IBPS PO General Awareness: Reasoning questions with solutions

Q1. Directions: The critical reasoning question is based on a short argument, a set of statements, or a plan of action. For each question, select the best answer from the choices given. Statements: The metals that do not react easily with atmospheric elements, water, vapour, dust, etc. are called precious metals. Of all the precious metals, platinum is one of the strongest and most durable. Which of the following inferences cannot be complied with from the text?

1. Platinum does not react with atmospheric elements easily.
2. Platinum is among the strongest metals on earth.
3. Platinum is precious because it is a metal that is strong and durable.
4. Both 2 and 3

Answer: Both 2 and 3

The text states that precious metals do not react easily and that platinum is one of the strongest and most durable among them. It does not say platinum is among the strongest metals on earth, nor does it say it is precious because it is strong and durable. Therefore, both statements 2 and 3 cannot be inferred.

Q2. Today's children are different from the children of previous generations. They are more interested in playing video games or sitting for hours on play stations than in playing outdoor games. They are more technology-oriented. These things are depriving children of developing their personalities. They lack the stamina and strength of previous generations. Which of the following statements weakens the given statement? (I) The children of today are mentally active, as this has made them much more organized and mature than in previous times. (II) These gadgets are addictive. They have made children so addicted to PCs and PS that they do not enjoy outdoor games anymore. (III) The children of the present time are not physically active. These children are not being team players anymore; they grow up to become shy and introverted instead of bold and extroverted.

1. Only I
2. Both III and I
3. Only II
4. Both II and III

Answer: Only I

The passage claims that technology harms children's personality development and physical strength. Statement I counters this by saying children are mentally active, organized, and mature, which weakens the negative claim. Statements II and III support the original argument instead of weakening it.

Q3. Study the following information carefully and answer the question below. Designation, Person, City GM, C, Hyderabad AGM, F, Pune CEO, D, Pune Manager, A, Pune Assistant Manager, H, Hyderabad PO, B, Delhi Clerk, E, Pune Sub Staff, G, Delhi Who is the CEO from Pune?

1. D
2. F
3. A
4. E

Answer: D

From the table, the person designated as CEO and living in Pune is D. Therefore, D is the correct answer.

Q4. Statement: The manager informed his colleagues that due to personal reasons he had to go out of town and would not be able to attend the meeting. He also told his employees not to cancel the meeting and reminded them that many people came from outside the country especially for this meeting. Assumption I: The manager did not want to upset the people over a cancelled meeting. Assumption II: The manager had some important task to complete instead of attending the meeting. Which assumption is implicit?

1. Only assumption I is implicit
2. Both I and II are implicit
3. Either assumption I or II is implicit
4. Neither I nor II is implicit

Answer: Both I and II are implicit

The manager's request not to cancel the meeting suggests concern about inconveniencing or upsetting attendees, so Assumption I is implicit. His explanation that he must go out of town for personal reasons also implies he has some other matter to attend to, making Assumption II implicit as well.

Q5. What is the relationship between pens and dusters?

1. Same category
2. Opposite
3. Sequential
4. Unrelated

Answer: Same category

Pens and dusters are both items associated with stationery or classroom use, so they belong to the same category. They are neither opposites nor sequentially related.

Q6. As he found cockroaches in the crevices, he immediately drew the attention of the catering manager. So statement (B) is the effect of statement (A). What is the effect?

1. He found cockroaches
2. He informed the manager
3. The kitchen was cleaned
4. The food was recalled

Answer: He informed the manager

The cause is finding cockroaches in the crevices. The immediate effect is that he drew the attention of the catering manager, which means he informed the manager. The other options are indirect or unrelated outcomes.

Q7. Statement: India is a multilingual country. Hindi is the national language of India. Conclusions: 1. All Indians should learn multiple languages. 2. Hindi should be learnt to be an Indian. Which conclusion follows?

1. Only 1 follows
2. Only 2 follows
3. Both 1 and 2 follow
4. Neither 1 nor 2 follows

Answer: Neither 1 nor 2 follows

The statement only says India is multilingual and Hindi is the national language. It does not imply that all Indians should learn multiple languages or that Hindi must be learned to be Indian. Hence, neither conclusion follows.

Q8. Julie starts her journey from point Z and walks 10 km east to reach point Y. Then she turns left and walks 3 km to reach point R. Then she turns left again and walks 12 km to reach point S. Again, she turns left and walks 3 km to reach point E. Finally, she turns right and moves 4 km to reach point J. Which of the following points is to the northwest of point Z?

1. Point J
2. Point E
3. Point S
4. Point R

Answer: Point S

Tracking the movements shows that point S lies to the northwest of Z. The other points fall in different directions relative to the starting point.

Q9. Seven people — G, H, J, K, L, M and N — are sitting in a row at equal distances from each other and facing north. All of them like different chocolates: Snickers, Dairy Milk, Milky Bar, 5 Star, Kit Kat, Aero and Bar One (not necessarily in the same order). J is sitting exactly in the middle of the row but neither likes Dairy Milk nor Bar One. The one who likes Snickers is sitting sixth to the left of the one who likes Milky Bar. G is sitting with the one who likes Milky Bar. H is not sitting with J but likes 5 Star. M and N are not sitting at any of the extreme ends. K does not like Milky Bar. N neither likes Kit Kat nor is sitting with G. The one who likes Bar One is sitting immediately to the left of the one who likes Dairy Milk. Which of the following combinations is correct?

1. K, Bar One
2. M, 5 Star
3. L, Milky Bar
4. M, Aero

Answer: L, Milky Bar

This is a linear seating arrangement with both person and chocolate clues. By placing J in the middle and using the distance clue, the position of the Milky Bar lover gets fixed; then the clue that G sits with that person helps identify the occupant. The only matching correct combination is L, Milky Bar.

Q10. Floor arrangement: Floor 3 has D-Coconut, B-Grapes. Find specified person/floor.

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer: B

After applying all given floor arrangement constraints, B is identified at the specified position.

Q11. Passage: Ten trains P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,X,Y. Find which trains match specified conditions.

1. Train P, Train Q, Train Y. Train U and Train R
2. Train P, Train W
3. Train X and Train S
4. Train W and Train U

Answer: Train P, Train Q, Train Y. Train U and Train R

After applying all given constraints for the ten-train arrangement (P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,X,Y), the trains satisfying the specified conditions are Train P, Train Q, Train Y, Train U, and Train R.