Puzzle Test

 

Learning Objectives

• Types of Problems
• Introduction
• Types of Puzzle Test

 

Introduction

This section comprises of questions setup in the form of puzzles involving a certain number of items, be it persons or things. The candidate is required to analyse the given Information. And on the basis of it has to arrive at the conclusion.

 

Types of Puzzle Test

The questions on puzzle test may be of four types.

I   Classification type questions

1. Comparison type questions

III. Family-based problems

1. Seating/placing arrangements

 

Classification Type Question

Classification type questions play an important role in a test of reasoning and aptitude. The example given below will help you to clear the concept regarding this.

 

 

• Example

Read the following information carefully and answer the questions that follow:

(i)   Five friends P, Q, R, S and T travelled to five different cities of Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad by different modes of transport that is. Bus, Train, Aeroplane, Car and Boat from Mumbai.

(ii) The person who travelled to Delhi did not travel by boat.

(iii) R went to Bangalore by car and Q went to Kolkata by aeroplane.

(iv) S travelled by boat whereas T travelled by train.

(v) Mumbai is not connected by bus to Delhi and Chennai.

 

 

1. Which one of the following combinations of person and mode is not correct?

(a) P - Bus                                             (b) Q – Aeroplane

(c) R - Car                                              (d) T – Aeroplane

(e) None of these

Ans.     (d)

 

2. Which one of the following combinations is true for S?

(a) Delhi-Bus

(b) Chennai – Bus

(c) Chennai – Boat

(d) Data inadequate

(e) None of these

Ans.     (c)

 

 

3. Which one of the following combinations of place and mode is not correct?

(a) Delhi – Bus

(b) Kolkata – Aeroplane

(c) Bangalore – Car

(d) Chennai – Boat

(e) Hyderabad - Bus

Ans.     (a)

 

 

4. The person travelling to Delhi went by which one of the following modes?

(a) Bus

(b) Train

(c) Aeroplane

(d) Car

(e) Boat

Ans.     (b)

 

 

5. Who among the following travelled to Delhi?

(a) R                                         (b) S

(c) T                                          (d) Data inadequate

(e) None of these

Ans.     (c)

Explanation:

The given information can be analysed as follow:

(a) Mode of Transport: R travels by Car, Q by Aeroplane, S by Boat and T by Train. Now, only P remains. So, P travels by Bus.

(b) Place of Travel: R goes to Bangalore, Q to Kolkata. Now, bus transport is not available for Delhi or Chennai. So, P who travels by bus goes to Hyderabad. S travels by boat and hence, did not go to Delhi but to Chennai. Now, only T remains. So, T goes to Delhi.

Person	P	Q	R	S	T
Place	Hyderabad	Kolkata	Bangalore	Chennai	Delhi
Mode	Bus	Aeroplane	Car	Boat	Train

1. Clearly/the incorrect combination is T - Aeroplane. So, the answer is (d).
2. Clearly, the correct combination for S is Chennai - Boat. So, the answer is (c).
3. Clearly, the incorrect combination is Delhi - Bus. So, the answer is (a).
4. Clearly, T travelled to Delhi by train. So, the answer is (b).
5. Clearly, T travelled to Delhi. So, the answer is (c).

 

Commonly Asked Questions

Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below:

(i)  A, B, C, D, E, F and G are seven persons wearing a different colour shirt - white, red, black, green, yellow, blue and violet. They also wear trousers of different colour "blue, red, white, black, cream, yellow and indigo. The persons, their colour of the shirts and and that of the trousers are not necessarily in the same order. No person is wearing shirt and trousers of same colour.

(ii) B is wearing red colour shirt and is not wearing cream or yellow colour trousers. D is wearing green colour shirt and indigo colour trousers. Colour of A's shirt and F's trousers is same. Colour of E's shirt and C's trousers is same. G is wearing blue shirt and E is wearing blue trousers. F is not wearing any yellow dress. A is not wearing a white shirt Red and blue is not the combination of shirt and trousers of any of the persons.

 

1. Who is wearing violet colour shirt?

(a) C                                                     (b) F

(c) C or F                                                           (d) E

(e) None of these

 

 

2. What is the colour of B's trousers?

(a) White                                               (b) Indigo

(c) Red                                                              (d) Blue

(e) None of these

 

3. What is the colour of A's trousers?

(a) Cream                                              (b) Blue

(c) White                                                (d) Red

(e) None of these

 

4. What is the colour of Fs shirt?

(a) Green                                               (b) Blue

(c) Violet                                                (d) White/Violet

(e) None of these

 

5. What is the colour of G's trousers?

(a) Indigo                                               (b) White

(c) Cream                                              (d) Red

(e) None of these

Explanation:

The common colours of shirts and trousers are - white, red, black, yellow and blue. Now the colour of A's shirt and F's trousers is same. Since F doesn't wear yellow trousers so A doesn't wear yellow shirt. Also/ A doesn't wear a white shirt. Since B and G wear red and blue shirts respectively, so A doesn't wear shirt of any of these colours. So, A wears a black shirt and F wears black trousers. Now, B wears a red shirt and so doesn't wear red or blue trousers. Also, B doesn't wear cream or yellow trousers. Since D and F wear indigo and black trousers respectively, so B wears white trousers. Since G wears blue shirt, he doesn't wear blue or red trousers. Also, G doesn't wear white, indigo, blue or black trousers as these colours are worn by other persons. So, G wears cream trousers. Thus, C wears red or yellow trousers. Since E wears blue trousers, he doesn't wear red or blue shirt. Now colour of E's shirt and C's trousers is same. So, C also doesn't wear red trousers. Thus, C wears yellow trousers and E wears yellow shirt. Finally, A wears red trousers, and F and C wear shirts of any of the two colours-white and violet.

Person	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
Colour of shirt	Black	Red	White/Violet	Green	Yellow	White/Violet	Blue
Colour of trousers	Red	White	Yellow	Indigo	Blue	Black	Cream

1. (c) Violet colour shirt is worn by C or F.
2. (a) B wears white trousers.
3. (d) A wears red trousers.
4. (d) F wears white or violet shirt.
5. (c) G wears cream trousers.

 

Comparison Type Questions

In such type of questions, clues are given regarding comparisons among a set of persons or things with respect to one or more qualities. The candidate is required to analyse the whole information, form a proper ascending/descending sequence and then answer the given questions accordingly.

 

• Example:

Read the following information and answer the questions given below it.

Alka is older than Mala. Gopal is older than Mala but younger than Alka. Kapil is younger than Ram and Mala. Mala is older than Ram.

 

1. Whose age comes in between Gopal and Ram?

(a) Mala                                                (b) Kapil

(c) Alka                                                 (d) All of these

(e) None of these

 

2. Whose age is in between Mala and Kapil?

(a) Gopal                                               (b) Ram

(c) Alka                                                 (d) All of these

(e) None of these

 

3. Whose age is exactly in the middle of ail the five?

(a) Mala                                                (b) Gopal

(c) Ram                                                 (d) All of these

(e) None of these

 

4. Who is the eldest?

(a) Alka                                                (b) Mala

(c) Kapil                                                 (d) Gopal

(e) None of these

 

5. Who is the youngest?

(a) Mala                                                (b) Ram

(c) Alka                                                 (d) Kapil

(e) None of these

 

Explanation: Let us denote the five persons by the first letter of their names, namely A, M, G, K and R.                                                                         

Then, A > M, A > G > M, R > K, M > K and M > R.

Combining all the above, we get: A > G > M > R > K

1. Mala's age is between Gopal and Ram. So, the answer is (a)
2. Ram's age is between Mala and Kapil. So, the answer is (b)
3. Clearly, Mala lies in the middle when all the five persons are arranged in ascending or descending order of their ages. So, the answer is (a)
4. Clearly, Alka is the eldest. So, the answer is (a)
5. Kapil is the youngest. So, the answer (d)

 

Commonly Asked Questions

1. A, B, C, D, and E are five friends. A is shorter than B but taller than E, C is the tallest. D is shorter than B and taller than A. Find the person who has two persons taller and two persons shorter than him/her?

(a) A                                                     (b) B

(c) C                                                     (d) D

(e) None of these

Ans.     (d)

Explanation: We have: E < A < B, A < D < B.

Since C is the tallest, so we have: E < A < D < B < C

Clearly, D lies in the middle.

 

2. Five children were administered psychological tests to know their intellectual levels, in the report, psychologists pointed out that the child A is less intelligent than the child B. The child C is less intelligent than the child D. The child B is less intelligent than the child C and child A is more intelligent than the child E. Which child is the most intelligent?

(a) A                                                     (b) B

(c) D                                                     (d) E

(e) None of these

Ans.     (c)

Explanation: We have: A < B, C < D, B < C and E < A

So, the sequence becomes: E < A < B < C < D.

Clearly, child D is the most intelligent.

 

3. If P is taller than Q, R is shorter than P, S is taller than T but shorter than Q, then who among them is the tallest?

(a) P

(b) Q

(c) S

(d) T

(e) None of these

Ans.     (a)

Explanation: We have: P > Q, P > R, Q > S > T

Thus, P > Q > S > T and P > R

Clearly, P is taller than each one of Q, R, S and T. So P is the tallest.

 

4. Garima is taller than Sarita but not taller than Reena. Reena and Tanya are of the same height. Garima is shorter than Anu. Amongst all the girls, who is the shortest?

(a) Anu                                                  (b) Reena and Tanya

(c) Garima                                             (d) Sarita

(e) None of these

Ans.     (d)

Explanation: Let the first letter of the name of each girl represents her height, then:

Garima is taller than Sarita

Garima is not taller than Reena

Reena and Tanya are of the same height

Garima is shorter than Anu

All the above indicate that Garima is either shorter than or equal in height to each of the girls except Sarita, while Sarita is shorter than Garima. Thus, Sarita is the shortest.

 

 

Family Based Problems

This type of question includes a relationship among different members of a family and their types of works, their professions, qualities, dresses, hobbies etc.

 

• Example

Study the information given below and answer the questions that follow:

There is a family of six persons A, B, C, D, E and F. They are Lawyer, Doctor, Teacher, Salesman, Engineer and Accountant. There are two married couples in the family. D, the Salesman, is married to the Lady Teacher. The Doctor is married to the Lawyer. F, the Accountant, is the son of B and brother of E. C, the Lawyer, is the daughter-in-law of A. E is the unmarried Engineer, A is the grandmother of F.

 

1. How is E related to F?

(a) Brother

(b) Sister

(c) Cousin

(d) Cannot be determined

(e) None of these

 

2. What is the profession of B?

(a) Teacher

(b) Doctor

(c) Lawyer

(d) Cannot be determined

(e) None of these 

 

3. What is the profession of A?

(a) Lawyer

(b) Teacher

(c) Doctor

(d) Cannot be determined

(e) None of these

 

4. Which of the following is one of the couples?

(a) F and D                                            (b) D and A

(c) E and A                                            (d) A and C

(e) None of these

 

 

5. How is D related to F?

(a) Grandfather                                       (b) Father

(c) Uncle                                                (d) Brother

(e) None of these

 

Explanation:

C is the daughter-in-law of A who is the grandmother of F means C is the mother of F. But F is the son of B. So, B is C's husband. But C, the lawyer, is married to the doctor. So, B is the Doctor. F, the Accountant, is the son of B and C. E is the unmarried Engineer. So the other married couple can be that of grandmother of F i.e., A and D. But D, the Salesman, is married to the Lady Teacher. So, D, the salesman, is the grandfather of F, father of B and the husband of A, the Lady Teacher.

1. (d) Clearly, from the given data, the relation between E and F cannot be determined.
2. (b) B is the Doctor
3. (b) A is the Lady Teacher
4. (b) The Two couples are (C and B); and (D and A)
5. (a) D is the grandfather of F.

 

Commonly Asked Questions

Read the following information carefully and then answer the questions given below it:

A, B, D, F, G, H and K are seven members of a family. They belong to three generations. There are two married couples belonging to two different generations. D is the son of H and is married to K. F is the grand-daughter of B. 6's father is grandfather of A. B's husband is father-in-law of K. H has only one son.

 

1. How is K related to G?

(a) Sister-in-law                                       (b) Sister

(c) Niece                                                (d) Father

(e) None of these

 

2. Which of the following is the pair of married ladies?

(a) HK                                                   (b) HD

(c) KF                                                    (d) BK

(e) None of these

 

3. How is F related to G?

(a) Son

(b) Nephew

(c) Niece

(d) Daughter

(e) None of these

 

4. How many female members are there among them?

(a) Two                                                 (b) Three

(c) Four                                                 (d) Data inadequate

(e) None of these

5. How is H related to B?

(a) Father

(b) Father-in-law

(c) Uncle

(d) Husband

(e) None of these

 

Explanation: On the basis of information given in the question/ a table can be formed as under:

Member	Sex	Relationship
A	M/F	Child od D and K
B	Female	Wife of H
D	Male	Son of H and B, Husband of K
F	Female	Granddaughter of B and H, Daughter of D and K
G	Female	Daughter of B and H, sister of D
H	Male	Husband of B
K	Female	Wife of D, Daughter-in-law of B and H

On the basis of the above table, the married couples are BH and DK. D is the son of B and H and G is daughter of B and H as H has only one son.

1. (a) K is the sister-in-law of G.
2. (d) Married ladies are B and K.
3. (c) F is the daughter of D and K hence she is the niece of G.
4. (d) The sex of A is not given, other female member are B/ F, G and K
5. (d) H is the husband of B.

 

Seating Arrangement

In this type of questions some class regarding seating or placing sequence/linear or circular of same persons or items is given.

 

• Example:

Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below:

P, Q, R, S, T, V and W are sitting around in a circle facing at the center R is second to the right of P who is at the immediate right of V. S is second to the left of V. Q is second to the right of W who is not an immediate neighbour of V or S.

 

1. Who is to the immediate left of S?

(a) Q                                                     (b) T

(c) W                                                     (d) V

(e) None of these

 

2. Who is the second to the right of T?

(a) V                                                     (b) P

(c) W                                                     (d) Q

(e) None of these

 

3. Who is third to the left of W?

(a) P                                                     (b) V

(c) T                                                      (d) W

(e) None of these

 

 

4. In which of the following pairs the first person is sitting to the immediate right of the second person?

(a) RQ                                                   (b) QS

(c) ST                                                    (d) RW

(e) None of these

 

5. Who is fourth to the right of P?

(a) T                                                     (b) Q

(c) R                                                      (d) S

(e) None of these

Explanation:

 

Method:

\[\to \]We first of all mark the seven blank positions around a circle.

\[\to \]Now, R is second to the right of P and P is the immediate right of V

\[\to \]We mark their positions as shown.

\[\to \]Also, S is second to the left of V

\[\to \]Now, Q is the second to the right of Wand W is not an immediate neighbour of V or S.

Thus we mark their positions as shown in figure.

1. (a) Q is to the immediate left of S.

2. (b) P is second to the right of T.

3. (c) T is third to the left of W.

4. (d) Only in the pair RW, the first person R sits to the immediate right of the second W.

So, option (D) satisfies the given condition.

5. (d) S is fourth to the right of P.

Commonly Asked Questions Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a circle facing at the centre. E is second to the left to F and third to the right of A. B is third to the right of G who is not an immediate neighbor )f E or F. C is second to the right of B. D is to the immediate left of A and third to the left of H.

 

1. What is F's position with respect to G?

(a) Third to the left                                  (b) Third to the right

(c) Fifth to the left                                   (d) Fourth to the right

(e) None of these

 

2. Who is fifth to the right of C?

(a) H                                                     (b) G

(c) E                                                      (d) B

(e) None of these

 

3. In which of the following pairs the first person is sitting to the immediate left of the second person?

(a) BE                                                   (b) FB

(c) DC                                                   (d) GH

(e) None of these

 

4. Who is third to the left of E?

(a) H                                                     (b) D

(c) G                                                     (d) A

(e) None of these

 

5. Who is to the immediate right of A?

(a) H                                                     (b) g

(c) D                                                     (d) b

(e) None of these

 

6. Who is to the immediate left of E?

(a) H                                                     (b) g

(c) B                                                     (d) B

(e) None of these

 Explanation: According to the given instructions, we mark their positions as shown in figure:

 

1. (d) Clearly, F's position is fourth to the right of D.

2. (c) E is fifth to the right of C.

3. (d) Only in the pair GH, the first person G sits to the immediate left of the second person H.

4. (d) A is third to left of E.

5. (b) G is to the immediate right of A.

6. (a) H is to the immediate left of E.