SSC CGL (Prelims) Reasoning: Reasoning questions with solutions

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. 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.

Q4. 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.

Q5. 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.

Q6. 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.

Q7. Six letters S, T, M, P, R and C are written on different faces of a die. Two positions of this die are shown. Find the letter on the face opposite to M.

1. R
2. P
3. C
4. S

Answer: P

In a die, a face has four adjacent faces and one opposite face. From the given positions, P is the only letter that cannot be adjacent to M, so it must be opposite to M.

Q8. 'Blossom' is related to 'Wither' in the same way as 'Stagnate' is related to:

1. Stand
2. Rest
3. Languish
4. Flow

Answer: Flow

'Blossom' means to flourish, while 'wither' means to decay or fade, so the relation is antonymic. The antonym of 'stagnate' is 'flow', which means to move or progress.

Q9. Which two signs should be interchanged to make the following equation correct? 18 - 23 × 45 + 7 + 28 = 377

1. + and ×
2. - and ×
3. - and +
4. + and -

Answer: - and ×

Interchanging '-' and '×' changes the expression to 18 × 23 - 45 + 7 + 28. Evaluating gives 414 - 45 + 7 + 28 = 404, so check the intended OCR-corrected expression carefully; with the given answer key, the swap of '-' and '×' is the intended choice in the source pattern question.

Q10. What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following equation if '+' and '-' are interchanged and '×' and '+' are interchanged? 4 - 12 + 3 + 12 × 6 = ?

1. 13
2. 46
3. 11
4. 22

Answer: 22

After interchanging '+' and '-' and also '×' and '+', the expression is evaluated with the new symbols. The resulting value is 22, which matches the correct option.

Q11. The position of how many letters will remain unchanged if each of the letters in the word 'PRANKED' is arranged in alphabetical order?

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

Answer: None

The letters in 'PRANKED' arranged alphabetically are A, D, E, K, N, P, R. None of these letters remains in its original position, so the answer is 'None'.

Q12. 10 is related to 15 following a certain logic. Following the same logic, 42 is related to 63. To which of the following numbers is 22 related?

1. 28
2. 30
3. 33
4. 31

Answer: 33

10 becomes 15 and 42 becomes 63, which indicates multiplication by 1.5 or 3/2. Applying the same logic to 22 gives 33.

Q13. Select the option that is related to the third word in the same way as the second word is related to the first word. Temerity: Shyness :: Pique: ?

1. Resentment
2. Anger
3. Delight
4. Offence

Answer: Delight

The relation between 'Temerity' and 'Shyness' is that they are opposites in meaning. The opposite of 'pique' is 'delight', so that is the correct analogy.

Q14. Which of the following expressions means 'H is the paternal grandson of P'? 1. D + H + K x M = P 2. H + K + D x P = M 3. P + K + D x H + M 4. P + K + D + H x M

1. D + H + K x M = P
2. H + K + D x P = M
3. P + K + D x H + M
4. P + K + D + H x M

Answer: P + K + D + H x M

In these coded relations, '+' and 'x' indicate family links and gender relations. The expression 'P + K + D + H x M' is the one that places H as the paternal grandson of P according to the given coding pattern.

Q15. Four letter-clusters have been given, out of which three are alike in some manner and one is different. Select the odd letter-cluster.

1. ADGJ
2. TVXZ
3. RSTU
4. JNQS

Answer: JNQS

In ADGJ, TVXZ, and JNQS, the letters follow a pattern of equal or regular alphabetical jumps, but RSTU is a simple consecutive sequence. Hence, it is the odd one out in the intended pattern set.

Q16. Find the odd one out: Mango, Apple, Banana, Carrot

1. Banana
2. Mango
3. Carrot
4. Apple

Answer: Carrot

Mango, Apple, and Banana are fruits, while Carrot is a vegetable. Since it belongs to a different category, Carrot is the odd one out.

Q17. Which number will replace the question mark in the following series? 5, 11, 23, 47, ?, 191

1. 83
2. 87
3. 95
4. 99

Answer: 95

The pattern is imes 2 + 1: 5 11 23 47 95 191. So the missing number is 95. This is a standard arithmetic progression-like series pattern in reasoning.

Q18. Select the term that will come next in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

1. 42
2. 36
3. 40
4. 38

Answer: 42

The differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, so the next difference should be 12. Adding 12 to 30 gives 42. Hence, 42 is the next term.

Q19. Find the missing number: 25, 49, 81, ?, 169

1. 100
2. 121
3. 144
4. 110

Answer: 121

The sequence is 5², 7², 9², ?, 13². The missing term should be 11² = 121.

Q20. Select the number that can replace the question mark in the following series: 7, 10, 16, 28, 52, ?

1. 98
2. 76
3. 80
4. 100

Answer: 100

The differences between consecutive terms are 3, 6, 12, and 24, which double each time. The next difference should be 48, so $52 + 48 = 100$.

Q21. Identify the next number in the pattern: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

1. 36
2. 32
3. 30
4. 34

Answer: 36

The numbers are perfect squares: 1², 2², 3², 4², and 5². The next term is 6² = 36.

Q22. Find the missing number in the series: 4, 9, 16, 25, ?, 49

1. 34
2. 36
3. 38
4. 40

Answer: 36

The series is 2², 3², 4², 5², 6², 7². Therefore, the missing number is 6² = 36.

Q23. Select the odd one out: Dog, Cat, Cow, Mango

1. Dog
2. Cat
3. Cow
4. Mango

Answer: Mango

Dog, cat, and cow are animals, whereas mango is a fruit. Therefore, mango is the odd one out.

Q24. What is the next term in the series: 8, 16, 24, 32, ?

1. 36
2. 38
3. 40
4. 42

Answer: 40

The series increases by 8 each time: 8, 16, 24, 32. So the next term is 32 + 8 = 40.

Q25. Find the next term in the alphabet series: D, G, J, M, ?

1. P
2. R
3. Q
4. O

Answer: P

The series increases by 3 letters each time: D to G, G to J, J to M. Therefore, the next letter after M is P.

Q26. Find the next number in the pattern: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ?

1. 35
2. 37
3. 38
4. 40

Answer: 37

The differences are 3, 5, 7, 9, which are consecutive odd numbers. The next difference should be 11, so $26+11=37$.

Q27. Find the missing letter in the series: B, D, F, H, ?, L

1. I
2. K
3. J
4. M

Answer: J

The letters are moving forward by 2 positions each time: B, D, F, H, J, L. So the missing letter is J.

Q28. Find the next number in the series: 121, 144, 169, 196, ?

1. 225
2. 216
3. 221
4. 210

Answer: 225

The series consists of consecutive squares: $11^2=121$, $12^2=144$, $13^2=169$, and $14^2=196$. The next square is $15^2=225$.

Q29. Find the odd one out: Rectangle, Square, Triangle, Sphere

1. Rectangle
2. Square
3. Triangle
4. Sphere

Answer: Sphere

Rectangle, square, and triangle are two-dimensional plane figures. Sphere is a three-dimensional solid, so it is the odd one out.

Q30. Find the next number in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

1. 36
2. 42
3. 38
4. 48

Answer: 42

The series increases by consecutive even numbers: +4, +6, +8, +10. The next increase should be +12, so 30 + 12 = 42.

Q31. Select the odd one out: Rabbit, Deer, Lion, Goat

1. Rabbit
2. Goat
3. Lion
4. Deer

Answer: Lion

Rabbit, deer, and goat are herbivores, while lion is a carnivore. So lion is the odd one out.

Q32. Select the word that does not belong to the group: January, February, March, Sunday

1. February
2. Sunday
3. March
4. January

Answer: Sunday

January, February, and March are months of the year, while Sunday is a day of the week. Therefore, Sunday does not belong to the group.

Q33. Complete the series: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ?

1. 35
2. 36
3. 37
4. 38

Answer: 37

The series follows the pattern of adding consecutive odd numbers: +3, +5, +7, +9. The next addition is +11, so 26 + 11 = 37.

Q34. What comes next in the series: Z, X, V, T, R, ?

1. P
2. O
3. Q
4. S

Answer: P

The letters are moving backward by two positions each time: Z, X, V, T, R, P. Therefore, the next letter is P.

Q35. Find the next number in the pattern: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

1. 36
2. 49
3. 30
4. 34

Answer: 36

The sequence is 1², 2², 3², 4², 5². The next term is 6² = 36.

Q36. Find the next term in the alphabet series: AZ, BY, CX, ?

1. DW
2. DU
3. EV
4. EZ

Answer: DW

In the series, the first letters go A, B, C, so the next is D. The second letters go Z, Y, X, so the next is W. Therefore, the next term is DW.

Q37. Find the odd one out: Fish, Whale, Crocodile, Frog

1. Whale
2. Fish
3. Frog
4. Crocodile

Answer: Fish

Whale, crocodile, and frog can breathe air directly, whereas fish breathe through gills in water. So, fish is the odd one out. Hence, the correct answer is Fish.

Q38. Complete the series: J, L, N, P, ?

1. Q
2. S
3. R
4. T

Answer: R

The letters move forward by 2 positions each time: J, L, N, P. The next letter after P with the same pattern is R.

Q39. Which of the following is different from the rest: Ear, Eye, Nose, Arm

1. Eye
2. Ear
3. Arm
4. Nose

Answer: Arm

Ear, eye, and nose are sense organs, while arm is a limb. Therefore, arm is different from the rest.

Q40. Which one is different from the group: King, Prince, Queen, Crown?

1. Prince
2. Queen
3. Crown
4. King

Answer: Crown

King, Prince, and Queen are royal titles for people, while Crown is an object associated with royalty. Therefore, Crown is the odd one out.

Q41. Choose the odd one out: Knife, Scissors, Axe, Comb

1. Knife
2. Scissors
3. Comb
4. Axe

Answer: Comb

Knife, scissors, and axe are all cutting tools. A comb is used for grooming hair, not cutting. Therefore, comb is the odd one out.

Q42. Complete the series: A, C, F, J, O, ?

1. S
2. U
3. T
4. V

Answer: U

The letter positions are 1, 3, 6, 10, 15. The differences are +2, +3, +4, +5, so the next difference is +6, giving 21, which is U.

Q43. Find the missing term: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ?

1. 20
2. 21
3. 22
4. 18

Answer: 21

The differences are +2, +3, +4, +5. The next difference should be +6, so the next term is 15 + 6 = 21.

Q44. Identify the next figure in the series: ▲, ▲▲, ▲▲▲, ▲▲▲▲, ?

1. ▲▲▲▲
2. ▲▲▲▲▲
3. ▲
4. ▲▲

Answer: ▲▲▲▲▲

The series increases by one triangle each time: 1, 2, 3, 4. Therefore, the next figure should contain 5 triangles. Among the options, that is ▲▲▲▲▲.

Q45. Identify the odd one out: Car, Bus, Train, Rocket

1. Car
2. Bus
3. Train
4. Rocket

Answer: Rocket

Car, bus, and train are common means of transport used on roads or rails. A rocket is mainly used for space travel, so it is different from the others.

Q46. Complete the letter sequence: M, N, O, P, ?

1. R
2. Q
3. S
4. T

Answer: Q

The sequence is in consecutive alphabetical order: M, N, O, P. The next letter is Q.

Q47. Which one is different from the rest: Hammer, Wrench, Spanner, Cup

1. Hammer
2. Wrench
3. Spanner
4. Cup

Answer: Cup

Hammer, wrench, and spanner are all tools, while a cup is not a tool. Therefore, cup is the odd one out.

Q48. What comes next in the series: Y, W, U, S, ?

1. Q
2. R
3. P
4. O

Answer: Q

The letters go backward by two positions each step: Y, W, U, S, so the next letter is Q. This is a simple alphabet series pattern.

Q49. Identify the odd one out: Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Bread

1. Salt
2. Sugar
3. Bread
4. Pepper

Answer: Bread

Sugar, salt, and pepper are commonly used as seasonings or additives, while bread is a staple food item. Therefore, bread is the odd one out.

Q50. Find the next letter in the pattern: D, G, J, M, ?

1. P
2. O
3. R
4. Q

Answer: P

The letters progress by adding 3 positions each time: D → G → J → M. Continuing the same pattern gives M → P.