Puzzles

2012 · Q20

Three persons A, B and C wore shirts of black, blue and orange colours (not necessarily in that order) and pants of green, yellow and orange colours (not necessarily in that order). No person wore shirt and pants of the same colour. Further, it is given that

1.A did not wear shirt of black colour.

2.B did not wear shirt of blue colour.

3.C did not wear shirt of orange colour.

4.A did not wear pants of green colour.

5.B wore pants of orange colour.

What were the colours of the pants and shirt worn by C, respectively?

1. (a)Orange and black
2. (b)Green and blueUPSC key
3. (c)Yellow and blue
4. (d)Yellow and black

2012 · Q22

Read the passage given below and the two statements that follow (given on the basis of the passage):

Four men are waiting at Delhi airport for a Mumbai flight. Two are doctors and the other two are businessmen. Two speak Gujarati and two speak Tamil. No two of the same profession speak the same language. Two are Muslims and two are Christians. No two of the same religion are of the same profession, nor do they speak the same language. The Tamil-speaking doctor is a Christian.

1.The Christian-businessman speaks Gujarati.

2.The Gujarati-speaking doctor is a Muslim.

Which of the above statements is/are correct conclusion/conclusions?

1. (a)1 only
2. (b)2 only
3. (c)Both 1 and 2UPSC key
4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2

2012 · Q40

Only six roads A, B, C, P, Q and R connect a military camp to the rest of the country. Only one out of A, P and R is open at any one time. If B is closed, so is Q. Only one of A and B is open during storms. P is closed during floods. In this context, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. (a)Under normal conditions only three roads are open.
2. (b)During storms at least one road is open.UPSC key
3. (c)During floods only three roads are open.
4. (d)During calamities all roads are closed.

2012 · Q42

Four political parties W, X, Y and Z decided to set up a joint candidate for the coming parliamentary elections. The formula agreed by them was the acceptance of a candidate by most of the parties. Four aspiring candidates, A, B, C and D approached the parties for their tickets.

A was acceptable to W but not to Z.

B was acceptable to Y but not to X.

C was acceptable to W and Y.

D was acceptable to W and X.

When candidate B was preferred by W and Z, candidate C was preferred by X and Z, and candidate A was acceptable to X but not to Y; who got the ticket?

1. (a)A
2. (b)B
3. (c)CUPSC key
4. (d)D

2012 · Q57

Which lecture is scheduled on Monday?

1. (a)History
2. (b)Economics
3. (c)Mathematics
4. (d)StatisticsUPSC key

2012 · Q58

Which lecture is scheduled between Statistics and English?

1. (a)Economics
2. (b)HistoryUPSC key
3. (c)Mathematics
4. (d)No lecture

2012 · Q59

Which lecture is the last one in the week?

1. (a)History
2. (b)English
3. (c)MathematicsUPSC key
4. (d)Economics

2012 · Q60

Which lecture is scheduled on Wednesday?

1. (a)Statistics
2. (b)Economics
3. (c)EnglishUPSC key
4. (d)History

2012 · Q61

Which lecture is scheduled before the Mathematics lecture?

1. (a)EconomicsUPSC key
2. (b)History
3. (c)Statistics
4. (d)English

2013 · Q11

Which mode of transport would help one to reach R starting from Q, but without changing the mode of transport?

1. (a)BoatUPSC key
2. (b)Rail
3. (c)Bus
4. (d)Air

2013 · Q12

If a person visits each of the places starting from P and gets back to P, which of the following places must he visit twice?

1. (a)Q
2. (b)RUPSC key
3. (c)S
4. (d)T

2013 · Q13

Which one of the following pairs of cities is connected by any of the routes directly without going to any other city?

1. (a)P and T
2. (b)T and S
3. (c)Q and R
4. (d)None of theseUPSC key

2013 · Q14

Between which two cities among the pairs of cities given below are there maximum travel options available?

1. (a)Q and SUPSC key
2. (b)P and R
3. (c)P and T
4. (d)Q and R

2013 · Q15

If Y is selected and B is rejected, the team will consist of which one of the following groups?

1. (a)A, C, W and Y
2. (b)A, C, X and YUPSC key
3. (c)A, C, Y and Z
4. (d)A, W, Y and Z

2013 · Q16

If B is selected and Y is rejected, the team will consist of which one of the following groups?

1. (a)A, B, C and W
2. (b)A, B, C and Z
3. (c)A, B, C and XUPSC key
4. (d)A, W, Y and Z

2013 · Q17

If all the three males are selected, then how many combinations of four member teams are possible?

1. (a)1
2. (b)2UPSC key
3. (c)3
4. (d)4

2013 · Q18

The music director of a film wants to select four persons to work on different aspects of the composition of a piece of music. Seven persons are available for this work; they are Rohit, Tanya, Shobha, Kaushal, Kunal, Mukesh and Jaswant.

Rohit and Tanya will not work together.

Kunal and Shobha will not work together.

Mukesh and Kunal want to work together.

Which of the following is the most acceptable group of people that can be selected by the music director?

1. (a)Rohit, Shobha, Kunal and Kaushal
2. (b)Tanya, Kaushal, Shobha and Rohit
3. (c)Tanya, Mukesh, Kunal and JaswantUPSC key
4. (d)Shobha, Tanya, Rohit and Mukesh

2013 · Q20

Who does not play hockey?

1. (a)D
2. (b)C
3. (c)B
4. (d)AUPSC key

2013 · Q21

Who plays football, basketball and hockey?

1. (a)DUPSC key
2. (b)C
3. (c)B
4. (d)A

2013 · Q22

Which game do B, C and D play?

1. (a)Basketball
2. (b)HockeyUPSC key
3. (c)Cricket
4. (d)Football

2013 · Q29

A, B, C, D and E belong to five different cities P, Q, R, S and T (not necessarily in that order). Each one of them comes from a different city. Further it is given that:

1.B and C do not belong to Q.

2.B and E do not belong to P and R.

3.A and C do not belong to R, S and T.

4.D and E do not belong to Q and T.

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

1. (a)C belongs to P
2. (b)D belongs to R
3. (c)A belongs to Q
4. (d)B belongs to SUPSC key

2014 · Q21

Six books are labelled A, B, C, D, E and F and are placed side by side. Books B, C, E and F have green covers while others have yellow covers. Books A, B and D are new while the rest are old volumes. Books A, B and C are law reports while the rest are medical extracts. Which two books are old medical extracts and have green covers?

1. (a)B and C
2. (b)E and FUPSC key
3. (c)C and E
4. (d)C and F

2014 · Q25

Six identical cards are placed on a table. Each card has number '1' marked on one side and number '2' marked on its other side. All the six cards are placed in such a manner that the number '1' is on the upper side. In one try, exactly four (neither more nor less) cards are turned upside down. In how many least number of tries can the cards be turned upside down such that all the six cards show number '2' on the upper side?

1. (a)3UPSC key
2. (b)5
3. (c)7
4. (d)This cannot be achieved

2014 · Q59

A question paper must have a question on one of the eight poets: A, B, C, D, E, F, G or H. The first four belong to the medieval period while the rest are considered modern poets. Generally, modern poets figure in the question paper in alternate years. Generally those who like H like G also; and those who like F like E also. The paper-setter does not like to ask about F as he has written a book on F, but he likes F. Last year, the paper contained a question on A. On the basis of the information given, this year's paper is most likely to contain a question on

1. (a)C
2. (b)EUPSC key
3. (c)F
4. (d)H

2014 · Q60

In a group of six women there are four dancers, four vocal musicians, one actress and three violinists. Girija and Vanaja are among the violinists while Jalaja and Shailaja do not know how to play on the violin. Shailaja and Tanuja are among the dancers. Jalaja, Vanaja, Shailaja and Tanuja are all vocal musicians and two of them are also violinists. If Pooja is an actress, who among the following is certainly a dancer and a violinist?

1. (a)Jalaja
2. (b)Pooja
3. (c)Shailaja
4. (d)TanujaUPSC key

2014 · Q61

The letters L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S and T in their order are substituted by nine integers 1 to 9 but not in that order. 4 is assigned to P. The difference between P and T is 5. The difference between N and T is 3. What is the integer assigned to N?

1. (a)7
2. (b)5
3. (c)4
4. (d)6UPSC key

2014 · Q66

Examine the following statements:

1.George attends Music classes on Monday.

2.He attends Mathematics classes on Wednesday.

3.His Literature classes are not on Friday.

4.He attends History classes on the day following the day of his Mathematics classes.

5.On Tuesday, he attends his Sports classes.

If he attends just one subject in a day and his Sunday is free, then he is also free on

1. (a)Monday
2. (b)Thursday
3. (c)Saturday
4. (d)FridayUPSC key

2015 · Q75

Two men, Anil and David, and two women, Shabnam and Rekha are in a sales group. Only two speak Tamil. The other two speak Marathi. Only one man and one woman can drive a car. Shabnam speaks Marathi. Anil speaks Tamil. Both Rekha and David can drive.

Which of the following statements is true?

1. (a)Both the Tamil speakers can drive a car.
2. (b)Both the Marathi speakers can drive a car.
3. (c)Both of those who can drive a car speak Marathi.
4. (d)One of those who can drive a car speaks Tamil.UPSC key

2015 · Q78

A society consists of only two types of people — fighters and cowards. Two cowards are always friends. A fighter and a coward are always enemies. Fighters are indifferent to one another. If A and B are enemies, C and D are friends, E and F are indifferent to each other, A and E are not enemies, while B and F are enemies.

Which of the following statements is correct?

1. (a)B, C and F are cowards.
2. (b)A, E and F are fighters.UPSC key
3. (c)B and E are in the same category.
4. (d)A and F are in different categories.

2016 · Q7

A ate grapes and pineapple; B ate grapes and oranges; C ate oranges, pineapple and apple; D ate grapes, apple and pineapple. After taking fruits, B and C fell sick.

In the light of the above facts, it can be said that the cause of sickness was:

1. (a)Apple
2. (b)Pineapple
3. (c)Grapes
4. (d)OrangesUPSC key

2016 · Q15

Who is the doctor?

1. (a)TUPSC key
2. (b)P
3. (c)Q
4. (d)R

2016 · Q16

Who is the artist?

1. (a)P
2. (b)Q
3. (c)RUPSC key
4. (d)T

2016 · Q17

Who is the spouse of R?

1. (a)P
2. (b)TUPSC key
3. (c)Q
4. (d)S

2016 · Q18

Who is the lawyer?

1. (a)P
2. (b)QUPSC key
3. (c)R
4. (d)S

2016 · Q19

Who of the following is definitely a man?

1. (a)P
2. (b)S
3. (c)QUPSC key
4. (d)None of the above

2016 · Q27

Four friends A, B, C and D need to cross a bridge. A maximum of two persons can cross it at a time. It is night and they just have one lamp. Persons that cross the bridge must carry the lamp to find the way. A pair must walk together at the speed of slower person. After crossing the bridge, the person having faster speed in the pair will return with the lamp each time to accompany another person in the group. Finally, the lamp has to be returned at the original place and the person who returns the lamp has to cross the bridge again without lamp. To cross the bridge, the time taken by them is as follows: A: 1 minute, B: 2 minutes, C: 7 minutes and D: 10 minutes. What is the total minimum time required by all the friends to cross the bridge?

1. (a)23 minutesUPSC key
2. (b)22 minutes
3. (c)21 minutes
4. (d)20 minutes

2016 · Q34

Which one of the following boxes contains the golf ball?

1. (a)F
2. (b)EUPSC key
3. (c)D
4. (d)None of the above

2016 · Q35

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. (a)D is painted yellow
2. (b)F is painted indigoUPSC key
3. (c)B is painted blue
4. (d)All of the above

2016 · Q36

The football is in the box of which colour?

1. (a)Yellow
2. (b)Indigo
3. (c)Cannot be determined as data are inadequateUPSC key
4. (d)Blue

2016 · Q38

A daily train is to be introduced between station A and station B starting from each end at 6 AM and the journey is to be completed in 42 hours. What is the number of trains needed in order to maintain the shuttle service?

1. (a)2
2. (b)3
3. (c)4UPSC key
4. (d)7

2016 · Q54

What is C's surname?

1. (a)RibeiroUPSC key
2. (b)Kumar
3. (c)Singh
4. (d)Cannot be determined

2016 · Q55

What is the colour of the tie?

1. (a)Black
2. (b)BlueUPSC key
3. (c)White
4. (d)Cannot be determined

2016 · Q56

Who wore the sweater?

1. (a)AUPSC key
2. (b)B
3. (c)C
4. (d)Cannot be determined

2017 · Q29

In a group of six women, there are four tennis players, four postgraduates in Sociology, one postgraduate in Commerce and three bank employees. Vimala and Kamla are the bank employees while Amala and Komala are unemployed. Komala and Nirmala are among the tennis players. Amala, Kamla, Komala and Nirmala are postgraduates in Sociology of whom two are bank employees. If Shyamala is a postgraduate in Commerce, who among the following is both a tennis player and a bank employee?

1. (a)Amala
2. (b)Komala
3. (c)NirmalaUPSC key
4. (d)Shyamala

2017 · Q69

Who is specialized in Geography?

1. (a)BUPSC key
2. (b)D
3. (c)E
4. (d)Cannot be determined as data are inadequate

2017 · Q70

To which city does the Lecturer specialized in Economics belong?

1. (a)Hyderabad
2. (b)MumbaiUPSC key
3. (c)Neither Hyderabad nor Mumbai
4. (d)Cannot be determined as data are inadequate

2017 · Q71

Who of the following belongs to Hyderabad?

1. (a)B
2. (b)EUPSC key
3. (c)Neither B nor E
4. (d)Cannot be determined as data are inadequate

2017 · Q72

In a school, there are five teachers A, B, C, D and E. A and B teach Hindi and English. C and B teach English and Geography. D and A teach Mathematics and Hindi. E and B teach History and French. Who teaches maximum number of subjects?

1. (a)A
2. (b)BUPSC key
3. (c)D
4. (d)E

2017 · Q76

While travelling from C to H, which one of the following stations must be passed through?

1. (a)G
2. (b)EUPSC key
3. (c)B
4. (d)F

2017 · Q77

In how many different ways can a train travel from F to A without passing through any station more than once?

1. (a)1
2. (b)2
3. (c)3
4. (d)4UPSC key

2017 · Q78

If the route between G and C is closed, which one of the following stations need not be passed through while travelling from H to C?

1. (a)E
2. (b)D
3. (c)AUPSC key
4. (d)B

2018 · Q43

A is studying in

1. (a)Rajasthan
2. (b)GujaratUPSC key
3. (c)city Q
4. (d)Kerala

2018 · Q44

Science college is located in

1. (a)city QUPSC key
2. (b)city S
3. (c)city R
4. (d)city P

2018 · Q45

C is studying in

1. (a)Science college
2. (b)RajasthanUPSC key
3. (c)Gujarat
4. (d)city Q

2018 · Q46

Which one of the following statements is correct?

1. (a)D is not studying in city S.UPSC key
2. (b)A is studying in Science college.
3. (c)A is studying in Kerala.
4. (d)Engineering college is located in Gujarat.

2018 · Q47

Which one of the following statements is correct regarding Engineering college?

1. (a)C is studying there.
2. (b)B is studying there.
3. (c)It is located in Gujarat.
4. (d)D is studying there.UPSC key

2018 · Q48

Which one of the following statements is correct?

1. (a)Engineering college is located in Assam.UPSC key
2. (b)City Q is situated in Assam.
3. (c)C is studying in Kerala.
4. (d)B is studying in Gujarat.

2021 · Q25

Seven books P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are placed side by side. R, Q and T have blue covers and other books have red covers. Only S and U are new books and the rest are old. P, R and S are law reports; the rest are Gazetteers. Books of old Gazetteers with blue covers are

1. (a)Q and R
2. (b)Q and U
3. (c)Q and TUPSC key
4. (d)T and U

2023 · Q77

Consider the following statements in respect of five candidates P, Q, R, S and T. Two statements are true and one statement is false.

True Statement: One of P and Q was selected for the job.

False Statement: At least one of R and S was selected for the job.

True Statement: At most two of R, S and T were selected for the job.

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn?

1.At least four were selected for the job.

2.S was selected for the job.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. (a)1 only
2. (b)2 only
3. (c)Both 1 and 2
4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2UPSC key

2025 · Q49

A mobile phone has been stolen. There are 3 suspects P, Q and R. They were questioned knowing that only one of them is guilty. Their responses are as follows:

P: I did not steal. Q stole it.

Q: R did not steal. I did not steal.

R: I did not steal. I do not know who did it.

Who stole the mobile phone?

1. (a)P
2. (b)Q
3. (c)R
4. (d)Cannot be concludedUPSC key

2025 · Q50

Three teams P, Q, R participated in a tournament in which the teams play with one another exactly once. A win fetches a team 2 points and a draw 1 point. A team gets no point for a loss. Each team scored exactly one goal in the tournament. The team P got 3 points, Q got 2 points and R got 1 point. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

I.The result of the match between P and Q is a draw with the score 0 – 0.

II.The number of goals scored by R against Q is 1.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. (a)I only
2. (b)II only
3. (c)Both I and IIUPSC key
4. (d)Neither I nor II

2026 · Q35

Seven persons A, B, C, D, E, F and G travel by three cars X, Y, Z. A and another two of them travel by X. Only E travels with G. C travels by Z, but B does not travel by Y. Besides, A and B do not travel by the same car. Then which of the following are correct?

I.No one travels alone.

II.Only D travels with F.

III.Only C travels with B.

Select the answer using the code given below.

1. (a)I and II only
2. (b)I and III onlyUPSC key
3. (c)II and III only
4. (d)All the three

2026 · Q51

Seven cubes are identical in shape. Out of these, the weight of each of the six cubes is equal and the weight of the remaining cube is less than the weight of any other cube. A balance is used to identify the lightest cube. What is the minimum number of attempts required to distinguish the odd cube with certainty?

1. (a)2UPSC key
2. (b)3
3. (c)4
4. (d)1