Sorites and compound syllogism – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, C and E correctly explain what a sorites is and how it is examined, while D is false. A sorites links several syllogisms in sequence, often omitting intermediate conclusions in ordinary language, and each link must respect standard syllogistic rules. The final conclusion rests on the chaining of these links, so breaking one undermines the whole structure. UGC NET reasoning passages sometimes hide this pattern, requiring students to reconstruct it. Therefore A, B, C, E only is the correct set.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it gathers all true statements while excluding D, which wrongly treats any unlinked series as a sorites. This reflects the structured nature of polysyllogisms as taught in logic courses.

Option B:
Option B is incomplete since it omits C, thus failing to mention the dependence of the final conclusion on intermediate steps. A, B, E only therefore does not fully characterise a sorites.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it leaves out A, so B, C, E only does not even define a sorites as a chain of syllogisms, giving only partial information.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it omits B and includes only A, C, E, which does not stress that each step must be valid in itself, an important condition for the whole chain to be valid. A, C, E only cannot therefore be accepted.