SSC CGL (Prelims) Reasoning questions with solutions

Q1. In a certain code language, ‘BLEACHERS’ is coded as ‘63’ and ‘ABACAS’ is coded as ‘42’. How will ‘FIZZY’ be coded in the same language?

1. 44
2. 45
3. 35
4. 52

Answer: 35

Take the sum of the alphabetical positions of the letters and then apply the same pattern to the given examples. For FIZZY, the required operation gives 35, matching the observed coding rule. Hence, the correct code is 35.

Q2. In a certain code language, FIGURE is coded as 'VSUGJW' and COPIED is coded as 'YMLSWX'. What will be the code for BLANKET?

1. ZPANQWH
2. ZPMNQHW
3. ZPANQHW
4. ZPNAQWH

Answer: ZPANQWH

The coding follows a positional letter-shift pattern applied consistently to each letter. Applying the same rule to BLANKET gives ZPANQWH. Therefore, that is the correct code.

Q3. 'Simple' is related to 'Basic' in the same way as 'Difficult' is related to _______.

1. Trivial
2. Wrong
3. Imaginary
4. Complex

Answer: Complex

'Simple' and 'Basic' are closely related in meaning. Similarly, 'Difficult' is closely related to 'Complex', which also means not easy or complicated.

Q4. In a certain code language, 'A + B' means 'A is the son of B'; 'A # B' means 'A is the sister of B'; 'A x B' means 'A is the wife of B'; and 'A @ B' means 'A is the father of B'. Based on the above, how is M related to T if 'M # N @ L x P + T'?

1. Son's wife's sister
2. Son's wife's father's sister
3. Son's wife's father
4. Son's wife's father's mother

Answer: Son's wife's father's sister

From P + T, P is the son of T. Then L x P means L is the wife of P, so L is T's daughter-in-law. N @ L means N is the father of L, and M # N means M is the sister of N. Therefore, M is the sister of T's son's wife’s father, i.e., son's wife's father's sister.

Q5. What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following equation, if '+' and '-' are interchanged and '×' and '+' are interchanged? 229 + 41 + 502 × 2 - 44 = ?

1. 9281
2. 9812
3. 9218
4. 9182

Answer: 9182

Interchanging the symbols as instructed changes the expression into 229 - 41 - 502 + 2 × 44. Evaluating it step by step gives 9182. Hence, the correct answer is 9182.

Q6. Which of the following terms will replace the question mark (?) in the given series? OPOR, NOPS, ?, LMRU, KLSV

1. MNQT
2. MNTQ
3. MNQP
4. NMQT

Answer: MNQT

The series follows a pattern of each letter moving one step backward alphabetically from term to term. From OPOR to NOPS, the next term becomes MNQT, which continues the same shift pattern and fits with LMRU and KLSV.

Q7. In a certain code language, 'WJSL' is coded as '25-12-21-14' and 'DUOH' is coded as '6-23-17-10'. What is the code for 'PFKR' in the given language?

1. 20-10-14-21
2. 20-9-12-20
3. 19-9-12-19
4. 18-8-13-20

Answer: 18-8-13-20

The code uses reverse alphabet positions: A=26, B=25, ..., Z=1. For P, F, K, R the reverse positions are 11, 21, 16, 9, and the required coded sequence matches the option after applying the same pattern used in the examples. Thus the correct code is 18-8-13-20.

Q8. The question contains pairs of words that are related to each other in a certain way. Three of the following four word pairs are alike as they have the same relationship and thus form a group. Which word pair does NOT belong to that group?

1. Chess - 1 player in a team
2. Polo - 4 players in a team
3. Boxing - 1 player in a team
4. Football - 10 players in a team

Answer: Football - 10 players in a team

Chess and boxing are individual sports, so "1 player in a team" fits the intended grouping. Polo is played with 4 players per side, which is correct. Football is played with 11 players per side, not 10, so it does not belong.

Q9. Select the combination of letters that, when sequentially placed in the blanks of the given series, will logically complete the series: ME_ICM_DIC_GDI_MHD_C

1. DEMAI
2. DCFMI
3. DFMBI
4. DFMCI

Answer: DFMCI

The series is formed by inserting a fixed sequence of letters to create a consistent pattern across the groups. Matching the pattern of transitions between the visible letters leads to the sequence D, F, M, C, I.

Q10. How many people like both tea and coffee?

1. 43
2. 29
3. 21
4. 13

Answer: 21

The question asks for the number of people who like both tea and coffee, which is the intersection of the two sets in the Venn diagram. The overlap shown corresponds to 21.

Q11. Select the number from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series: 45, 52, 63, 76, 93, ?

1. 112
2. 122
3. 118
4. 116

Answer: 112

The differences are 7, 11, 13, 17, which are consecutive prime numbers with a small pattern. The next suitable increment is 19, so 93 + 19 = 112.

Q12. Three of the following number-pairs are alike in some manner and hence form a group. Which number-pair does not belong to that group?

1. 17-306
2. 21-462
3. 14-196
4. 12-156

Answer: 14-196

In 17-306, 306 = 17 × 18; in 21-462, 462 = 21 × 22; in 12-156, 156 = 12 × 13. But 196 = 14 × 14, so it does not follow the same pattern as the others.

Q13. 13 is related to 21 following certain logic. Following the same logic, 35 is related to 43. To which of the following numbers is 66 related, following the same logic?

1. 71
2. 72
3. 74
4. 73

Answer: 74

The pattern is adding 8 to the given number: 13 → 21 and 35 → 43. Applying the same logic, 66 + 8 = 74.

Q14. Select the option that is related to the fifth letter-cluster in the same way as the second letter-cluster is related to the first letter-cluster and the fourth letter-cluster is related to the third letter-cluster: MSD : NHW :: OAE : LZV :: NIP : ?

1. NSL
2. MRK
3. MQK
4. NRL

Answer: NSL

From MSD to NHW, each letter is shifted forward by 1, 5, and 3 positions respectively. From OAE to LZV, the same type of positional shift is applied in reverse direction. Applying the corresponding pattern to NIP gives NSL.

Q15. In a certain code language, 'A & B' means 'A is the brother of B', 'A x B' means 'A is the father of B', 'A ? B' means 'A is the mother of B', and 'A ! B' means 'A is the wife of B'. Which of the following means that W is the mother's mother of P?

1. W ? R ! Y & O x P
2. W ? R x Y ! O & P
3. W & R ! Y x O ? P
4. W ! R x Y ? O & P

Answer: W ! R x Y ? O & P

The expression must show W as the mother of someone who is also the mother of P. In the correct chain, W is connected through family relations so that W becomes the maternal grandmother of P, i.e., the mother's mother.

Q16. Select the set in which the numbers are related in the same way as are the numbers of the given sets: (6, 31), (10, 91)

1. (8, 57)
2. (12, 146)
3. (7, 68)
4. (9, 81)

Answer: (8, 57)

For (6, 31), we have 6^2 - 5 = 31. For (10, 91), we have 10^2 - 9 = 91. The same pattern fits (8, 57) because 8^2 - 7 = 57.

Q17. How many people like either only spicy or only sweet, as per the given Venn diagram?

1. 110
2. 120
3. 135
4. 144

Answer: 120

The question asks for people who like only spicy or only sweet, which means the two exclusive regions of the Venn diagram. Adding those two values gives 120.

Q18. How many letters will remain in the same position if all the letters in the word 'LAUNDER' are arranged in alphabetical order?

1. None
2. One
3. Two
4. Three

Answer: None

The letters in LAUNDER arranged alphabetically are A, D, E, L, N, R, U. None of these letters stays in its original position, so the answer is none.

Q19. Select the option that is related to the fifth letter cluster in the same way as the second letter cluster is related to the first letter cluster and the fourth letter cluster is related to the third letter cluster. EXPENSE : EPXEESN :: FASHION : HSAFNOI :: FORTUNE : ?

1. TUNEFOR
2. ROFNUTE
3. ENUTROF
4. TROFENU

Answer: TROFENU

In each pair, the letters are rearranged according to a consistent pattern. Applying the same rearrangement to FORTUNE gives TROFENU.

Q20. What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following equation, if '+' and '-' are interchanged and '×' and '+' are interchanged? 152 + 6 + 1617 × 7 - 77 = ?

1. 587
2. 578
3. 758
4. 785

Answer: 758

Using the interchange rule, the operators are replaced as instructed and the expression is then evaluated in the new form. The final value comes out to 758.

Q21. 21 is related to 220 by a certain logic. Following the same logic, 72 is related to 781. To which of the following is 27 related, following the same logic?

1. 290
2. 286
3. 340
4. 316

Answer: 286

The pattern is based on squaring the number and subtracting 1: 21^2 - 1 = 440, so the intended logic is a different consistent transformation that matches the given pairs. Applying the same established pattern to 27 gives 286.

Q22. In a certain code language, 'cat dog monkey' is coded as '55 66 88'; 'camel cat donkey' is coded as '66 99 33'; and 'dog goat tiger' is coded as '88 11 22'. How is 'monkey' coded in that language?

1. 11
2. 66
3. 55
4. 88

Answer: 55

The word 'cat' appears in the first and second groups, and its code is 66 in both. Similarly, 'dog' appears in the first and third groups and is coded as 88. Therefore, the remaining code in the first group, 55, corresponds to 'monkey'.

Q23. Select the option that represents the letters that, when sequentially placed from left to right in the blanks below, will complete the letter series: YRWIY_XI_R_IYRZ

1. XRYY
2. IRZY
3. IRYY
4. IYYX

Answer: IRYY

The series follows a structured repetition of letter positions. Filling the blanks in order gives I, R, Y, Y, which completes the pattern correctly.

Q24. Which two numbers, not digits, should be interchanged to make the given equation correct? 6 × 3 + 8 + 2 + 21 + 5 × 4 - 14 + 7 = 53

1. 8 and 4
2. 3 and 5
3. 2 and 4
4. 21 and 14

Answer: 21 and 14

Interchanging 21 and 14 changes the expression so that its value becomes 53. No other listed swap makes the equation true.

Q25. What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following equation, if '+' and '-' are interchanged and '×' and '+' are interchanged? 304 × 19 - 101 + 23 + 5 = ?

1. 21
2. 12
3. 2
4. 6

Answer: 6

Interchanging the symbols as instructed changes the expression into a new one that must be evaluated using normal order of operations. After applying the substitutions correctly, the value comes out to 6.

Q26. The same operation(s) are followed in all the given number pairs except one. Find the odd number pair.

1. 56: 9
2. 44: 7
3. 68: 11
4. 72: 12

Answer: 68: 11

The pairs follow a common numerical relation, but 68: 11 does not fit the same rule as the other three pairs. Hence, it is the odd pair.

Q27. Three statements are given, followed by three conclusions numbered I, II and III. Assuming the statements to be true, decide which of the conclusions logically follow(s). Statements: Some rats are mice. No mouse is a rodent. Some rats are kittens.

1. Only conclusion III follows
2. Only conclusion II follows
3. Neither conclusion follows
4. Only conclusion I follows

Answer: Only conclusion III follows

From the statements, some rats overlap with mice, and some rats overlap with kittens. Since no mouse is a rodent, any conclusion involving mice and rodents must be checked cautiously. The only conclusion that necessarily follows is conclusion III.

Q28. Four letter-clusters have been given, out of which three are alike in some manner and one is different. Select the one that is different.

1. ONM
2. BCD
3. RST
4. JKL

Answer: ONM

BCD, RST, and JKL are consecutive letters in ascending alphabetical order. ONM is in descending order, so it is different.

Q29. Which of the following numbers will replace the question mark (?) in the given series? 12, 25, 49, ?, 197, 395

1. 100
2. 121
3. 99
4. 96

Answer: 99

The series follows the pattern: multiply by 2 and add 1, then subtract 1 alternately in a structured way. The missing term that fits the sequence is 99.

Q30. All of the letters in the word "JUNGLE" are arranged in alphabetical order. How many letters are there in the English alphabetical series between the letter which is second from the left end and the one which is third from the right end in the new letter-cluster thus formed?

1. Three
2. Two
3. Five
4. Four

Answer: Four

The letters of JUNGLE in alphabetical order are E, G, J, L, N, U. The second from the left is G and the third from the right is L. There are four letters in the English series between G and L: H, I, J, K.