Unit 8 · Detecting Reasoning Errors

Three Languages — Rule Chain Error

Lesson 32 of 34

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Three languages share some words, but animal words are always different between Kaiana and Sekludi. Patricia claims that a shared Mekani–Kaiana word can't be an animal. Yilin claims that a shared Mekani–Sekludi word can't be an animal. One of them is right — but which one, and why?

Chapters

0:00Introduction
0:20Question
1:30Strategy
2:27Step 1: Rules + Patricia's two-step chain
3:31Step 2: Yilin — skips Kaiana, no rule fires
5:06Correct answer

Question

The three languages of Mekani, Kaiana and Sekludi are quite similar to each other, and they have some words in common. For example, ‘kanu’ means ‘house’ in all three languages.

Any word that is the same in Mekani and Kaiana is also the same in Sekludi.

Kaiana and Sekludi have lots of words in common, but never words for animals. Words for animals are always different.

Patricia: “If a word is the same in Mekani and Kaiana, it can’t be an animal.”

Yilin: “If a word is the same in Mekani and Sekludi, it can’t be an animal.”

If the information in the box is true, whose reasoning is correct?

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Three Languages — Rule Chain Error | Detecting Reasoning Errors | GoTestPrep