Military Nursing Service – Reasoning Ability
Topic: Statement & Conclusion
Purpose – In the Statement & Conclusion type, you are given a short statement (a factual claim) and a conclusion (a logical inference). You must decide whether the conclusion logically follows from the statement.
Why it matters – This question tests deductive reasoning – the ability to apply logical rules to a given premise. It is a staple in the MS Nursing Service reasoning section.
1. Simple Explanation
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Statement | A factual sentence or set of facts (premise). |
| Conclusion | A logical inference that may be true, false, or cannot be determined from the statement. |
| Relation types | ① Conclusion follows (deduction) ② Conclusion contradicts (negation) ③ Conclusion cannot be determined (insufficient data) |
You are asked to pick the correct option (usually 4 choices) that best describes the relation between the statement and the conclusion.
2. Key Points & Rules
| # | Rule | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Logical Consequence | If the conclusion is a necessary consequence of the statement, it follows. |
| 2 | Contradiction | If the statement and conclusion cannot both be true, the conclusion contradicts the statement. |
| 3 | Insufficient Data | If the statement does not provide enough information to deduce the conclusion, it is undetermined. |
| 4 | Universal vs. Particular | Statements with all or none have stronger implications than those with some. |
| 5 | Implication Direction | “If P, then Q” → From P you can infer Q. From Q you cannot infer P. |
| 6 | Negation | “Not P” negates P. If a statement says “P is not true”, any conclusion asserting “P is true” contradicts it. |
| 7 | Common Pitfalls | ① Assuming “if P then Q” implies “if Q then P”. ② Taking “some” to mean “all”. ③ Ignoring that conclusions may involve multiple premises. |
3. Worked Example
Problem
Statement
All students who are fluent in French are also fluent in Spanish.
Conclusion
John, who is fluent in French, is fluent in Spanish.
Options
- Conclusion follows from the statement.
- Conclusion contradicts the statement.
- Conclusion cannot be determined.
- None of the above.
Step‑by‑Step Solution
-
Identify the logical form
- Statement: “If a person is fluent in French, then that person is fluent in Spanish.”
- Formal: ( \forall x (French(x) \rightarrow Spanish(x)) ).
-
Check the subject of the conclusion
- Conclusion concerns John.
- Premise applies to all such students; John is one of them, so the premise applies to him.
-
Apply the rule of inference
- Since the premise says every French‑fluent student is also Spanish‑fluent, and John is French‑fluent, we can deduce that John is Spanish‑fluent.
-
Select the correct answer
- The conclusion follows from the statement.
- Answer: 1.
Quick Verification
| Statement | Conclusion | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| All French‑fluent → Spanish‑fluent | John French → John Spanish | Follows |
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Topic | Quick Points |
|---|---|
| Identify the statement type | Universal (“all”), particular (“some”), or negated (“none”) |
| Understand implication | “If P then Q” → P ⇒ Q; Q does not imply P |
| Check the conclusion’s subject | Must be covered by the statement’s scope |
| Decide relation | ① Follows, ② Contradicts, ③ Undetermined |
| Common traps | Misusing “some” as “all”; assuming bidirectional implication; ignoring negations |
| Practice tip | Rewrite statements in “if‑then” form; then test the conclusion against it |
Pro Tip: In the exam, read the statement and conclusion together. Write down the logical form of the statement in parentheses and see if the conclusion can be derived directly. If you can’t, consider whether the statement denies it or leaves it open.
5. Mini Practice Set
| # | Statement | Conclusion | Correct Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No reptiles are mammals. | All mammals are reptiles. | 2 |
| 2 | Some professionals are mathematicians. | Every professional is a mathematician. | 3 |
| 3 | All red cars are fast. | The red car you saw is fast. | 1 |
| 4 | None of the volunteers are under 18. | The volunteer is under 18. | 2 |
Answers: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 1, 4 → 2
Work through these to reinforce the rule‑based approach.
Final Thought
Mastering Statement & Conclusion questions comes down to seeing the logical skeleton of the statement and checking whether the conclusion is a necessary, contradictory, or impossible inference. Keep