Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: Track each letter position of the clusters separately.

1. Position 1: S → U → W → Y (+2 each), so Y + 2 = A (Z wraps to A).
2. Position 2: C → E → G → I (+2 each), so next = K.
3. Position 3: X → V → T → R (−2 each), so next = P.
4. Missing cluster = AKP.

Trick: After Z the alphabet restarts at A — Y+1 = Z, Y+2 = A.

Answer: (D) AKP

Concept: Compare the given address with each option part by part.

1. Flat no., tower, road, city and PIN are the same in all options.
2. Only the state changes: Ladakh (A), Madhya Pradesh (B), Karnataka (C).
3. Option D keeps 'Rajasthan', exactly as given.

Trick: When most parts match everywhere, jump straight to the part that differs.

Answer: (D) Flat No. 99D, Ajanta Towers, Patel Road, Prayagraj, Rajasthan - 977301

Concept: Look for small spelling changes in each word.

1. A: 'Monarc' — letter h missing.
2. C: 'Matanchery' — one t and one r missing.
3. D: 'cochi' — wrong spelling of Kochi.
4. B matches the sample word for word.

Trick: Check proper nouns (names of buildings, localities, cities) first — that is where errors are hidden.

Answer: (B) X420, Monarch Towers, Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala 682200

Concept: An assumption is the unstated belief that makes the decision sensible.

1. Replacing old lights with LEDs makes sense only if LEDs are better — mainly in power saving. So I is assumed.
2. The statement says nothing about looks or beauty of the city; II is an extra guess.
3. Hence only I is implicit.

Trick: Ask 'Why would anyone take this step?' — the obvious practical reason is the assumption; extra motives are not.

Answer: (A) Only I is implicit

Concept: The event that happens first and triggers the other is the cause.

1. Pollution has risen over the last few months (II) — this is the problem.
2. Installing air-quality sensors (I) is the administration's response.
3. Hence statement II = cause, statement I = effect.

Trick: Problem = cause, action taken by authorities = effect.

Answer: (B) II is the cause and I is the effect.

Concept: Check the differences between consecutive terms.

1. $11-6=5,18-11=7,27-18=9$ → gaps are 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.
2. Correct 5th term = $27+11=38$.
3. Then $38+13=51$ ✓, so 36 is wrong.

Trick: Terms here are $n^2+2$ (n = 2 to 7): 6, 11, 18, 27, 38, 51.

Answer: (C) 36

Concept: Put each option's signs in place and apply BODMAS.

1. With ÷ and −: dividing 96 by 3 gives 32, and taking away 4 leaves 28 ✓.
2. Quick check of A: $96-3\times 4=84$ ✗.

Trick: RHS 28 is much smaller than 96, so a division must come first — test the ÷ option.

Answer: (D) ÷, −

Concept: Swap the two signs given in an option, then solve with BODMAS.

1. Swap ÷ and ×: $9-6+4\times 84÷6$.
2. $84÷6=14$; $4\times 14=56$.
3. $9-6+56=59$ ✓.

Trick: Look for a division that gives a whole number: $84÷6=14$ works, $4÷84$ does not — so ÷ and × must be swapped.

Answer: (D) ÷ and ×

Concept: Replace every − with × and every × with −, then evaluate.

1. I → $22-4\times 35÷5+8$; here $4\times 35÷5$ gives 28, so $22+8-28=2$ ✓ (holds).
2. II → $12+16-18÷6\times 8$; here $18÷6\times 8$ gives 24, so $28-24=4$, not 28 ✗.
3. So only II is NOT correct.

Trick: Read the question carefully — it asks for the equation that is NOT correct.

Answer: (B) Only II

Concept: Place the couple first, then hang the children under them.

1. A and B are husband and wife; B is the mother of D and C is A's son — so C and D are children of A and B.
2. E is C's sister, so E is also their daughter.
3. Thus E is the sister of D. (F is A's brother — uncle of D.)

Trick: B is the mother — she cannot be the sister; C is a son — cannot be a sister. Only E is left.

Answer: (A) E

Concept: Find the differences between terms.

1. $7-3=4,13-7=6,21-13=8,31-21=10$.
2. Next difference = 12.
3. $31+12=43$.

Trick: Terms are $n^2+n+1$ (n = 1, 2, 3 …): for n = 6, $36+6+1=43$.

Answer: (C) 43

Concept: A conclusion follows if it is directly implied by the statement.

1. The library is shut on Sunday because of renovation — so renovation work is scheduled for that Sunday. I follows.
2. A closed library cannot be used by readers that day. II follows.
3. Both follow.

Trick: If a conclusion simply restates the statement in other words, it follows.

Answer: (C) Both I and II follow

Concept: Accept only what the statement supports; reject motives it does not mention.

1. The statement links world gold prices to Indian jewellery prices — so the international market influences gold prices. I follows.
2. Prices rose because of the global rise, not by traders' intention; 'deliberately' is not supported. II does not follow.

Trick: Words like 'deliberately', 'always', 'only' usually make a conclusion too strong.

Answer: (D) Only conclusion I follows

Concept: Use alphabet positions and find the shift for each letter.

1. H(8) → B(2): −6; T(20) → D(4): −16.
2. Apply the same: I(9) − 6 = 3 = C.
3. R(18) − 16 = 2 = B. Answer CB.

Trick: Memorise EJOTY (5, 10, 15, 20, 25) to get letter positions fast.

Answer: (A) CB

Concept: Check how the code is formed from the word.

1. RUSSIA → AISSUR is the word written backwards.
2. BHUTAN backwards: N-A-T-U-H-B.
3. Code = NATUHB.

Trick: Check last two letters: the code must end in ...HB (reverse of BH). Only option C does.

Answer: (C) NATUHB

Concept: Each term is three consecutive letters in reverse order, starting one letter earlier each time.

1. First letters: O, N, M, L → next K.
2. Cluster from K backward: K, J, I.
3. Answer KJI.

Trick: Each new cluster = previous cluster with every letter moved back by 1: LKJ → KJI.

Answer: (B) KJI

Concept: Classify the sources as renewable or non-renewable.

1. Solar, wind and hydropower come from natural flows that never run out — renewable.
2. Coal is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years — non-renewable and polluting.

Yaad rakhein: Coal, petroleum and natural gas are the three main fossil fuels.

Answer: (D) Coal energy

Concept: Match each symbol to its letter by position.

1. From NEPTUNE: N is φ, E is β, P is λ, T is α, U is ξ.
2. From EARTH: A is τ, R is ρ, H is Π.
3. Reading βΠαλα symbol by symbol gives EHTPT.

Trick: Only the 2nd letter differs among options — Π is the last symbol of EARTH, so it is H.

Answer: (A) EHTPT

Concept: Milk stays the same when only water is added.

1. Milk = $\frac{7}{10}\times 60=42$ L; water = 18 L.
2. New ratio 3 : 2 → water = $42\times \frac{2}{3}=28$ L.
3. Water to add = $28-18=10$ L.

Trick: Make the fixed part equal: 7 : 3 = 21 : 9 and 3 : 2 = 21 : 14. Water rises 5 units; 1 unit = $\frac{60}{30}=2$ L → 10 L.

Answer: (B) 10 L

Concept: LCM = product of the highest powers of all primes present.

1. $14=2\times 7,20=2^2\times 5,32=2^5$.
2. $\text{LCM}=2^5\times 5\times 7=32\times 35$.
3. = 1120.

Trick: LCM must be divisible by 32 and 7: $1120÷32=35$ ✓; 2190, 1180, 1220 are not multiples of 32.

Answer: (C) 1120