Might versus Must

Here’s the scoop about Logical Reasoning questions on the SHSAT. These ten questions do not require any prior training in formal
logic or philosophy or anything like that. Rather, they are designed to test your ability to sort through evidence, make logical
deductions, and separate what might be true from what must be true. That’s it.

This might versus must idea is the key to Logical Reasoning. What must be true is a logical deduction. What might be true is
guesswork. Not surprisingly, the test rewards logical deductions, not guesswork.

LOGICAL REASONING STRATEGY

Sort through evidence. Make reasonable deductions. Separate what might be true from what must be true.

Take a look at the following example.

EXAMPLE

Which of these answers must be true? Which of these answers might—or might not—be true?

Jill’s conclusion is that Blythe must be unemployed. She believes this because Blythe has only peanut butter in her cupboard. The
correct answer must make a connection between Jill’s employment status and the contents of her cupboard. (A) makes a certain
amount of sense. If Blythe has been unemployed in the past, she could be again—but where’s the connection to the peanut butter? (B)
and (D) both suggest that it is unusual for Blythe’s cupboard to be empty. However, neither explains why this means she is
unemployed. (E) might be true, but so what?

Jill sees that Blythe has only peanut butter in her cupboard. Jill concludes that Blythe must be unemployed.

Given no other information, which of the following statements must be true in order for Jill’s conclusion to be valid?

1.

A. Blythe has been unemployed in the past.

B. Blythe’s cupboard is usually quite full.

C. Blythe’s cupboard would contain just peanut butter only if she were unemployed.

D. Blythe usually consumes a lot of food that would be stored in a cupboard.

E. Jill believes that Blythe should find a new job.