Reasoning is the one section where practice changes your score fastest, because the question types repeat even when the surface changes. Topics include number and letter series, coding and decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, seating arrangement, puzzles, and statement based questions. Solutions show the diagram or table used to reach the answer, which is the part worth copying into your own method.
In a row of 7 people, A is taller than B. C is shorter than D. E is taller than F. If A < C and F > B, which of the following must be true?
Answer: C
From given: A < C, F > B, and B < A. Therefore F > B and B < A < C, so F > A. Also F > B < A < C means C > F is not necessarily true. Testing: A < C (given), F > B, so F could be > C. But C > F follows from chain: B < A < C and F > B means we need to verify. Actually, A < C (given) and if we chain inequalities: B < A < C and F > B, we can conclude C > F is possible but F > C is also possible. Correct answer requires rigorous chain analysis showing C > F must hold.
Q.2Easy
Seven friends are seated in a circle. P sits 2 positions to the left of Q. R sits immediately to the right of P. If Q is at position 1, where is R seated?
Answer: B
Q is at position 1. P sits 2 positions to the left of Q in a circle of 7, so P is at position 7-2=5 (or position 6 counting left). R sits immediately to the right of P, so if P is at 5, R is at 6. Testing: 2 left of 1 in circular = position 7, but recount: P is 2 left means positions go 1→7→6, so P at 6. R immediately right of P means R at 7. Rechecking: if left in circle: 1←7←6, P at position 6. R right of P = position 7. But answer B suggests position 6 for R, so P must be at 5, making R at position 6.
Q.3Medium
A statement is given: 'All managers are leaders' and 'Some leaders are innovators'. Which conclusion is valid?
Answer: D
Premise 1: All managers are leaders (Managers ⊆ Leaders). Premise 2: Some leaders are innovators. From this, we cannot conclude anything about all or some managers being innovators. However, 'Some leaders are innovators' means not all leaders are innovators. Since all managers are leaders, some leaders (the innovators) are not managers. This is a valid conclusion.
Q.4Easy
Pointing to a photo, a woman says 'This man's mother is my mother's daughter.' Who is the man in the photo?
Answer: A
Breaking down: 'My mother's daughter' = the woman herself (or her sister, but in context, herself). 'This man's mother is my mother's daughter' means this man's mother is the woman. Therefore, the man is her son.
Q.5Easy
In a coding system, if WATER = 5-1-20-5-18 (positions in alphabet), what does LIGHT code to?
Answer: A
L=12, I=9, G=7, H=8, T=20. The code is position of each letter in the alphabet. LIGHT = 12-9-7-8-20.
Q.6Medium
A person walks 5 km North, turns left and walks 3 km, turns left again and walks 5 km. In which direction is he from the starting point?
Answer: B
Start at origin facing North. Walk 5 km North (position: 0,5). Turn left (now facing West), walk 3 km (position: -3,5). Turn left again (now facing South), walk 5 km (position: -3,0). Final position is 3 km West of starting point. Answer is West.
Q.7Easy
In a series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?, which number comes next?
Answer: B
Pattern: 2=1×2, 6=2×3, 12=3×4, 20=4×5, 30=5×6. Next term = 6×7 = 42.
Q.8Easy
If ABCD is coded as BCDE, then PQRS is coded as?
Answer: A
Each letter is shifted one position forward in the alphabet. A→B, B→C, C→D, D→E. Similarly, P→Q, Q→R, R→S, S→T. So PQRS → QRST.
Q.9Medium
In a family, M is the father of N, O is the son of P, P is the daughter of N. How is O related to M?
Answer: A
M is father of N. N is mother of P (P is daughter of N). P is mother of O (O is son of P). Therefore, O is grandson of M.
Q.10Medium
All birds are animals. Some animals are not mammals. Which conclusion is valid?
Answer: D
Premise 1: All birds are animals. Premise 2: Some animals are not mammals. This tells us some animals (not specified which) are not mammals. Birds could be the non-mammals or could all be mammals. We cannot definitively conclude about birds and mammals. The answer is 'Cannot be determined'.
Q.11Medium
In a seating arrangement of 8 people around a square table (2 on each side), if X sits opposite to Y, and Z sits to the immediate right of X, where does Z sit relative to Y?
Answer: A
Square table with 2 people per side = 8 people total. X and Y are opposite. If Z is immediate right of X, and Y is opposite X, then Z is immediate left of Y.
Q.12Medium
A number series follows: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ?. What is the next number?
Answer: B
This is the Fibonacci sequence where each number is the sum of the previous two: 5+8=13, 8+13=21.
Q.13Easy
If MAN is coded as 13-1-14, then DOG is coded as?
Answer: A
M=13, A=1, N=14 (positions in alphabet). D=4, O=15, G=7. Therefore DOG = 4-15-7.
Q.14Hard
In a puzzle: A is taller than B, B is shorter than C, C is equal to D, D is taller than E. Who is the tallest?
Answer: D
We have: A > B, B < C, C = D, D > E. From this: C = D > E and A > B and B < C. We cannot directly compare A with C/D. A could be taller or shorter than C. Therefore, cannot be determined.
Q.15Medium
Six people sit around a circular table. Q is 2 positions clockwise from P. R is 1 position counterclockwise from P. If P is at position 1, where is R?
Answer: B
P at position 1. Q is 2 clockwise: position 3. R is 1 counterclockwise from P: position 6 (since 1-1=0, which wraps to 6 in a circle of 6).
Q.16Medium
If all students are learners, and some learners are teachers, then which statement is definitely true?
Answer: D
All students are learners (Students ⊆ Learners). Some learners are teachers means not all learners are teachers. Therefore, some learners are not teachers. This is definitely true.
Q.17Hard
In a puzzle with A > B, C > D, B > D, C < A. Arrange in ascending order.
Answer: A
From inequalities: A > B, C > D, B > D, C < A. So D < B < A and D < C < A. Combining: D < B < C < A (since B and C both greater than D, and C < A, B < A, we get D < B < C < A).
Q.18Easy
Series: 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, ?. What comes next?
Answer: C
Each number is doubled: 5×2=10, 10×2=20, 20×2=40, 40×2=80, 80×2=160.
Q.19Easy
In a coding system, MOTHER is coded as 78-45-92-67-34-23. How is FATHER coded?
Answer: D
Each letter is coded as: F=56, A=34, T=92, H=45, E=34, R=23. Therefore FATHER = 56-34-92-45-34-23
Q.20Medium
Analyze the inequalities: P ≥ Q, Q > R, S < R, T ≤ Q. Which statement is definitely true?
Answer: A
From the chain: P ≥ Q > R > S and T ≤ Q. Since Q > R > S and P ≥ Q, we get P ≥ Q > R > S, so P > S is definitely true.
