam Logical Reasoning: Conditional Statements

Format: if P then Q

Example: If the house is haunted, then there is natural being.

Premiss: The house is haunted.

Note: The IF – statement premise

Conclusion: There is a supernatural being.

Note: The THEN- statement is conclusion.

Remember:
In conditional statement, if the premiss is TRUE, consclusion is likewise TRUE
Civil Service Exam Logical Reasoning: Common Valid Arguments Forms

Modus Ponens

IF P THEN Q,
P
THEREFORE Q

Example:
If the house is haunted, then there is a supernatural being.
The house is haunted.
Therefore, there is a supernatural being.

Modus Tollens

IF P THEN Q
NOT Q
THEREFORE NOT P

Example:
If the house is haunted, then there is a supernatural being.
There is no supernatural being.
Therefore, the house is not haunted

Hypothetical Syllogism

IF P THEN Q
IF Q THEN R
THEREFORE P THEN R

Example:

If the house is haunted, then there is a supernatural being.

There is a natural being, then strange things happen.
Therefore, if the house is haunted, then strange things happens.

Disjunctive Syllogism

P OR Q
NOT P
THEREFORE Q

Either the house is haunted, or my eyes plays tricks on me.

The house is not haunted
Therefore, my eyes play tricks on me.