Question:

Select the alternative that logically follows the two given statements:
Some rocks are not tables.
Some rocks are balloons.

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Both statements use the word some, and two particular statements sharing a common term never force a definite conclusion.
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
  • Some tables are not balloons
  • Some tables are balloons
  • Some balloons are not tables
  • None of the above
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Classify the two given statements.
Some rocks are not tables is a particular negative statement linking rocks and tables. Some rocks are balloons is a particular affirmative statement linking rocks and balloons. The common term connecting both statements is rocks.
Step 2: Recall the rule about the middle term.
For a syllogism to give a valid conclusion, the common term, here rocks, must be distributed, meaning referred to in its entirety, in at least one of the two premises. In some rocks are not tables, only the predicate tables is distributed, not the subject rocks. In some rocks are balloons, neither term is distributed, since both are particular affirmative claims. Because rocks is left undistributed in both statements, this is a fallacy of undistributed middle, and no definite relationship between tables and balloons can be forced.
Step 3: Confirm with a concrete picture.
Imagine 10 rocks. Rocks 1 to 4 are not tables. Separately, rocks 7 to 10 are balloons. In this picture, the not-table rocks and the balloon rocks do not overlap at all, so nothing links tables and balloons through this example, meaning tables could contain any number of balloons or none at all.
Step 4: Test each option against this picture.
Some tables are not balloons is not guaranteed, since this picture says nothing about which rocks are tables. Some tables are balloons is not guaranteed for the same reason. Some balloons are not tables is also not guaranteed, since a different valid picture can be drawn where every balloon rock happens to be a table too.
Step 5: Conclude.
Since none of the three specific conclusions is forced to be true in every scenario consistent with the two given statements, the correct answer is None of the above.
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