I really need help understanding why there is any correct answer to this question.
It says that one of John's friends must be lying, but how do we know that that is true since it is possible that John is mistaken and he might actually be unique among his friends.
Couldn't it be possible that John is the person everyone else is referring to?
Question Type:
Must Be False “If the essayist statements are true ... could be true EXCEPT? ”
The Stimulus in My Words:
The people the essayist has met are either wise or intelligent, but never both.
Argument Being Posited (if any):
Premise(s) (if any):
1. Wise ←s→ /Intelligent
2. Intelligent ←s→ /Wise
Conclusion(s) (if any):
My Target:
One of the answer choices will contradict a premise or make a conclusion that cannot be drawn based on the premises. That will be the correct answer because of its certain falsehood.
Answer Choice Breakdowns & Explanation of Reasoning:
(A) This could be true because we do not know how many people the essayist. All the people he has not met could be neither intelligent or wise.
(B) This could be true for the same reason A could be. All the people he has not met could be both intelligent and wise.
(C) This could be true because the essayist does not know anyone who is both intelligent and wise. Everyone else in the world could be the same.
(D) It must be false that no one is either wise or intelligent because the essayist already stated everyone he has met has one of these qualities.
(E) This could be true because the essayist only stated everyone he has met is either intelligent or wise and did not make any claim as to proportion of people that are wise or intelligent. It could be the case that everyone in the world is intelligent and no on is wise.
Correct Answer Choice: D
Lesson(s) Learned:
This question reminded me to slow down and be more careful when reading. I initially got this question wrong because I read the essayist life experience as a fact for the rest of the world.