Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: 'An' goes before a vowel SOUND, whatever the first letter is.

1. FBI is read letter by letter: 'ef-bee-eye' – starts with the vowel sound 'e'.
2. So: He is an FBI agent.

Trick: Letters F, H, L, M, N, R, S, X begin with a vowel sound when spelled out: an MLA, an SP, an X-ray.

Answer: (B) an FBI

Concept: Simple present passive: object + is/am/are + V3 + by + subject.

1. Object 'English' is singular → 'is'.
2. speak → spoken (V3).
3. Passive: English is spoken by citizens …

Trick: Tense must not change in voice change: 'speak' (present) → 'is spoken'; A (was) changes tense, C/D have wrong verb forms.

Answer: (B) English is spoken by citizens … (simple present passive)

Concept: To go back to direct speech, undo the tense backshift and restore time/person words.

1. had implemented → has implemented; that year → this year.
2. they were taking → we are taking.
3. These three changes together appear only in option A.

Trick: In the direct form, 'this year' must pair with a present-type tense – only option A keeps both consistent.

Answer: (A) Option A – the sentence with has implemented / this year / we are taking

Concept: Start with the scene-setting sentence, then follow the natural order of actions.

1. Q introduces the setting (tall maize plants) – it opens.
2. P: she first checks the kernels for firmness.
3. R: having found them ripe, she plucks the cobs.
4. S: concluding thought – crop ready for storage. Order: Q-P-R-S.

Trick: Sentences starting with 'She' cannot open – the person needs a setting first; only A and C start with Q, and testing must precede plucking.

Answer: (A) Q, P, R, S

Concept: The sentence that introduces the subject comes first; pronouns and 'these' must follow what they refer to.

1. Q defines moral philosophy – opener.
2. P begins with 'It' = moral philosophy → after Q.
3. R ('These principles') extends the idea to personal and social life.
4. S concludes with justice and fairness. Order: Q-P-R-S.

Trick: 'It' needs its noun right before it: Q→P is a fixed pair, which leaves only option D.

Answer: (D) Q, P, R, S

Concept: Each letter of the word is moved a fixed number of places forward in the alphabet.

1. G(7)→L(12), A(1)→F(6), E(5)→J(10): every letter +5.
2. Shift FACECLOTHS by +5 letter by letter.
3. Code = KFHJHQTYMX.

Trick: Check just one letter that differs between options: 6th letter L+5 = Q (kills C, D), 9th letter H+5 = M (kills B).

Answer: (A) KFHJHQTYMX

Concept: Every letter is replaced by the next letter of the alphabet.

1. BOTTLE→CPUUMF, DOOR→EPPS: each letter +1.
2. Shift MONITOR by +1 letter by letter.
3. Code = NPOJUPS.

Trick: Repeated letters give a quick check: both O's in MONITOR must become P – only option A has P at positions 2 and 6 with N first.

Answer: (A) NPOJUPS

Concept: Each letter moves one step forward (S→T, A→B, C→D …).

1. SACRAMENTAL→TBDSBNFOUBM confirms +1 for every letter.
2. WALLPAPER +1: X B M M Q B Q F S.
3. Code = XBMMQBQFS.

Trick: Both P's must turn into Q – option A has O at the 7th place and C ends in Q instead of S, D starts with Y.

Answer: (B) XBMMQBQFS

Concept: A conclusion follows only if it is a direct, reasonable inference from the statement – no exaggeration.

1. I: some students lack devices/internet while others learn online → unequal access. Follows.
2. II: experts themselves recommend better infrastructure to make learning inclusive. Follows.
3. III: 'ineffective for ALL students' – the statement never says this. Does not follow.

Trick: Absolute words like 'all, only, always, never' in a conclusion usually make it invalid.

Answer: (B) I and II follow

Concept: The best response matches the person's own stated priorities while staying practical.

1. Rohan's priority: personal time + sports.
2. Fixed hours and free weekends serve that and still give him an internship.
3. A sacrifices his priority; C is impractical; D wastes two real offers.

Trick: In such items, underline the line that says what the person 'values' – the answer serves that value.

Answer: (B) Moderate-stipend internship with fixed hours

Concept: Replace symbols with real signs (% = −, S = ×, M = ÷), then apply BODMAS.

1. 12 % 14 S 8 % 6 M 2 → 12 − 14 × 8 − 6 ÷ 2.
2. Division and multiplication first: 6 ÷ 2 = 3, 14 × 8 = 112.
3. 12 − 112 − 3 = −103.

Trick: Do all × and ÷ before touching + and −; the single large product (112) decides the sign of the answer.

Answer: (D) -103

Concept: Only '#' appears, and # means '+'.

1. 8 # 18 # 24 # 10 → 8 + 18 + 24 + 10.
2. Pair smartly: (8 + 24) + (18 + 10) = 32 + 28 = 60.

Trick: Ignore the symbols that are not in the expression – only decode what you actually see.

Answer: (C) 60

Concept: Convert both positions to the same end, then between = difference − 1.

1. Priya from left = 35 − 10 + 1 = 26.
2. Ravi from left = 15.
3. Between = 26 − 15 − 1 = 10.

Trick: Shortcut: between = Total − (left rank + right rank) = 35 − (15 + 10) = 10, when the two do not cross.

Answer: (C) 10

Concept: Position from right = Total − position from left + 1.

1. Rajat from left = 33 + 29 + 1 = 63.
2. From right = 100 − 63 + 1 = 38.

Trick: Left + right − 1 = total: 63 + 38 − 1 = 100 ✓ – use it to verify in 2 seconds.

Answer: (C) 38

Concept: An argument is strong if it is relevant and gives a significant, practical reason for or against.

1. I: flexibility and quality resources – a real benefit of the proposal. Strong.
2. II: poor internet/device access would exclude many students – a real drawback of compulsion. Strong.

Trick: A 'Yes' and a 'No' argument can both be strong when each states a genuine, major consequence.

Answer: (C) Both I and II are strong

Concept: A course of action follows if it is practical and tackles the stated cause of the problem.

1. Cause: rash driving and rule-breaking.
2. I: more police + strict fines directly target that cause. Follows.
3. II: banning all private vehicles is extreme and punishes everyone. Does not follow.

Trick: Words like 'completely ban', 'shut down', 'all' mark extreme, impractical actions – usually rejected.

Answer: (A) Only I follows

Concept: Convert letters to positions and look at the gaps.

1. C=3, F=6, J=10, O=15 → gaps +3, +4, +5.
2. Next gap +6: 15 + 6 = 21 = U.

Trick: Use EJOTY (5, 10, 15, 20, 25) to locate letters fast: 21 is just after T(20) → U.

Answer: (A) U

Concept: Each letter is a fixed number of places behind the previous one.

1. T=20, P=16, L=12, H=8 → −4 each time.
2. 8 − 4 = 4 = D.

Trick: The positions are the 4-times table going down (20, 16, 12, 8, 4) – the 4th letter is D.

Answer: (A) D

Concept: Choose the response that is safe, honest and proportionate to the problem.

1. A ignores a known safety risk; C hides it from buyers – both unethical.
2. B (total recall + shutdown) overreacts to a small defect in one batch.
3. D: informing customers and fixing it quickly is responsible and protects trust.

Trick: In ethics items, pick the option that is transparent AND balanced – reject both 'do nothing' and 'overreact'.

Answer: (D) Inform customers about the issue and take corrective measures promptly.

Concept: A word can be formed only if each letter is available as many times as needed.

1. DEMOCRATIC has one E (C appears twice).
2. MODERATE needs two E's → cannot be formed.
3. MEDIA, DIET, TRACE use available letters only.

Trick: First check repeated letters in the options – a double letter not doubled in the given word is the quick giveaway.

Answer: (B) MODERATE