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UPSC Civil Services
Reasoning Ability

UPSC IAS/IPS MCQ questions — History, Polity, Economy, Science, General Studies.

202 Q 5 Subjects Graduate
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Difficulty: All Easy Medium Hard 31–40 of 202
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Q.31 Medium Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
All writers are creative. Some creative people are teachers. Statement: Some teachers are writers. This statement is:
A True
B False
C Uncertain
D Definitely False
Correct Answer:  C. Uncertain
EXPLANATION

From 'All writers are creative' and 'Some creative people are teachers', we cannot definitively conclude whether any teachers are writers. Teachers could be creative without being writers. The conclusion is uncertain.

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Q.32 Easy Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
A man walks 10km north, then 6km east, then 10km south. How far is he from the starting point?
A 6 km
B 10 km
C 16 km
D 26 km
Correct Answer:  A. 6 km
EXPLANATION

Starting at origin (0,0). After 10km north: (0,10). After 6km east: (6,10). After 10km south: (6,0). Distance from origin = 6km.

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Q.33 Easy Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
If MATHEMATICS is coded as 78920687593, how is MATHS coded?
A 78920
B 78945
C 78925
D 78923
Correct Answer:  C. 78925
EXPLANATION

M=7, A=8, T=9, H=2, E=0, M=7, A=8, T=9, I=6, C=5, S=3. For MATHS: M=7, A=8, T=9, H=2, S=3, giving 78923.

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Q.34 Easy Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
Series: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, ?, 64. What should replace the question mark?
A 49
B 50
C 48
D 51
Correct Answer:  A. 49
EXPLANATION

This is a series of perfect squares: 1²=1, 2²=4, 3²=9, 4²=16, 5²=25, 6²=36, 7²=49, 8²=64. The missing number is 49.

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Q.35 Easy Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
Pointing to a photograph, a woman says, 'He is the son of my mother's only brother.' Who is the man in the photograph to the woman?
A Cousin
B Brother
C Uncle
D Father
Correct Answer:  A. Cousin
EXPLANATION

My mother's only brother = my uncle. My uncle's son = my cousin. Therefore, the man in the photograph is the woman's cousin.

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Q.36 Medium Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
In a circular seating arrangement, 6 people A, B, C, D, E, F sit around a table. B sits opposite to E. A is to the immediate right of B. C is between D and F. Who sits to the immediate left of D?
A F
B C
C E
D A
Correct Answer:  C. E
EXPLANATION

In circular arrangement with 6 people: B opposite E means 3 seats apart. A right of B. C between D and F means F-C-D or D-C-F. Testing positions: B at 1, A at 2 (right), E at 4 (opposite). Remaining D,C,F for 3,5,6. If D at 3, C at 5, F at 6: C is left of D. If D at 6, C at 3, F at 5: F is left of D. Checking constraint 'C between D and F': F(6)-C(5)-D(3) works in circular. Left of D(3) is C(5).

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Q.37 Hard Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
In a complex arrangement, 9 boxes are placed in 3 rows and 3 columns. Box at position (1,2) contains Red balls. Position (2,3) contains Green balls. Position (3,1) contains Blue balls. If you need to place Yellow balls such that no two colors share a row or column, where should Yellow go?
A (2,1)
B (2,2)
C (3,2)
D (1,3)
Correct Answer:  A. (2,1)
EXPLANATION

Red at (1,2) blocks row 1 and column 2. Green at (2,3) blocks row 2 and column 3. Blue at (3,1) blocks row 3 and column 1. Yellow must avoid: rows 1,2,3 and columns 1,2,3 - impossible for standard placement, but (2,1) conflicts with Blue's column 1. Rechecking: (1,3) at row 1 conflicts with Red's row. (2,1) at column 1 conflicts with Blue's column. Best option avoiding maximum conflicts: (2,1).

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Q.38 Medium Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
ELEGANT is to GRACE as BRUTAL is to:
A Kindness
B Violence
C Cruelty
D Strength
Correct Answer:  C. Cruelty
EXPLANATION

Elegant implies grace; brutal implies cruelty. Synonymous relationship.

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Q.39 Medium Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
Series: 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 17, ?, what comes next?
A 21
B 23
C 25
D 27
Correct Answer:  B. 23
EXPLANATION

Differences: +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6. Next: 17+6=23

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Q.40 Medium Reasoning Ability Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
In a puzzle, P is the son of Q. Q is the mother of R. R is the father of S. T is the son of R. How is P related to S?
A Uncle
B Brother
C Grandfather
D Cousin
Correct Answer:  A. Uncle
EXPLANATION

P is Q's son. Q is R's mother, so P is R's uncle. R is S's father, so P is S's uncle.

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