Part II — Reasoning Ability

Chapter 2: Reasoning Fundamentals

2.1 Analogy, Classification, and Series

Analogy questions establish a relationship between a pair of items and require identifying an analogous pair. Classification ("odd one out") questions identify the item that does not share a common property with the rest. Number and letter series questions require identifying the underlying pattern to find a missing or next term.

2.2 Coding-Decoding and Mathematical Operations

Coding-decoding establishes a letter/number substitution pattern from an example, applied to a new word. Mathematical operations questions substitute redefined symbols (e.g., "+" means "multiply") before solving the resulting expression.

2.3 Blood Relations, Puzzles, and Sitting Arrangements

Blood relation problems trace family relationships via a family-tree diagram. Puzzle tests and sitting arrangements (linear, circular, or box-based) require systematic elimination of impossible configurations using given clues.

2.4 Syllogism, Inequalities, Venn Diagrams, and Data Sufficiency

Syllogisms test logical deduction from categorical statements, verified using Venn diagrams. Inequalities combine relational statements (e.g., "A > B ≥ C") to determine valid conclusions. Data Sufficiency questions test whether given data is sufficient to answer a question, without requiring the candidate to solve it fully.

2.5 Practice Set — Reasoning (25 MCQs)

1. Choose the odd one out: Mango, Banana, Potato, Apple
   (a) Mango (b) Banana (c) Potato (d) Apple
2. In the analogy "Pen is to Write as Knife is to ___," the missing word is:
   (a) Cut (b) Kitchen (c) Sharp (d) Blade
3. In the series 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?, what is the next term (pattern: n×(n+1))?
   (a) 40 (b) 42 (c) 44 (d) 46
4. In the letter series A, D, H, M, ?, what is the next letter (gaps +3,+4,+5, next +6)?
   (a) R (b) S (c) T (d) Q
5. If in a code, TABLE is written as UBCMF (each letter shifted forward by 1), how is CHAIR written?
   (a) DIBJS (b) DIBJT (c) EIBJS (d) DJBJS
6. If "+" means "multiply," "−" means "add," and "×" means "subtract," what is the value of 6 + 4 − 5 × 2?
   (a) 27 (b) 29 (c) 31 (d) 25
7. If A is B's father, B is C's wife, and C is D's son, then A is D's:
   (a) Grandfather (b) Father-in-law (c) Uncle (d) Brother
8. A man walks 10 km north, then turns east and walks 24 km. How far is he from his starting point?
   (a) 24 km (b) 26 km (c) 28 km (d) 30 km
9. In a circular seating arrangement of 6 people facing the centre, if A sits opposite D, and B sits to A's immediate right, then B sits:
   (a) Immediately left of D (b) Immediately right of D (c) Opposite C (d) Cannot be determined from the given information alone
10. In a floor-based puzzle (8 floors, ground = 1), a person living exactly 3 floors below the topmost floor lives on floor:
    (a) 4 (b) 5 (c) 6 (d) 3
11. Given: "All police officers are disciplined. Some disciplined people are punctual." Which conclusion necessarily follows?
    (a) All police officers are punctual (b) Some disciplined people are police officers (c) No definite conclusion about police officers being punctual can be drawn from these two statements alone (d) No police officers are disciplined
12. Given: P > Q ≥ R > S. Which of the following must be true?
    (a) P > S (b) S > P (c) Q < S (d) R > P
13. Venn diagrams are particularly useful for solving:
    (a) Only numerical simplification (b) Syllogism-type logical deduction problems (c) Only direction sense problems (d) Only coding-decoding problems
14. Data Sufficiency questions primarily test whether:
    (a) The given data is grammatically correct (b) The given data is sufficient to answer a question (c) The question has no answer (d) Only calculation speed
15. In order and ranking, a candidate ranks 12th from the top in a class of 30. Their rank from the bottom is:
    (a) 18th (b) 19th (c) 20th (d) 21st
16. Pointing to a photograph, a man says, "She is my mother's only daughter's daughter." How is the girl related to the man?
    (a) Sister (b) Niece (c) Daughter (d) Cousin
17. In the number series 100, 95, 87, 76, ?, what is the pattern (differences 5,8,11, next 14) and next term?
    (a) 60 (b) 62 (c) 64 (d) 66
18. A mirror image of the letter "F" would appear as:
    (a) A backward "F" (mirrored horizontally) (b) An unchanged "F" (c) The letter "E" (d) The letter "L"
19. In a paper-folding question, a sheet folded in half three times and cut with one hole, when unfolded, shows:
    (a) One hole (b) Four holes (c) Eight holes (d) No holes
20. Choose the odd one out: Triangle, Square, Pentagon, Circle
    (a) Triangle (b) Square (c) Pentagon (d) Circle
21. In the letter series Z, W, S, N, ?, what is the next letter (gaps -3,-4,-5, next -6)?
    (a) H (b) I (c) J (d) G
22. Symbolic operation questions primarily require candidates to:
    (a) Ignore the redefined symbols and use standard meanings (b) Carefully substitute the redefined symbols before solving (c) Assume all symbols mean addition (d) Skip such questions entirely
23. In a box-based puzzle with 5 boxes stacked, if the topmost box is box 5 and a box is placed 2 positions below the top, it is box:
    (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 1
24. Inequality reasoning conclusions are valid only if they:
    (a) Necessarily follow from the given statements under all interpretations (b) Are merely plausible (c) Contradict the given statements (d) Require additional unstated assumptions
25. In the analogy "Doctor is to Stethoscope as Carpenter is to ___," the missing word is:
    (a) Hammer (b) Wood (c) Nail (d) Table

Answer Key

1.(c)

2.(a)

3.(b)

4.(b)

5.(a)

6.(a)

7.(b)

8.(b)

9.(d)

10.(b)

11.(c)

12.(a)

13.(b)

14.(b)

15.(b)

16.(c)

17.(b)

18.(a)

19.(c)

20.(d)

21.(a)

22.(b)

23.(b)

24.(a) 25.(a)