Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam

The correct answer is deductive reasoning because syllogisms are a form of logical reasoning that starts with general premises and derives specific conclusions from them. In deductive reasoning, if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. This process is exemplified in a classic syllogism, where a statement like "All humans are mortal" combined with "Socrates is a human" leads to the conclusion "Socrates is mortal." This structured approach is central to the use of syllogisms, which seeks to evaluate the validity of arguments based on their logical form.

Inductive reasoning, in contrast, involves drawing general conclusions from specific instances, which does not align with the syllogistic method. Transductive reasoning relates to reasoning from specific instances to other specific instances without a general principle. Abductive reasoning involves forming the best explanation for observations, which again differs from the application of syllogisms in deriving conclusions. Thus, deductive reasoning is the foundational element in the assessment of syllogisms in this context.