Mock Test 3 — Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude (Prelims Full Pattern, 70 MCQs)

This mock test replicates the full Prelims weighting of the LIC AAO Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude sections (35 questions each). Suggested time limit: 40 minutes.

Section A: Reasoning Ability (Q1–35)

1. Eight friends sit around a circular table facing the centre. A sits third to the right of B. C sits opposite A. D sits immediately to the left of C. Where does D sit relative to B?
   (a) Fourth to the left (b) Second to the right (c) Opposite B (d) Immediately to the right
2. Pointing to a man, a woman says, "His mother is the only daughter of my father." How is the woman related to the man?
   (a) Mother (b) Aunt (c) Sister (d) Grandmother
3. Find the next term: 3, 8, 18, 38, 78, ?
   (a) 158 (b) 156 (c) 160 (d) 154
4. If in a code, GARDEN is coded as HBSEFO, how is FOREST coded using the same rule?
   (a) GPSFTU (b) GPSFSU (c) GPSFTV (d) FPSFTU
5. Seven people P, Q, R, S, T, U and V sit in a row facing north. Q sits third from the left. R sits immediately to the right of Q. S sits at the right end. Between Q and S there are exactly three people. Where does U sit if U is immediately to the left of S?
   (a) Sixth from the left (b) Fifth from the left (c) Fourth from the left (d) Seventh from the left
6. Choose the odd one out.
   (a) Triangle (b) Square (c) Pentagon (d) Sphere
7. Premises: "All clerks are employees. All employees are salaried." Which conclusion follows?
   (a) All clerks are salaried (b) All salaried people are clerks (c) No clerks are salaried (d) Some employees are not clerks
8. A walks 6 km north, turns right and walks 8 km, then turns right again and walks 6 km. How far is he from the start, and in which direction?
   (a) 8 km, east (b) 8 km, south (c) 10 km, east (d) 6 km, north
9. Arrange in a logical sequence: 1. Larva 2. Egg 3. Pupa 4. Adult
   (a) 2-1-3-4 (b) 1-2-3-4 (c) 2-3-1-4 (d) 2-1-4-3
10. If in a code, DELHI is coded as EFMIJ, how is MUMBAI coded?
    (a) NVNCBJ (b) NVNCBI (c) NVNCAJ (d) MVNCBJ
11. Given: P > Q ≥ R > S and R ≥ T. Does P > T follow?
    (a) Yes, P > T follows validly (b) No, it cannot be determined (c) Only if Q = R (d) Only if S = T
12. Data Sufficiency: "What is the value of x?" Statement I: 4x − 8 = 24. Statement II: x is an even number. Which is sufficient?
    (a) Statement I alone is sufficient, Statement II alone is not (b) Statement II alone is sufficient, Statement I alone is not (c) Both together are required (d) Neither is sufficient even together
13. In a row of 50 students, Rekha is 18th from the left. What is her position from the right?
    (a) 33rd (b) 32nd (c) 34th (d) 31st
14. Find the missing number: 5, 12, 27, 58, ?
    (a) 121 (b) 118 (c) 124 (d) 116
15. A is the son of B. B is the sister of C. C is the father of D. How is A related to D?
    (a) Cousin (b) Brother (c) Uncle (d) Nephew
16. Complete the series: HK, LO, PS, TW, ?
    (a) XA (b) XZ (c) YA (d) WA
17. Statement: All barricades are metal structures. No metal structure is flammable. Conclusion: No barricade is flammable.
    (a) Yes, it follows validly (b) No (c) Cannot be determined (d) Only partially
18. In a stack of 7 boxes (box 1 at the bottom), box M is directly above box L, and box L is three positions above box K. How many positions separate M and K?
    (a) 4 (b) 3 (c) 5 (d) 2
19. If each letter is shifted forward by three positions, CAT becomes FDW. Using the same rule, LION becomes:
    (a) OLRQ (b) OLRP (c) OKRQ (d) PLRQ
20. A runner finishes 11th from the last in a race of 35 runners. Find the runner's rank from the first.
    (a) 25th (b) 24th (c) 26th (d) 23rd
21. Six people M, N, O, P, Q and R sit around a circular table facing outward. N sits second to the right of M. O sits opposite M. Where does O face relative to the centre?
    (a) Away from the centre (b) Towards the centre (c) Cannot be determined (d) Sideways
22. Premises: "Some bankers are economists. All economists are analysts." Which conclusion follows?
    (a) Some bankers are analysts (b) All bankers are analysts (c) No bankers are analysts (d) All analysts are bankers
23. A is the father of B. C is the daughter of B. D is the husband of C. How is A related to D?
    (a) Grandfather-in-law (b) Father (c) Uncle (d) Grandfather
24. Find the odd pair: (4,16), (5,25), (6,42), (7,49)
    (a) (6,42) (b) (4,16) (c) (5,25) (d) (7,49)
25. In a code language, "safe secure banking system" is coded as "lo ta mo pa", "banking for customers" is coded as "mo ki ra", and "secure system for growth" is coded as "ta pa ki na". What is the code for "secure"?
    (a) ta (b) lo (c) mo (d) pa
26. Given: X ≥ Y > Z and Z ≥ W. Which relationship necessarily holds between X and W?
    (a) X > W (b) X < W (c) X = W (d) Cannot be determined
27. In a floor puzzle of 9 floors (ground=1, top=9), a person exactly midway between floor 3 and floor 9 lives on floor:
    (a) 6 (b) 5 (c) 7 (d) 6.5
28. Choose the odd one out.
    (a) Kilogram (b) Rupee (c) Dollar (d) Euro
29. If in a code, WATER is coded as YCVGT (shift forward by 2), how is RIVER coded?
    (a) TKXGT (b) TKXGS (c) TKWGT (d) SKXGT
30. In a line of 40 people, Aarav is 15th from the left. How many people are to his right?
    (a) 25 (b) 24 (c) 26 (d) 23
31. Statement: All ledgers are records. Some records are digital. Conclusion I: Some ledgers are digital. Conclusion II: All records are ledgers. Which follows?
    (a) Neither I nor II follows (b) Only I follows (c) Only II follows (d) Both follow
32. P is the mother of Q. Q is the brother of R. R is the wife of S. S is the father of T. How is P related to T?
    (a) Grandmother (b) Mother (c) Aunt (d) Sister
33. Find the next term: 4, 9, 20, 43, ?
    (a) 90 (b) 88 (c) 92 (d) 86
34. In a row of 9 people facing north, if a person sits exactly in the middle, how many people are on each side?
    (a) 4 (b) 5 (c) 3 (d) 4.5
35. Data Sufficiency: "Is n divisible by 6?" Statement I: n is divisible by 2. Statement II: n is divisible by 3. Which is sufficient?
    (a) Both statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is (b) Statement I alone is sufficient (c) Statement II alone is sufficient (d) Neither is sufficient even together

Section B: Quantitative Aptitude (Q36–70)

36. Find the simple interest on ₹12,000 at 6% per annum for 5 years.
    (a) ₹3,600 (b) ₹3,400 (c) ₹3,800 (d) ₹3,200
37. A shopkeeper sells an article for ₹693 at a profit of 5%. Find the cost price.
    (a) ₹660 (b) ₹650 (c) ₹670 (d) ₹680
38. The average of 18 numbers is 32. If one number is removed, the average becomes 30 for the remaining 17. Find the removed number.
    (a) 66 (b) 64 (c) 68 (d) 62
39. A sum of ₹195 is divided in the ratio 7:6. Find the larger part.
    (a) ₹105 (b) ₹100 (c) ₹110 (d) ₹95
40. 65% of a number is 156. Find the number.
    (a) 240 (b) 230 (c) 250 (d) 220
41. A car travels 150 km in 3 hours and then 200 km in 4 hours. Find the average speed for the whole journey.
    (a) 50 km/h (b) 48 km/h (c) 52 km/h (d) 45 km/h
42. Find the compound interest on ₹12,000 for 2 years at 10% per annum, compounded annually.
    (a) ₹2,520 (b) ₹2,400 (c) ₹2,600 (d) ₹2,300
43. Pipe A can fill a tank in 12 minutes and pipe B in 18 minutes. If both are opened together, how long will they take to fill the tank?
    (a) 7.2 minutes (b) 8 minutes (c) 6.5 minutes (d) 9 minutes
44. A boat's speed in still water is 14 km/h and the stream flows at 7 km/h. Find the time to cover 84 km downstream.
    (a) 4 hours (b) 5 hours (c) 3.5 hours (d) 4.5 hours
45. Find the next term in the series: 2, 6, 18, 54, ?
    (a) 162 (b) 150 (c) 168 (d) 156
46. A article with cost price ₹360 is sold for ₹450. Find the profit percentage.
    (a) 25% (b) 20% (c) 30% (d) 22%
47. A is twice as old as B. Nine years ago, A was thrice as old as B. Find B's present age.
    (a) 18 years (b) 16 years (c) 20 years (d) 15 years
48. Solve for x: 11(x − 8) = 5x + 10.
    (a) 16.33... i.e. 49/3 (b) 15 (c) 17 (d) 14
49. Find the area of a rectangle with length 24 cm and breadth 16 cm.
    (a) 384 sq cm (b) 360 sq cm (c) 400 sq cm (d) 372 sq cm
50. Two numbers are in the ratio 3:5. If their sum is 128, find the larger number.
    (a) 80 (b) 75 (c) 85 (d) 78
51. A sum of ₹2,00,000 is divided between A and B such that A's share is 200% more than B's share. Find B's share.
    (a) ₹50,000 (b) ₹45,000 (c) ₹55,000 (d) ₹48,000
52. Find the average of the first 60 natural numbers.
    (a) 30.5 (b) 30 (c) 31 (d) 29.5
53. A marked price of ₹3,600 is discounted by 15%. Find the selling price.
    (a) ₹3,060 (b) ₹3,000 (c) ₹3,100 (d) ₹3,080
54. Find the missing number in the series: 12, 25, 51, 103, ?
    (a) 207 (b) 205 (c) 209 (d) 203
55. A invests ₹40,000 for 9 months and B invests ₹60,000 for 6 months. Find the ratio of their profit shares.
    (a) 1:1 (b) 2:3 (c) 3:2 (d) 4:3
56. A sum doubles itself in 8 years at simple interest. Find the rate of interest per annum.
    (a) 12.5% (b) 10% (c) 15% (d) 8%
57. Find the perimeter of a square with area 225 sq cm.
    (a) 60 cm (b) 56 cm (c) 64 cm (d) 50 cm
58. A train 150 m long crosses a pole in 10 seconds. Find its speed in km/h.
    (a) 54 km/h (b) 50 km/h (c) 60 km/h (d) 45 km/h
59. Find the value of x: x² − 8x + 15 = 0 (smaller root).
    (a) 3 (b) 5 (c) 2 (d) 4
60. A shopkeeper marks an article 40% above cost price and gives a discount of 10%. Find the overall profit percentage.
    (a) 26% (b) 28% (c) 24% (d) 30%
61. Find the average of the first 25 odd natural numbers.
    (a) 25 (b) 24 (c) 26 (d) 23
62. A sum of ₹96,000 is divided between A and B such that A's share is 150% more than B's share. Find B's share.
    (a) ₹27,428.57, i.e., ₹96,000×2/7 (b) ₹30,000 (c) ₹24,000 (d) ₹32,000
63. Two pipes can fill a tank in 15 and 25 minutes respectively. A third pipe can empty it in 30 minutes. If all three are opened together, how long will it take to fill the tank?
    (a) 150/11 minutes ≈ 13.6 minutes (b) 12 minutes (c) 10 minutes (d) 15 minutes
64. Find the next term: 6, 14, 30, 62, ?
    (a) 126 (b) 124 (c) 128 (d) 122
65. A's income is 25% more than B's income. By what percentage is B's income less than A's income?
    (a) 20% (b) 25% (c) 22% (d) 18%
66. Find the compound interest on ₹20,000 for 1 year at 10% per annum, compounded half-yearly.
    (a) ₹2,050 (b) ₹2,000 (c) ₹2,100 (d) ₹1,950
67. A works twice as fast as B. If B alone completes a task in 24 days, in how many days can A and B together complete it?
    (a) 8 days (b) 9 days (c) 10 days (d) 7 days
68. Find the value of: 15% of 480 + 25% of 240.
    (a) 132 (b) 128 (c) 136 (d) 124
69. A sum of ₹50,000 is lent at 8% per annum simple interest. Find the amount after 3 years.
    (a) ₹62,000 (b) ₹60,000 (c) ₹64,000 (d) ₹61,000
70. Find the next term: 5, 11, 23, 47, 95, ?
    (a) 191 (b) 189 (c) 193 (d) 187

Answer Key with Explanations

1.(a) Placing B, then A three seats to B's right, C opposite A, and D immediately left of C fixes D four seats to the left of B when traced around the circle.

2.(a) The woman's father's only daughter is the woman herself, so the woman is the man's mother.

3.(a) Each term follows ×2+2: 3×2+2=8, 8×2+2=18, 18×2+2=38, 38×2+2=78, 78×2+2=158.

4.(a) Each letter shifts forward by one position: F→G, O→P, R→S, E→F, S→T, T→U.

5.(a) With Q third from the left, R immediately right of Q (fourth position), and exactly three people between Q and S, S is at position 3+3+1=7 (the right end for 7 people); U, immediately left of S, is sixth from the left.

6.(a) Triangle, square, and pentagon are two-dimensional plane figures, while a sphere is three-dimensional.

7.(a) All clerks are employees, and all employees are salaried, so all clerks are salaried follows validly.

8.(a) The three legs (north 6 km, east 8 km, south 6 km) cancel the north-south component, leaving only the 8 km eastward displacement.

9.(a) The natural biological sequence is: egg, then larva, then pupa, then adult.

10.(a) Each letter shifts forward by one position: D→E, E→F, L→M, H→I, I→J.

11.(a) P>Q≥R gives P>R (since one link is strict); R≥T then gives P>T.

12.(a) Statement I gives 4x=32, so x=8, a single definite value; Statement II alone only narrows x to even numbers, not a unique value.

13.(a) Position from the right = 50−18+1 = 33rd.

14.(a) The pattern is ×2 plus an increasing increment (2, 3, 4, 5): 5×2+2=12, 12×2+3=27, 27×2+4=58, 58×2+5=121.

15.(a) A is B's son, and B is C's sibling, so A and C are aunt/nephew via B; C is D's father, making A and D cousins (children of siblings B and C).

16.(a) Each pair's first letter advances by four (H, L, P, T, X) and the second letter advances by four (K, O, S, W, A, wrapping past Z), giving XA.

17.(a) All barricades are metal structures, and no metal structure is flammable, so no barricade is flammable follows validly.

18.(a) M is one position above L, and L is three positions above K, so M is 1+3=4 positions above K.

19.(a) Each letter shifts forward by three positions: L→O, I→L, O→R, N→Q, giving OLRQ.

20.(a) Rank from the first = 35−11+1 = 25th.

21.(a) When people face outward, a person seated exactly opposite another (here O opposite M) also faces outward, away from the centre.

22.(a) Some bankers are economists, and all economists are analysts, so some bankers are analysts follows validly.

23.(a) A is B's father, C is B's daughter (A's granddaughter), and D is C's husband, making D A's grandson-in-law, i.e., related to A as a grandfather-in-law would be to D.

24.(a) In each pair, the second number is the square of the first except (6,42), since 6²=36, not 42.

25.(a) "secure" is common to "safe secure banking system" and "secure system for growth"; comparing with "banking for customers" isolates "ta" as the code for "secure".

26.(a) X≥Y>Z gives X>Z (one strict link); Z≥W then gives X>W.

27.(a) Midway between floor 3 and floor 9 is (3+9)/2 = 6.

28.(a) Rupee, Dollar, and Euro are all currencies, while a Kilogram is a unit of mass, making it the odd one out.

29.(a) Each letter shifts forward by two positions: R→T, I→K, V→X, E→G, R→T.

30.(a) People to Aarav's right = 40−15 = 25.

31.(a) The premises do not guarantee any ledger is digital, and clearly not all records are ledgers, so neither conclusion follows.

32.(a) Q and R are P's children; R is S's wife and S is T's father, so R is T's mother, making P (R's mother) T's grandmother.

33.(a) The pattern is ×2 plus an increasing increment (1, 2, 3, 4): 4×2+1=9, 9×2+2=20, 20×2+3=43, 43×2+4=90.

34.(a) In a row of 9 with one person exactly in the middle (5th position), 4 people sit on each side.

35.(a) Statement I alone (divisible by 2) and Statement II alone (divisible by 3) are each insufficient, but together they guarantee divisibility by 6.

36.(a) Simple interest = (12,000×6×5)/100 = ₹3,600.

37.(a) Cost price = 693/1.05 = ₹660.

38.(a) Total of 18 numbers = 18×32 = 576; total of remaining 17 = 17×30 = 510; removed number = 576−510 = 66.

39.(a) The parts total 7+6 = 13; each part = 195/13 = 15; larger part = 7×15 = ₹105.

40.(a) The number = 156/0.65 = 240.

41.(a) Total distance = 150+200 = 350 km; total time = 3+4 = 7 hours; average speed = 350/7 = 50 km/h.

42.(a) Amount = 12,000×(1.10)² = 14,520; compound interest = ₹2,520.

43.(a) Combined rate = 1/12+1/18 = 3/36+2/36 = 5/36, so together they take 36/5 = 7.2 minutes.

44.(a) Downstream speed = 14+7 = 21 km/h; time = 84/21 = 4 hours.

45.(a) Each term is multiplied by 3: 2×3=6, 6×3=18, 18×3=54, 54×3=162.

46.(a) Profit = 450−360 = ₹90; profit percentage = (90/360)×100 = 25%.

47.(a) Let B's present age be x and A's be 2x; nine years ago, 2x−9 = 3(x−9), giving 2x−9 = 3x−27, so x = 18.

48.(a) 11(x−8)=5x+10 gives 11x−88=5x+10, so 6x=98, x=98/6=49/3.

49.(a) Area = 24×16 = 384 sq cm.

50.(a) The parts total 3+5 = 8; each part = 128/8 = 16; larger number = 5×16 = 80.

51.(a) A's share is 3 times B's (200% more), so 4 parts = 2,00,000, giving B's share = ₹50,000.

52.(a) The average of the first n natural numbers is (n+1)/2, so the average of the first 60 is 61/2 = 30.5.

53.(a) Selling price = 3,600×0.85 = ₹3,060.

54.(a) Each term follows ×2+1: 12×2+1=25, 25×2+1=51, 51×2+1=103, 103×2+1=207.

55.(a) A:B ratio = (40,000×9):(60,000×6) = 3,60,000:3,60,000 = 1:1.

56.(a) A sum doubling under simple interest means SI = P over the given period, so rate = 100/8 = 12.5% per annum.

57.(a) Side of the square = √225 = 15 cm; perimeter = 4×15 = 60 cm.

58.(a) Speed = 150 m / 10 s = 15 m/s = 15×18/5 = 54 km/h.

59.(a) x²−8x+15=0 factorises as (x−3)(x−5)=0, giving roots 3 and 5; the smaller root is 3.

60.(a) Marking 40% above cost price and giving a 10% discount gives selling price = CP×1.40×0.90 = 1.26×CP, a net profit of 26%.

61.(a) The average of the first n odd natural numbers equals n, so the average of the first 25 odd numbers is 25.

62.(a) A's share is 2.5 times B's (150% more), giving a 5:2 ratio; each of the 7 parts = 96,000/7, so B's share = 2×96,000/7 = ₹27,428.57.

63.(a) Combined rate = 1/15+1/25−1/30 = 10/150+6/150−5/150 = 11/150, so the tank fills in 150/11 ≈ 13.6 minutes.

64.(a) Each term follows ×2+2: 6×2+2=14, 14×2+2=30, 30×2+2=62, 62×2+2=126.

65.(a) If A = 1.25B, then B = A/1.25 = 0.8A, meaning B's income is 20% less than A's.

66.(a) Amount = 20,000×(1.05)² = 22,050; compound interest = ₹2,050.

67.(a) B's rate = 1/24; A's rate (twice as fast) = 1/12; combined rate = 1/24+1/12 = 1/24+2/24 = 3/24 = 1/8, so together they take 8 days.

68.(a) 15% of 480 = 72; 25% of 240 = 60; sum = 132.

69.(a) Simple interest = (50,000×8×3)/100 = 12,000; amount = 50,000+12,000 = ₹62,000.

70.(a) Each term follows ×2+1: 5×2+1=11, 11×2+1=23, 23×2+1=47, 47×2+1=95, 95×2+1=191.