Verbal reasoning sits between English and reasoning, and it is easy to neglect for exactly that reason. Questions cover analogies, classification, series completion, statement and conclusion, statement and assumption, cause and effect, and course of action. Each explanation states the rule that decides between two options that both look reasonable, which is where most marks are dropped in this section.
Each term is (previous × 2) + 1: (5×2)+1=11, (11×2)+1=23, (23×2)+1=47, (47×2)+1=95, (95×2)+1=191
Q.294Medium
Complete the series: 4, 5, 8, 13, 20, 29, ?
Answer: C
Differences: +1, +3, +5, +7, +9, +11. Next difference is 11, so 29 + 11 = 40
Q.295Medium
Find next term: 9, 10, 12, 15, 19, 24, 30, ?
Answer: C
Differences: +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7. Next difference is 7, so 30 + 7 = 37
Q.296Medium
Complete the series: 5, 7, 11, 19, 35, ?, 131
Answer: A
Pattern: Each term is obtained by doubling the previous term and subtracting a decreasing value. 5→7 (+2), 7→11 (+4), 11→19 (+8), 19→35 (+16), 35→67 (+32). The differences are powers of 2.
Q.297Easy
Find the missing term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, 42, ?
Answer: B
Pattern: n(n+1) where n starts from 1. 1×2=2, 2×3=6, 3×4=12, 4×5=20, 5×6=30, 6×7=42, 7×8=56.
Q.298Easy
Complete the series: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, ?
Answer: B
These are triangular numbers. Each term adds consecutive integers: 1, 1+2=3, 3+3=6, 6+4=10, 10+5=15, 15+6=21, 21+7=28, 28+8=36.
Q.299Medium
Find the next term: 3, 5, 9, 17, 33, 65, ?
Answer: B
Pattern: Each term is 2 times the previous term plus 1. 3→2(3)+(-1)=5, 5→2(5)-1=9, 9→2(9)-1=17, 17→2(17)-1=33, 33→2(33)-1=65, 65→2(65)-1=129.
Q.300Hard
Complete the series: 4, 9, 25, 49, 121, 169, ?
Answer: A
Pattern: Squares of prime numbers. 2²=4, 3²=9, 5²=25, 7²=49, 11²=121, 13²=169, 17²=289. The series consists of squares of consecutive prime numbers.
