The longest river in South America is the Amazon, and the Amazon flows through Brazil. Therefore, the longest river in South America flows through Brazil.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The conclusion, “The longest river in South America flows through Brazil,” is logically correct based on the premises given.
Explanation:
This argument follows a valid logical structure known as a syllogism, which consists of two premises leading to a conclusion.
- Premise 1: “The longest river in South America is the Amazon.”
- This is a factual statement. The Amazon River, with an estimated length of about 6,575 kilometers (4,345 miles), is recognized as the longest river in South America and one of the longest in the world.
- Premise 2: “The Amazon flows through Brazil.”
- This is also true. The Amazon River originates in Peru and flows through Colombia before passing through Brazil, where it has the largest portion of its course and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Conclusion: “The longest river in South America flows through Brazil.”
- Since the Amazon River is the longest in South America and it flows through Brazil, the conclusion is logically valid and factually correct.
Logical Analysis:
- This reasoning follows the modus ponens form of deductive reasoning.
- It avoids any fallacy because the premises are true, and the conclusion naturally follows.
- The argument is sound, meaning it is both valid (correct structure) and true (accurate premises).
Additional Insight:
- The Amazon River plays a crucial ecological role, supporting the Amazon Rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest on Earth.
- While the Nile River is often cited as the world’s longest, some recent studies suggest that the Amazon could be longer depending on measurement techniques.
- The Amazon Basin spans multiple countries, but Brazil contains the largest portion of the river.
Thus, the conclusion is both logically and factually correct. ✅