Detailed Analysis of Reasoning Module in 2019 Joint Exam A

【Question 1】 The following animals can only belong to one category, and they satisfy the following conditions:

(1) If animal B is not a bird, then animal A is a mammal.

(2) Either animal C is a mammal, or animal A is a mammal.

(3) If animal B is not a bird, then animal D is not a fish.

(4) Either animal D is a fish, or animal E is not an insect.

(5) If animal E is not an insect, then animal B is not a bird.

Which of the following, if true, allows us to conclude that “animal C is a mammal”?

A. Animal B is not a bird.

B. Animal A is a mammal.

C. Animal D is not a fish.

D. Animal E is an insect.

【Answer】 D

【Analysis】 This question belongs to translation reasoning, mainly testing the translation of compound sentences.

The conditions of the question are translated as follows:

(1) B is not a bird → A is a mammal.

(2) A is not a mammal → C is a mammal; A is a mammal → C is not a mammal.

(3) B is not a bird → D is not a fish.

(4) E is an insect → D is a fish.

(5) E is not an insect → B is not a bird.

Combining these gives:

B is a bird → E is an insect → D is a fish → B is a bird;

B is not a bird → A is a mammal → C is not a mammal.

Substituting option A, B is not a bird → A is a mammal → C is not a mammal, does not lead to a conclusion;

Substituting option B, A is a mammal → C is not a mammal, does not lead to a conclusion;

Substituting option C, D is not a fish → E is not an insect → B is not a bird → A is a mammal → C is not a mammal, does not lead to a conclusion;

Substituting option D, “E is an insect → D is a fish → B is a bird” and “C is a mammal → A is not a mammal → B is a bird” are not contradictory, allowing for the conclusion.

Therefore, the answer is D.

Note: This question has flaws in its proposition, see 【Critique】 this year’s proposition needs improvement (1)

【Question 2】 “Multiple Choice” After the mathematics and language exams, three teachers discussed the students’ performances. Teacher A said: “Xiao Li achieved first place in mathematics.” Teacher B said: “Xiao Wang achieved first place in language.” Teacher C said: “Xiao Li did not achieve first place in mathematics.” It is known that only one of the three teachers told the truth, and both Xiao Li and Xiao Wang only achieved first place in one subject.

Based on this, we can conclude:

A.Xiao Li achieved first place in mathematics.

B.Xiao Li achieved first place in language.

C.Xiao Wang achieved first place in mathematics.

D.Xiao Wang achieved first place in language.

【Answer】 C

【Analysis】 This question belongs to true-false reasoning, mainly testing contradictory relationships.

Teacher A and Teacher C’s statements are contradictory; one is true and the other is false.

Teacher A, B, and C’s statements total one true and two false, therefore Teacher B’s statement is false.

If Teacher B’s statement is false, it means Xiao Wang did not achieve first place in language; since both Xiao Li and Xiao Wang only achieved first place in one subject, Xiao Wang must have achieved first place in mathematics.

Xiao Li could be tied for first in mathematics or first in language.

Therefore, the answer is C.

Note: This question also has flaws in its proposition, see 【Critique】 this year’s proposition needs improvement (2)

【Question 3】 Before the widespread medical use of antibiotics, the effect of drug resistance was almost meaningless for bacteria, and the harmful effects of mutations were more significant. Normal use of antibiotics can kill almost all target bacteria, and individual outliers are usually eliminated by the human immune system. Some bacteria may have the beginnings of drug resistance, but these beginnings are insufficient to resist normal doses of antibiotics and will disappear with the death of the individual.

From this, we can conclude:

A. Genetic mutations are the root cause of the rampant spread of drug-resistant bacteria.

B. Bacteria weaken the effect of antibiotics through genetic mutations.

C. After pathogenic bacteria develop drug resistance, antibiotics will be unable to attack the bacteria.

D. If there is no abuse of antibiotics, drug resistance will not spread rapidly.

【Answer】 D

【Analysis】 This question belongs to inductive reasoning, mainly testing what can be concluded.

Option A: Genetic mutations are the root cause of drug resistance, not the root cause of its rampant spread, which is a concept shift and cannot be concluded;

Option B: Bacteria develop drug resistance through structural changes (such as blocking antibiotics from entering or rendering antibiotics inactive) and pass this change through genetics. The prompt does not discuss the mechanism of bacteria developing antibiotic resistance, which is a shift in the topic and cannot be concluded;

Option C: After bacteria develop drug resistance, antibiotics can still upgrade to attack bacteria. The prompt states “unable to attack,” which is an overinterpretation of “possibly unable to attack or difficult to attack,” and cannot be concluded.

Option D: The first sentence of the prompt states, “Before the widespread use of antibiotics, drug resistance did not spread,” and the second sentence states, “Normal use of antibiotics also does not lead to rampant drug resistance.” Both “non-widespread use of antibiotics” and “normal use of antibiotics” do not cause rampant drug resistance, therefore, “only the abuse of antibiotics will cause rampant drug resistance,” which means “if there is no abuse of antibiotics, drug resistance will not spread rapidly,” aligns with the prompt’s argument.

Therefore, the answer is D.

【Question 4】 When dentists treat cavities, they first need to remove the decayed part of the tooth and then fill it with material to repair the defect. However, 10% to 15% of fillings fail, and the materials used do not possess the ability to self-heal the teeth, and may even have side effects. In light of this, researchers developed a filling made of synthetic biological materials that can stimulate the growth of stem cells in the dental pulp, repairing the damaged area. This filling can stimulate the proliferation of stem cells and differentiate into dentin. If in the future, all fillings for teeth are made from such regenerative materials, it will reduce the failure rate of fillings and alleviate the suffering of cavity patients.

From this, we can conclude:

A. In the future, people will no longer suffer from cavities.

B. In the future, people will no longer be troubled by cavities.

C. The newly developed filling can stimulate self-healing of damaged teeth.

D. The newly developed filling can promote the growth of dentin.

【Answer】C

【Analysis】 This question belongs to inductive reasoning, mainly testing what can be concluded.

Option A: The option states “people will not get cavities anymore,” whereas the prompt discusses “new treatment methods for cavities,” which is a shift in the topic and cannot be concluded;

Option B: The prompt’s argument is “the new filling can reduce the failure rate of fillings and reduce pain,” but it does not lead to the conclusion that people will no longer be troubled by cavities, which is an overinterpretation and exaggeration of the facts, and cannot be concluded;

Option C: The prompt states that “the new filling can stimulate the proliferation of stem cells, differentiate into dentin, and repair the damaged area,” which corresponds with the option that “the new filling can stimulate self-healing of damaged teeth” and can be concluded;

Option D: The prompt states that “the new filling can stimulate the proliferation of stem cells, differentiate into dentin, and repair the damaged area,” but “stimulating the growth of stem cells” is not the same as “stimulating the growth of dentin,” which is a shift in the subject and cannot be concluded.

Therefore, the answer is C.

【Question 5】 The investment of most parents has a significant positive predictive effect on their children’s academic investment, and the level of parental investment decreases as the children’s grade level increases. At the same time, most parents focus more on home tutoring investment and lack investment in their children’s participation in community and school activities. The parenting style that parents autonomously support or control plays a moderating role in the relationship between parental investment and children’s academic investment, and some effects are mediated through the satisfaction of children’s academic psychological needs.

From this, we can conclude:

A. Parental investment and parenting style will inevitably affect children’s academic investment.

B. The reduction of parental investment in children’s education means an increase in children’s grade level.

C. The creation and formation of a learning environment at home is inversely proportional to the connection between school and community.

D. The satisfaction of children’s academic psychological needs is the internal drive and primary factor affecting their academic investment.

【Answer】A

【Analysis】 This question belongs to inductive reasoning, mainly testing what can be concluded.

Option A: The first sentence indicates that “parental investment will affect academic investment,” and the second sentence indicates that “parenting style will affect academic investment.” Combining both leads to the conclusion that “parental investment and parenting style will affect academic investment.” This option has flaws, but compared to options B, C, and D, it is the most likely answer;

Option B: The first sentence’s sub-point states “parental investment decreases as children’s grade level increases,” where “children’s grade level” is the independent variable and “parental investment” is the dependent variable, indicating a function relationship. The increase in children’s grade level leads to a decrease in parental investment, but if multiple factors can cause parental investment to decrease, then the decrease in parental investment does not necessarily mean it is caused by an increase in children’s grade level, so this option is excluded;

Option C: The first sentence’s sub-point states “most parents focus more on home tutoring investment and lack investment in their children’s participation in community and school activities.” This is a typical proportion description, indicating only the absolute proportion without explaining the relative relationship. It can only indicate that “parents who prioritize home tutoring over school community activities constitute a large proportion of all parents.” Option C states that “the creation and formation of a learning environment at home is inversely proportional to the connection between school and community.” This is a correlation between two variables, and the prompt’s information cannot interpret this logic, so this option is excluded;

Option D: There are four paths influencing academic investment, and the prompt information states “some effects are mediated through the satisfaction of children’s academic psychological needs,” but it does not emphasize that “through the satisfaction of psychological needs is the primary or only path,” so this option is excluded.

Therefore, the answer is option A.

Note: This question also has flaws in its proposition, see 【Critique】 this year’s proposition needs improvement (3)