Question

Forestland is a planet inhabited by different kinds of creatures. Among other creatures, it is populated by animals all of whom are ferocious. There are also creatures that have claws, and some that do not. All creatures that have claws are ferocious.
Based only on the information provided above, which one of the following options can be logically inferred with \textit{certainty?}

• A. All creatures with claws are animals.
• B. Some creatures with claws are non-ferocious.
• C. Some non-ferocious creatures have claws.
• D. Some ferocious creatures are creatures with claws.

Hint:

When tackling syllogism-style questions, convert statements into set relations (\(\subseteq\), existence) and check each option against these relations for necessity or contradiction.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Translate statements into set relations. Let \(A\) be animals, \(F\) ferocious, and \(C\) creatures with claws. The statements imply \(A \subseteq F\) and \(C \subseteq F\). Also, there \emph{exist} creatures with claws (i.e., \(C\neq \varnothing\)). Step 2: Evaluate options.

(A) \(C \subseteq A\) is not implied; clawed creatures could be non-animals. Not certain.
(B) Says \(C \cap F^{c}\neq \varnothing\), contradicting \(C \subseteq F\). False.
(C) Also contradicts \(C \subseteq F\). False.
(D) Since \(C\neq\varnothing\) and \(C\subseteq F\), it follows that \(C \subseteq F\) implies \(F\) contains members from \(C\); hence \(\exists\) ferocious creatures with claws. True.
Thus, (D) is the only statement that follows with certainty.