Greek verbal reasoning: quantifiers, conditions and evidence
This guide develops verbal reasoning through actual Greek-language statements, short passages and arguments. The official Cyprus examination material reviewed describes reasoning from supplied verbal information and combining given premises. The examples here are original teaching exercises, not copied official questions. They use four choices to fit this website, whereas the reviewed official specimen uses five. No current examination timing, eligibility rule or category equivalence is being established by this practice guide.
Read the strength of a Greek statement
Words such as όλοι, κανένας, μερικοί, μόνο, τουλάχιστον and το πολύ change what follows logically. In standard logical usage, μερικοί means at least one; it does not necessarily mean some but not all. The statement δεν είναι όλοι establishes an exception to a universal, not the complete absence of the property. Preserve these distinctions when comparing a passage with answer choices. An option that repeats the nouns but changes the quantifier can be unsupported.
Necessary and sufficient conditions
In αν Α, τότε Β, A is sufficient for B, but B alone does not establish A. The rule may allow other causes of B. By contrast, A μόνο αν B makes B necessary for A. If B is absent, A cannot hold under that rule. Αν και μόνο αν states both directions. Treat these as relationships supplied by the exercise, not as assumptions about actual public administration. A counterexample to if A then B has A together with not B.
Passage purpose, evidence and reference
Identify the main claim, its reasons and any reservation. Connectors such as ωστόσο, παρόλο που and γι’ αυτό can signal contrast, concession and consequence. A phrase such as μπορεί να indicates weaker certainty than θα. Check what pronouns refer to using number, gender and context. Separate an observed association from a proven cause, and do not turn a statement about a sample into a universal claim about all people.
Worked reasoning example
Suppose a fictional process states that a report may be released only if it has been checked. A report was released in compliance with the process. Checking follows as a necessary condition. However, checking alone does not prove release: the rule never says that every checked report must be published. In Greek, focus on μόνο αν rather than treating both directions as interchangeable.
Review and transfer
For each answer, point to the words that support it and name any added assumption. Test absolute alternatives with a possible counterexample. If a text says evidence is insufficient, avoid converting that into proof of impossibility. Practise Greek reading directly; translating an English vocabulary or grammar question does not create a valid Greek verbal-reasoning exercise.