Unit 5 a famous puzzler's logic

Lewis Carroll, the author of the famous children's book, "Alice in Wonderland", earned his living as a lecturer in mathematics at Oxford, and was also extremely interested in puzzles. The ones that follow are taken from his book "Symbolic Logic".

Draw conclusions from the statements made. Write down the answers. Make sure you have written a proper sentence.

A

1. Babies are illogical;

2. Nobody is despised who can manage a crocodile;

3. Illogical persons are despised.

В

1. My saucepans are the only things I have that are made of tin;

2. I find all your presents useful;

3. None of my saucepans is of the slightest use.

C

1. No potatoes of mine, that are new, have been boiled;

2. All my potatoes in this dish are fit to eat;

3. No unboiled potatoes in this dish are fit to eat.

D

1. Everyone who is sane can do logic;

2. No lunatics are fit to serve on a jury;

3. None of your sons can do logic.

E

1. No experienced person is incompetent;

2. Jenkins is always blundering;

3. No competent person is always blundering.

F

1. No one takes in The Times unless he is well-educated;

2. No hedge-hogs can read;

3. Those who cannot read are not well-educated.

G

1. All puddings are nice;

2. This dish is a pudding;

3. No nice things are wholesome.

H

1. All the old articles in this cupboard are cracked;

2. No jug in this cupboard is new;

3. Nothing in this cupboard, that is cracked, will hold water.

blundering: making clumsy mistakes

wholesome: good for you

UNIT 6

PURE LOGIC

By now you should be able to answer this quiz easily! Work with a partner. Do you know any similar problems of logic? If so, write them down and try them out on a partner.