UGC-NET Logical Reasoning MCQ Practice

It leads to a single conclusion — Incorrect:
A valid middle term leads to a definite conclusion. Savyabhicara is inconclusive because the middle term is irregularly related to the major term.

The hetu is uniformly constant with the major term — Incorrect:
Uniform and invariable relation between the hetu and the major term is called vyapti. In Savyabhicara, this invariable relationship is absent.

The hetu is only related to the non-existence of the major term — Incorrect:
This does not define Savyabhicara. In this fallacy, the hetu may be present both where the major term exists and where it does not exist.

It leads to different opposite conclusions — Correct:
Because the middle term is not invariably connected with the major term, it can support conflicting or opposite conclusions. Therefore, it is called the fallacy of the irregular or inconclusive middle.

Synonymous definition — Incorrect:
A synonymous definition explains an unfamiliar term by providing another word with the same or nearly the same meaning. For example, “physician” means “doctor.”

Operational definition — Correct:
It defines a term through specified operations and the observable or measurable result produced by those operations. This is exactly what the question describes.

Ostensive definition — Incorrect:
An ostensive definition explains the meaning of a term by directly pointing to or showing an example of it. For example, explaining “red” by pointing to a red object.

Quasi-ostensive definition — Incorrect:
A quasi-ostensive definition combines pointing to an example with a descriptive phrase that identifies the relevant feature. For example, pointing to an object and saying, “This colour is red.”

Straw man — Incorrect:
A straw man fallacy occurs when someone misrepresents another person’s argument and then attacks the distorted version. No argument is being misrepresented here.

Equivocation — Correct:
Equivocation occurs when the meaning of a word changes during an argument. Here, “man” initially means humankind or human beings, but later it is used to mean an adult male. This shift in meaning produces the false conclusion.

Red herring — Incorrect:
A red herring introduces irrelevant information to divert attention from the main issue. The argument does not introduce an unrelated issue.

Bandwagon argument — Incorrect:
A bandwagon argument claims that something is true or acceptable because many people believe or support it. The argument makes no appeal to popularity.