Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam

The conclusion drawn from the syllogism — that all dogs say 'meow' — follows logically from the premises provided. In this case, if we accept the premises as true (that all dogs are cats and that all cats say 'meow'), then the conclusion necessarily follows. This demonstrates the structure of a valid argument in formal logic, where if the premises are accepted, the conclusion must also be accepted as a result.

However, it’s important to differentiate between validity and soundness. A valid conclusion means it logically follows from the premises, regardless of the truth of those premises; both could be false or nonsensical but still produce a valid argument. In this instance, while the argument is valid due to its logical structure, the premises themselves are implausible, which leads to uncertainty regarding the truth of the conclusion.

Therefore, the conclusion being valid reflects the logical progression rather than the truth of the content used in the premises.