HSPT Verbal : Determining Whether a Statement is True, False, or Uncertain
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Example Questions
Example Question #111 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
Gremlins are more frightening than ogres. Skeletons are less frightening than ogres. Gremlins are more frightening than skeletons. If the first two sentences are true, the third is __________.
true
uncertain
false
true
Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “more frightening,” and “less than” (<) will mean “less frightening.”
(1) Gremlins are more frightening than ogres: gremlins > ogres
(2) Skeletons are less frightening than ogres: skeletons < ogres
This could be rewritten as: ogres > skeletons
All together, we can say:
gremlins > ogres > skeletons
Therefore, it is indeed the case that gremlins are more frightening than skeletons.
Example Question #112 : Determining Whether A Statement Is True, False, Or Uncertain
Egbert is a stranger name than Dilbert. Dilbert is more normal of a name than Ethelbert. Ethelbert is a stranger name than Egbert. If the first two sentences are true, the third is __________.
true
uncertain
false
uncertain
Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is stranger than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is more normal than.”
(1) Egbert is a stranger name Dilbert: Egbert > Dilbert
(2) Dilbert is more normal of a name than Ethelbert: Dilbert < Ethelbert
This could be rewritten: Ethelbert > Dilbert
Notice that these two statements only tell us that Dilbert's name is more normal than Egbert and than Ethelbert. This does not tell us anything about the relationship between Egbert and Ethelbert.
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