Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: is + V-ing → is being + V3; the descriptive clause stays with its noun.

1. 'is proofreading' → 'is being proofread'.
2. The 'who…' clause belongs to the editor – keep it right after 'by the meticulous editor'.
3. (A) lacks 'being'; (C) changes tense to past; (D) changes tense and drops the clause.

Trick: Check two things only: correct tense ('is being') + no information lost.

Answer: (B) The final manuscript is being proofread by the meticulous editor, who possesses an unparalleled eye for detail.

Concept: Reverse the backshift: had to → must, that → this, was → is, their → your.

1. 'informed the employees' → said to the employees, words in inverted commas.
2. 'they had to submit that report' → 'You must submit this detailed report'.
3. 'it was essential … their performance' → 'it is essential … your performance'; 'the end of the month' stays.
4. (A) adds 'this month'; (B) keeps past tense; (D) keeps 'that' and adds 'previous month'.

Trick: Direct speech = present-tense, first/second-person words; any option still in past tense is out.

Answer: (C)"You must submit this detailed report by the end of the month, as it is essential for evaluating your overall performance," the manager said to the employees.

Concept: Undo the backshift: had been → have been, would → will, their/they → your/you.

1. 'their consistent efforts had been appreciated' → 'Your consistent efforts have been appreciated'.
2. 'they would receive' → 'you will receive'.
3. (B) and (D) keep past forms (were/had been, would); (C) keeps 'their/they'.

Trick: Only one option has both 'have been' and 'will' – pick it in seconds.

Answer: (A)"Your consistent efforts have been appreciated and you will receive certificates at the end of the academic year, as a recognition of your commitment," the principal said to the students.

Concept: Ascent = upward climb; Assent = approval/agreement.

1. 'slow ___ of the mountain' → ascent (climb).
2. 'gave his ___ to continue' → assent (permission).
3. Except/accept do not fit either blank.

Trick: ascent – 'sc' as in scale a mountain; assent – 'ss' as in say yes.

Answer: (D) ascent; assent

Concept: Capital = city that is the seat of government; Capitol = building where the legislature meets.

1. 'The nation's ___ houses the government offices' → capital (city).
2. 'the ___ building … legislative activity' → capitol (building).

Trick: Capitol has an 'o' – like the dome on the building.

Answer: (B) capital, capitol

Concept: Each word is coded by writing its letters in reverse order.

1. RAINBOW → W O B N I A R (read from the end) ✔ – rule confirmed.
2. NEWSPAPER read backwards: R E P A P S W E N.
3. Code = REPAPSWEN.

Trick: Check only the middle letters: NEWS reversed is SWEN – only option (B) ends in 'SWEN'.

Answer: (B) REPAPSWEN

Concept: Every letter is replaced by the next letter of the alphabet (+1).

1. OBSERVATORY → PCTFSWBUPSZ (O→P, B→C … Y→Z) ✔.
2. Shift RESPONSIVENESS in chunks: RESP → SFTQ, ONSI → POTJ, VENE → WFOF, SS → TT.
3. Code = SFTQPOTJWFOFTT.

Trick: Compare options only where they differ: 'SIVE' → 'TJWF' appears only in (B).

Answer: (B) SFTQPOTJWFOFTT

Concept: Fix the root cause first – here the cause is unclear roles.

1. Defining roles and responsibilities directly removes the confusion causing delays ✔.
2. Warning staff or cutting staff blames people for a system problem; ignoring it lets delays grow.

Trick: In judgement questions choose the constructive, cause-solving option; reject punish/ignore/extreme options.

Answer: (B) Clearly define roles and responsibilities

Concept: Replace symbols, then solve by BODMAS.

1. % = ×, ? = + → $4+12\times 6\times 8$.
2. Multiplication first: $12\times 6=72$, $72\times 8=576$.
3. $4+576=580$.

Trick: Unit digit check: 4 + (…6) ends in 0 → only 580 and 560 qualify; $12\times 48=576$ settles it.

Answer: (B) 580

Concept: A struggling, demotivated member needs support and clarity, not pressure.

1. Guidance + clear expectations build skill and confidence ✔.
2. Ignoring hurts the work; taking over permanently stops learning; public criticism lowers morale further.

Trick: Best response = helps the person grow AND keeps work on track.

Answer: (B) Offer guidance and clarify expectations

Concept: Fix each person's gender from the clues.

1. B is son → male. C is B's parent but not mother → C is father (male).
2. A is married to C → A is female. D is daughter → female.
3. E is brother of C → male; F is brother of A → male.
4. Males: B, C, E, F = 4.

Trick: 'Son', 'brother', 'father' each mark one male – just tick them off.

Answer: (B) 4

Concept: Same work: $M_1\times D_1=M_2\times D_2$.

1. Total work = $20\times 16=320$ man-days.
2. Days for 32 men = $320÷32=10$.

Trick: Men increase 20 → 32 ($\times \frac{8}{5}$), so days decrease $16\times \frac{5}{8}=10$.

Answer: (B) 10 days

Concept: Expression is $\frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{3}$; convert to a common denominator (LCM).

1. LCM of 5, 4, 3 = 60.
2. $\frac{1}{5}=\frac{12}{60}$, $\frac{1}{4}=\frac{15}{60}$, $\frac{1}{3}=\frac{20}{60}$.
3. $12+15-20=7$ → $\frac{7}{60}$.

Trick: Numerators over LCM: $\frac{60}{5}+\frac{60}{4}-\frac{60}{3}=12+15-20=7$.

Answer: (B) $\frac{7}{60}$

Concept: Positions: K=11, O=15, S=19, W=23 → each step +4.

1. Next = 23 + 4 = 27.
2. 27 − 26 = 1 → A (the alphabet restarts after Z).

Trick: Count 4 on from W: X, Y, Z, A.

Answer: (C) A

Concept: Positions: J=10, G=7, D=4, A=1 → each step −3.

1. Next = 1 − 3 = −2.
2. Wrap around: −2 + 26 = 24 → X.

Trick: Count 3 back from A: Z, Y, X.

Answer: (A) X

Concept: A word can be formed only if every letter (and its count) is available.

1. Letters: O, R, G, A, N, I, Z, A, T, I, O, N – there is no E.
2. RATION, ZOO, NATION – all letters available ✔.
3. AGONIZE needs E → cannot be formed.

Trick: First scan options for a letter missing from the given word – E here.

Answer: (C) AGONIZE

Concept: Split into odd-place and even-place terms.

1. Odd places: 2, 4, 8, 16 (×2).
2. Even places: $8,27,64=2^3,3^3,4^3$.
3. ? = $5^3=125$.

Trick: Spot cubes instantly: 8, 27, 64, 125, 216.

Answer: (A) 125

Concept: Differences increase by 2 each time.

1. 100 − 80 = 20, 122 − 100 = 22.
2. Next differences: 24, 26.
3. ? = 122 + 24 = 146; check 146 + 26 = 172 ✔.

Trick: Always verify with the last term – it confirms the rule.

Answer: (B) 146

Concept: Compare letter positions place by place.

1. E(5)→H(8): +3; F(6)→A(1): −5; P(16)→S(19): +3; K(11)→F(6): −5.
2. GERN: G+3 = J, E−5 = Z (5−5=0 → 26), R+3 = U, N−5 = I.
3. Answer = JZUI.

Trick: G+3 = J and R+3 = U → only (C) and (D) have J _ U _; last letter N−5 = I picks (D).

Answer: (D) JZUI

Concept: Each letter is replaced by its opposite: position n ↔ 27 − n.

1. S↔H, T↔G, E↔V, M↔N → STEM : HGVN ✔.
2. D↔W, E↔V, A↔Z, R↔I.
3. DEAR → WVZI.

Trick: Opposite pairs mnemonic: A-Z, D-W (DeW), E-V, I-R (IRa), M-N.

Answer: (D) WVZI