Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: Each position of the cluster moves forward by a fixed number of letters.

1. Position 1: F → I → L, a jump of +3 each time, so next is L+3 = O.
2. Position 2: I → L → O, so next is O+3 = R.
3. Position 3: M → P → S, so next is S+3 = V.
4. Missing cluster = ORV.

Trick: Check only the last letter first: S+3 = V. Only option (B) ends in V with O, R before it.

Answer: (B) ORV

Concept: A conclusion is true only if an unbroken chain of same-direction signs connects the two terms.

1. Chain: P ≥ L ≥ X = Y ≥ M and R ≥ Y < Z.
2. I: X = Y ≥ M gives X ≥ M, so "X ≤ M" is not definite → false.
3. II: P and R both sit above Y (P ≥ Y, R ≥ Y); signs face opposite ways at Y → no relation → false.
4. Neither conclusion follows.

Trick: Two terms that are both "bigger than" the same middle term can never be compared.

Answer: (D) Neither I nor II

Concept: Track generations: the child of one's son is one's grandchild.

1. S is the son of T, so S is one generation below T.
2. R is S's wife; U is R's daughter, so U is the daughter of S as well.
3. U is the daughter of T's son → T's granddaughter.

Trick: Count generations: T (0) → S (−1) → U (−2), and U is female, so granddaughter.

Answer: (A) Granddaughter

Concept: The second word is the first word written in reverse order.

1. LEAF read from the end = F, A, E, L = FAEL.
2. So the missing word is the reverse of TIME.
3. TIME reversed = E, M, I, T = EMIT.

Trick: Word pair rule first: last letter of LEAF (F) became the first letter — so the answer must start with E (last of TIME) and end with T.

Answer: (B) EMIT

Concept: Each term is the previous term multiplied by 2, 3, 4, … in turn.

1. Ratios of neighbours: $\frac{4}{2}=2$, $\frac{12}{4}=3$, $\frac{48}{12}=4$.
2. The multiplier grows by 1 each step, so the next one is 5.
3. Missing term = $48\times 5=240$.

Trick: Pattern ×2, ×3, ×4, ×5 is the same as n! × 2: 2×1, 2×2, 2×6, 2×24, 2×120 = 240.

Answer: (A) 240

Concept: A conclusion must follow directly from the statement; claims of certainty not given in it are rejected.

1. "Must wear seat belts" makes it a rule; not wearing one breaks that rule → I follows.
2. II says a belt ENSURES safety — the statement gives a rule, not a guarantee of safety → II does not follow.

Trick: Words like "ensures", "always", "all" in a conclusion are a red flag unless the statement says the same.

Answer: (A) Only I

Concept: An assumption is the unstated belief without which the advice would make no sense.

1. Advising better public transport to cut congestion presumes it can actually reduce congestion → I implicit.
2. "Even though it involves large investments" shows the speaker thinks the cost is worth it → II implicit.
3. The statement says nothing about people giving up their own vehicles readily; it is an extra, strong claim → III not implicit.

Trick: Reject assumptions with strong words like "readily", "all", "only" unless the statement needs them.

Answer: (A) Only I and II are implicit

Concept: Accept only what is a reasonable inference; reject sweeping "all" claims.

1. Millions of registrations mean many people take the test and compete → I follows.
2. A scholarship is given to a limited number; nothing says every registrant gets it → II does not follow.

Trick: "All candidates will receive" is an extreme claim — such conclusions almost never follow.

Answer: (A) Only Conclusion I follows

Concept: "Some A are B" + "All B are C" gives "Some A are C".

1. Some shapes are rectangles + All rectangles are polygons → Some shapes are polygons. I follows.
2. Triangles are linked only to "shapes"; no statement connects triangles to polygons → II is only a possibility, not certain.

Trick: Some + All = Some (in that order). Any term joined only through a broad middle group (shapes) gives no definite conclusion.

Answer: (A) Only I follows

Concept: Find the word that does not share the common category.

1. Rose, Jasmine, Lily, Daffodil are flowers.
2. Banyan is a large tree (India's national tree), not a flower.

Yaad rakhein: Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) is the national tree of India.

Answer: (C) Banyan

Concept: The second word is the first word spelt backwards.

1. FRUITS backwards: S-T-I-U-R-F = STIURF.
2. FLOWER backwards: R-E-W-O-L-F = REWOLF.

Trick: The answer must end with F (first letter of FLOWER) and start with R — only REWOLF fits.

Answer: (B) REWOLF

Concept: Find the letter shift for each position, then apply the same shifts in order.

1. Compare MANGO with LZODO letter by letter: L is one before M, Z is one before A, O is one after N, D is three before G, last O unchanged.
2. Apply the same moves to LEMON in order.
3. K (before L), D (before E), N (after M), L (three before O), N (same) → KDNLN.

Trick: First letter alone decides: L−1 = K, and only option (A) starts with K.

Answer: (A) KDNLN

Concept: Use all letters exactly once to make a meaningful word of the asked category.

1. Letters: N, A, I, L, S.
2. Rearranged: S-N-A-I-L = SNAIL, a shelled creature (an animal).
3. SLAIN is a verb form; LAINS and NILAS are not animals.

Trick: Look for a familiar animal ending: "-AIL" → SNAIL.

Answer: (B) SNAIL

Concept: Two operations repeat alternately.

1. Pattern of steps: add 2, double, add 2, double …
2. After 12 (which came from adding 2), the next step is doubling: 24.
3. Continue: 24 → 26 (add 2) → 52 (double) ✓

Trick: Work backwards: $26-2=24$ — instantly gives the gap.

Answer: (A) 24

Concept: Every letter of the cluster moves one step forward.

1. Read the clusters column-wise: N O P Q, then P Q R S, then B C D E — each column is alphabetical.
2. Next in each column: R, T, F.
3. Answer: RTF

Trick: Just add 1 to each letter of QSE → RTF.

Answer: (D) RTF

Concept: Three options belong to one historical group; one does not.

1. Dholavira (Gujarat), Kalibangan (Rajasthan) and Mohenjodaro (Sindh) are Indus Valley (Harappan) sites.
2. Vikramashila is a Buddhist monastic university in Bihar founded by Pala king Dharmapala — much later.

Yaad rakhein: Vikramashila was founded by Dharmapala (Pala dynasty), c. 8th–9th century CE.

Answer: (D) Vikramashila

Concept: Group instruments by how they produce sound.

1. Guitar, Violin, Sarangi — sound from vibrating strings (string instruments).
2. Tabla — struck with hands; a percussion (membrane) instrument.

Yaad rakhein: Sarangi and violin are bowed; guitar is plucked — all are still string instruments.

Answer: (D) Tabla

Concept: Find the common multiplier in each group.

1. 5, 10, 20 → ×2 each step.
2. 2, 4, 8 → ×2; 3, 6, 12 → ×2.
3. 6, 18, 54 → ×3 each step — different.

Trick: Check last ÷ first: $\frac{20}{5}=\frac{8}{2}=\frac{12}{3}=4$, but $\frac{54}{6}=9$.

Answer: (A) 6, 18, 54

Concept: Find a rule that fits both examples, then apply it.

1. 7 ∗ 3: (7+3) × 3 = 30 ✓
2. 5 ∗ 4: (5+4) × 4 = 36 ✓
3. 6 ∗ 5 = (6+5) × 5 = 55

Trick: Results are multiples of the second number (30 of 3, 36 of 4) → answer must be a multiple of 5: only 50 or 55; 50 needs sum 10, but 6+5 = 11 → 55.

Answer: (C) 55

Concept: Words common to two sentences share the common codes.

1. Lines 1 & 2 differ only in tall/short: co = tall, do = short.
2. Lines 1 & 3 share "The … tall": to, po, co are common; ko = plants, bo = grass.
3. "The grass grows short" = to, po (common) + bo + do → bo to po do.

Trick: Answer must contain both "bo" (grass) and "do" (short) — only option (A).

Answer: (A) bo to po do