Question 1

Material–object analogy: “Shoe : Leather :: __________ : __________” — select the pair matching “object : typical material.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The relation is “object : common material from which it is made or constructed.” Shoes are commonly made of leather; highways are commonly surfaced with asphalt. Given Data / Assumptions: Shoe → Leather (material). Highway → Asphalt (surface material). Concept / Approach: Match object to characteristic building material, not to people, places, or accessories. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Bus : Conductor / Medicine : Doctor → object/service matched to a person; wrong relation. Train : wagon → part/vehicle relation, not material. Book : Library → item/place relation. Final Answer: Highway : Asphalt

Question 2

Sense–object pairing analogy: “Condone : Offence :: ______ : ______” — choose the pair that mirrors forgiving/overlooking an irregularity.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “To condone an offence” means to overlook, forgive, or disregard it. The parallel pair should preserve this functional sense of overlooking a deviation from the norm. Concept / Approach: Choose a verb–object pair where the verb means “to overlook/forgive” and the object is a lapse/deviation. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Error : Omission → two nouns; not the same verb–object relation. Mitigate : Penitence → wrong direction; penitence is remorse. Conviction : Criminal → legal outcome vs person; not analogous. Approve : Dissent → antonymic clash. Final Answer: Overlook : Aberration

Question 3

Context-era analogy: “Dinosaur : Dragon” — select the pair that mirrors the typical contexts (prehistoric reality vs medieval legend).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Dinosaurs are real prehistoric creatures (primeval world), whereas dragons are legendary creatures often situated in medieval lore. The analogy contrasts typical contexts/time-frames rather than biological categories. Given Data / Assumptions: Dinosaur → primeval/prehistory context. Dragon → medieval legend/folklore context. Concept / Approach: Select the pair that reflects those respective contexts in abstract adjectives. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Evolution : Revelation → unrelated processes. Gorilla : Soldier → living being vs profession; mismatched classes. Snow : Ice → physical substances/states; not contextual eras. Mammal : Reptile → taxonomy; shifts the relation away from “real vs legendary era.” Final Answer: Primeval : Medieval

Question 4

Cause–effect analogy (domain mapping): “Deterioration : Rust :: ______ : ______” — select the economic pair that mirrors a characteristic adverse outcome.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Rust is a characteristic outcome/sign of material deterioration. In macroeconomics, widespread unemployment is a hallmark outcome of a severe downturn such as a depression. The analogy cross-maps domain-specific cause–effect signatures. Given Data / Assumptions: Deterioration → Rust (in metals like iron). Depression → Unemployment (in economies). Concept / Approach: Pick a pair where the left is a broad adverse state and the right is a characteristic resulting condition. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Recession : Inefficiency → inefficiency is not the canonical outcome; unemployment is more typical. Promulgation : Legislation → a process and a product; not an adverse-effect pairing. Iron : Water → materials, not cause–effect. Heat : Cold → opposites, not effect. Final Answer: Depression : Unemployment

Question 5

Complete the analogy by matching an object with the typical sound associated with its use: “Telephone : Ring :: ________ : ________”. Choose the pair that best mirrors the source → characteristic sound relationship.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Analogy items frequently encode a relationship such as cause → effect, source → product, or object → characteristic sound. In the stem, “Telephone : Ring,” the first term is an object and the second is the typical sound associated with its activation or use. Your task is to select the option that preserves the same mapping. Given Data / Assumptions: Telephone produces a “ring” when it receives a call. We seek an everyday object that has a conventional, strongly associated sound. The best answer should match the direction and type: object → characteristic sound. Concept / Approach: “Door : Knock” mirrors the structure neatly. A knock is the conventional sound that occurs when someone strikes a door to gain attention. It is as prototypical as “telephone : ring.” Other distractors either lack a sound mapping or reverse/change the relation (e.g., “Gate : Open” is an action, not a sound; “Door : Wood” is material composition, not sound; “Lock : Key” is an object–object pairing). Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify the relation: object → characteristic sound.2) Evaluate each choice for a sound that is standardly linked to the object.3) Select “Door : Knock,” which preserves both direction and type. Verification / Alternative check: Common-sense usage confirms that knocking pertains specifically to doors (and similar surfaces) to signal presence, just as ringing is tied to telephones to signal an incoming call. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Gate : Open — action/result, not a sound. Door : Wood — material composition relation, not auditory. Lock : Key — complementary objects; no distinctive sound mapping. Common Pitfalls: Picking an associated action or material instead of a characteristic sound can break the analogy type. Always preserve both the direction (object → sound) and the semantic category (sound). Final Answer: Door : Knock

Question 6

Find the odd one out among the four letter-strings by analyzing letter repetition and pattern regularity: USTO, OOTU, TTOU, SSTO.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Odd-one-out problems require isolating the unique item that breaks a rule the other items share. The most reliable approach is to test simple, consistent properties such as repeated letters, alphabetical position, vowel–consonant structure, or arrangement symmetry. Here we compare four short letter-strings: USTO, OOTU, TTOU, and SSTO. Given Data / Assumptions: All options are 4-letter sequences containing only the letters O, S, T, U in different orders. “Odd” should be determined by a crisp, objective property that three items share and one item lacks (or vice versa). Concept / Approach: Check for repetition. In OOTU, the letter O occurs twice; in TTOU, the letter T occurs twice; in SSTO, the letter S occurs twice. By contrast, USTO does not repeat any letter—each character U, S, T, O appears exactly once. Therefore, USTO is the lone string without duplication, making it the odd one out under the “has a repeated letter” rule shared by the others. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Scan each string for repeated letters.2) Mark OOTU (O repeated), TTOU (T repeated), SSTO (S repeated) as having duplication.3) Observe USTO has all distinct letters; pick it as the odd one. Verification / Alternative check: Other plausible checks (vowel count, alphabetic order) do not separate the set as cleanly as the duplication property. The repetition test provides a unique, unambiguous selection. Why Other Options Are Wrong: OOTU, TTOU, and SSTO all share the property “one letter appears twice,” hence they form a group and are not odd. Common Pitfalls: Overcomplicating patterns or hunting for multiple rules can mislead. Start from the simplest measurable property—in this case, letter repetition. Final Answer: USTO

Question 7

Find the odd one out among the numbers 5183, 33442, 34424, and 25631 by applying simple structural checks (digit count, parity mix, and repeated-digit patterns).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: When confronting “odd one out” number sets, begin with surface-level structural comparisons—digit count, presence of repeated digits, and simple divisibility/parity patterns—before probing deeper arithmetic relations. The goal is to locate a single item that fails to share a clear attribute enjoyed by the other three. Given Data / Assumptions: Numbers: 5183, 33442, 34424, 25631. We prioritize quick, objective checks like digit length and repeated digits. Concept / Approach: First, check digit counts: 33442 has 5 digits; 34424 has 5 digits; 25631 has 5 digits; 5183 has only 4 digits. Next, note repetitions: 33442 and 34424 both contain repeated digits; 25631 has all distinct digits; 5183 also has all distinct digits. The cleanest separator is digit count—three are 5-digit numbers, one is 4-digit. Thus 5183 is the odd one out by length alone, which is a simple, decisive criterion. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Count digits for each entry.2) Identify that only 5183 has 4 digits; the others have 5.3) Conclude 5183 is the odd one out. Verification / Alternative check: Even if we also examine repetition, we do not get a unique separation: two numbers repeat digits (33442, 34424), and two do not (5183, 25631). Only the “digit count” property distinguishes exactly one item from the rest. Why Other Options Are Wrong: 33442, 34424, and 25631 share the common feature of being 5-digit numbers; none is uniquely distinct by this criterion. Common Pitfalls: Overfitting a complicated arithmetic rule when a simple structural property yields a unique, unambiguous answer. Final Answer: 5183

Question 8

Find the odd one out among BAT, RAT, EAT, and FAT by analyzing semantic category (animal vs non-animal) while keeping spelling similarities aside.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Odd-one-out questions often mix lookalike strings to tempt superficial patterning. A robust approach weighs meaning alongside form. Here, all four entries rhyme and share “-AT,” but only some are animal nouns while others are not. The correct choice should violate the semantic category shared by most items. Given Data / Assumptions: BAT — an animal (a flying mammal). RAT — an animal (a rodent). EAT — a verb meaning to consume food. FAT — an adjective/noun referring to body fat or richness. Concept / Approach: A pure spelling approach would keep all four, but a semantic check reveals two clear animal nouns (BAT, RAT). Of the remaining two, EAT is a verb (action), whereas FAT is a quality/substance. Which single item best stands out from the group most consistently? If we form the majority class as “animal nouns,” then EAT does not fit; FAT also does not, but we only need one odd item. Since only two are animals and two are not, we refine by strength of grouping: EAT uniquely shifts part of speech to a verb, while the others are common nouns. Hence EAT is the cleanest odd one out by grammar and semantics combined. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify animal nouns: BAT, RAT.2) Inspect parts of speech: EAT (verb) vs FAT (noun/adjective).3) Choose EAT as the unique verb, making it the odd one out. Verification / Alternative check: Even if one considered “non-animal” as the majority, we still need uniqueness. Only EAT switches grammatical category decisively from the rest. Why Other Options Are Wrong: BAT and RAT form the animal group; FAT remains a common noun/adjective. Neither presents as distinct as EAT does in grammar/semantics. Common Pitfalls: Focusing solely on spelling patterns and ignoring meaning and part of speech. Final Answer: EAT

Question 9

Find the odd letter out among T, Z, Q, and H by testing simple visual/structural properties (straight vs curved strokes; symmetry).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Single-letter odd-one-out questions often hinge on visual properties of uppercase forms, such as symmetry (vertical/horizontal), presence of curves, or composition using straight vs curved strokes. The goal is to find one letter that lacks a property shared by the others—or that alone has a standout feature. Given Data / Assumptions: We consider standard uppercase print forms. Letters: T, Z, Q, H. Concept / Approach: Compare stroke geometry. T, Z, and H are typically composed of straight line segments in their standard uppercase forms. By contrast, uppercase Q contains a curved circular/oval body with a small diagonal stroke or tail—i.e., it includes a pronounced curve. Using the “straight-only vs contains a curve” property, Q uniquely differs from T, Z, and H. This creates a simple, objective separation that does not rely on font-specific quirks. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Inspect each letter’s geometry in common uppercase print.2) Note that T, Z, H use straight segments only.3) Observe that Q contains a rounded bowl (curve) plus a short tail—choose Q as the odd one out. Verification / Alternative check: Symmetry tests provide secondary support: H (both vertical and horizontal symmetry) and T (vertical symmetry in many fonts) still use straight strokes; Q departs via curvature. Either way, the simplest robust rule is “contains a curved stroke.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: T, Z, and H do not require a curved stroke in standard uppercase print; they therefore share a feature Q lacks. Common Pitfalls: Relying on unusual fonts or handwriting styles can blur distinctions. Stick to standard printed uppercase forms. Final Answer: Q

Question 10

Find the odd one out among the everyday nouns Hat, Bag, Purse, and Basket by comparing their typical functional category (wearable vs container/carrying item).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Real-world category questions often test whether you can group items by function rather than by superficial features like length or spelling. Here, three items are primarily designed to contain or carry other things, while one is mainly worn on the body. Identifying that split reveals the odd one out quickly and reliably. Given Data / Assumptions: Hat — apparel worn on the head. Bag — a container used to carry items. Purse — a small bag/wallet used to carry money or small personal items. Basket — a rigid container used for carrying/holding goods. Concept / Approach: Group by primary function. Bag, Purse, and Basket are all containers/carrying implements. In contrast, Hat is worn for protection, fashion, or cultural reasons and does not serve as a container for carrying items. Therefore, Hat is the unique item with the “wearable apparel” function, making it the odd one out among three container-type items. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Assign each item to its everyday function category.2) Identify the majority group: container/carrying (Bag, Purse, Basket).3) Select the lone wearable (Hat) as the odd one out. Verification / Alternative check: Even when considering materials (cloth, leather, wicker), the decisive factor remains function: only the Hat is primarily for wearing versus carrying. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Bag, Purse, and Basket all share the core function of holding or transporting items; none is primarily worn as apparel. Common Pitfalls: Letting secondary uses (e.g., a hat may have inner pockets) distract from the principal, widely understood function. Final Answer: Hat

Question 11

Find the odd one out among these international bodies by comparing mandate and membership type: UNICEF, IMF, WHO, SAARC.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Odd-one-out questions over international organisations are best solved by checking what each body is, who it reports to, and how broad its membership is. Here we have UNICEF, IMF, WHO, and SAARC. Three are global agencies with universal or near-universal participation; one is a regional intergovernmental grouping. The task is to isolate the item that breaks the shared institutional pattern. Given Data / Assumptions: UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund; a UN programme focused on child welfare. IMF: International Monetary Fund; a Bretton Woods institution with global financial stabilisation mandate. WHO: World Health Organization; a specialised agency of the UN for global public health. SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; a regional bloc of select South Asian countries. Concept / Approach: The quickest robust discriminator is scope and institutional family. UNICEF and WHO operate under the UN system with global brief; the IMF, though not a UN programme per se, is a global financial institution with worldwide membership and cooperation with the UN system. SAARC, by contrast, is a regional association limited to South Asia. Thus, three items share “global/multilateral agencies with worldwide scope,” while one is “regional intergovernmental bloc.” Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify organisational family and scope for each option.2) Group global agencies together (UNICEF, WHO, IMF).3) Mark SAARC as regional only; select it as the odd one out. Verification / Alternative check: Another lens is sectoral mandate: UNICEF (children), WHO (health), IMF (finance) are sectoral functional agencies; SAARC is a geopolitical regional forum rather than a single-sector functional body. This corroborates the selection. Why Other Options Are Wrong: UNICEF: Global UN programme; matches the majority pattern. IMF: Global membership and mandate; not regional. WHO: Global UN specialised agency; not regional. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “intergovernmental” with “UN” specifically. Even if you separate the IMF from UN agencies, the commonality of global scope still groups it with WHO and UNICEF against SAARC. Final Answer: SAARC

Question 12

Find the odd one out among the four digit sequences by using a simple parity (even/odd) count test: “5 8 7 8”, “6 4 8 2”, “5 7 8 8”, “9 7 4 8”.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: With short numeric strings, a fast way to detect an outlier is to count evens and odds. Parity patterns are objective, quick to compute mentally, and often deliberately used by test setters. Here, each option has four digits. The odd one should break a parity pattern held by the other three. Given Data / Assumptions: A: 5 8 7 8 B: 6 4 8 2 C: 5 7 8 8 D: 9 7 4 8 Concept / Approach: Count evens in each string. Option A has 8 and 8 as evens (2 evens). Option B has 6, 4, 8, 2 — all four are even (4 evens). Option C has 8 and 8 (2 evens). Option D has 4 and 8 (2 evens). So, three strings have exactly two even digits; one string is composed entirely of even digits. That all-even string cleanly stands out as the outlier. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Mark evens in each option.2) Tally even counts: A=2, B=4, C=2, D=2.3) Select the unique case with 4/4 evens: 6 4 8 2. Verification / Alternative check: Sum or product checks are unnecessary; parity already yields a unique, unambiguous choice. Any other simple property (e.g., presence of repeated digits) does not separate exactly one item here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Options A, C, and D share the property “exactly two evens,” so they form the majority group. Common Pitfalls: Overcomplicating with divisibility rules; when a crisp parity split exists, use it. Final Answer: 6 4 8 2

Question 13

Find the odd one out by spotting the anagram theme: CIRE, NAIR, LOUDSC, RNUTHDE.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In anagram-based odd-one-out questions, three items often hide a common semantic theme once their letters are re-arranged, while the fourth belongs to a completely different category. The key is to unscramble each option into a familiar English word and then compare categories. Given Data / Assumptions: CIRE → (rearranged) RICE NAIR → RAIN LOUDSC → CLOUDS RNUTHDE → THUNDER Concept / Approach: Unscramble each option. NAIR, LOUDSC, and RNUTHDE resolve neatly to weather phenomena: rain, clouds, and thunder. By contrast, CIRE resolves to RICE, which is a cereal crop (food grain), not a weather phenomenon. Thus three items share a coherent meteorological theme and one does not, providing a decisive separation for the odd one out. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Attempt straightforward anagrams for each string.2) Categorise the resolved words (weather vs non-weather).3) Select the non-weather term (RICE) corresponding to CIRE as the odd one. Verification / Alternative check: Even if you try broader “nature” categories, RICE (a cultivated crop) still differs from weather events/conditions. The meteorological specificity groups rain, clouds, and thunder together tightly. Why Other Options Are Wrong: NAIR, LOUDSC, RNUTHDE each decode to classic weather terms (RAIN, CLOUDS, THUNDER); they are consistent among themselves. Common Pitfalls: Stopping after discovering that all words are “about nature.” Precision matters—“weather” is the shared sub-category. Final Answer: CIRE

Question 14

Find the odd one out by decoding the anagrams into common nouns relating to gender roles: FIWE, FLAMEE, BUSHDNA, OMAWN.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Another anagram set: typically three of the jumbles resolve to a closely related semantic class, and one does not. Here, the letters can be rearranged to common English words associated with gender terms or roles. Identify the singleton that does not belong to the majority gender category once decoded. Given Data / Assumptions: FIWE → WIFE FLAMEE → FEMALE BUSHDNA → HUSBAND OMAWN → WOMAN Concept / Approach: Decode and classify by gender. WIFE, FEMALE, and WOMAN are female-category terms. HUSBAND is the only explicitly male term among the four. Therefore the outlier is the anagram that yields a male-category term, since the other three form a coherent group of female-category nouns. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Unscramble each option into a well-known noun.2) Assign to gender category (female vs male).3) Select the unique male term (HUSBAND → BUSHDNA) as the odd one out. Verification / Alternative check: Even under alternative criteria (marital status, generic/biological term), three still align to “female,” reinforcing BUSHDNA as the odd item. Why Other Options Are Wrong: FIWE (WIFE), FLAMEE (FEMALE), OMAWN (WOMAN) are consistent female-category terms. Common Pitfalls: Letting surface letter patterns bias the choice—always decode first, then compare categories. Final Answer: BUSHDNA

Question 15

Find the odd one out by decoding the anagrams and comparing abstract category: LITYAQU, TITYUANQ, TEAUBY, TEDUCAED.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Here the strings are anagrams of common abstract terms. Typically, three will share the same grammatical or conceptual class, while one diverges. Decode each and then compare by part of speech and conceptual type to isolate the outlier cleanly and defensibly. Given Data / Assumptions: LITYAQU → QUALITY (abstract noun) TITYUANQ → QUANTITY (abstract noun) TEAUBY → BEAUTY (abstract noun) TEDUCAED → EDUCATED (adjective/past participle) Concept / Approach: QUALITY, QUANTITY, and BEAUTY are canonical abstract nouns. EDUCATED, however, is not the corresponding noun (which would be EDUCATION); it is an adjective/past participle describing a state. Therefore, TEDUCAED (EDUCATED) breaks the consistent “abstract noun” set formed by the other three anagrams and is the odd one out by grammatical class and concept type. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Unscramble each option to its common English equivalent.2) Identify grammatical class: noun vs adjective.3) Select the lone adjective (EDUCATED) as the outlier. Verification / Alternative check: Even if one groups by “abstract quality,” EDUCATED is not, itself, the pure quality noun, reinforcing the conclusion. Why Other Options Are Wrong: QUALITY, QUANTITY, BEAUTY are homogeneous abstract nouns and fit together. Common Pitfalls: Mistaking EDUCATED for EDUCATION due to surface similarity; always confirm the exact word formed. Final Answer: TEDUCAED

Question 16

Find the odd one out among NITK, TIK, TIH, ITS by using a minimal structural test on the decoded English words (length homogeneity).

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Short jumbles can often all be rearranged into valid English words, so the discriminator is chosen to be a simple, objective property such as word length. When multiple items form a consistent length class and a single item does not, the singleton is the odd one out. Decode lightly and compare lengths. Given Data / Assumptions: NITK → KNIT (4 letters) TIK → KIT (3 letters) TIH → HIT (3 letters) ITS → SIT (3 letters) Concept / Approach: Three options rearrange to common 3-letter English words (KIT, HIT, SIT). One option (NITK) rearranges to a 4-letter word (KNIT). Since the majority class is 3-letter words, the unique 4-letter word provides a crisp and defensible odd-one-out selection without relying on subtle semantics. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Rearrange each string to its obvious English form.2) Compare resulting word lengths.3) Select the sole 4-letter outcome (KNIT → NITK) as the odd one out. Verification / Alternative check: Other properties (e.g., initial consonant change) do not yield a unique separation as cleanly as length does here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: TIK, TIH, ITS all reduce to 3-letter common words and thus form the majority group. Common Pitfalls: Overcomplicating the test with vowel/consonant counts; the length criterion already isolates a single item. Final Answer: NITK

Question 17

Code-language maps: If “light” is called “morning”, “morning” is called “dark”, “dark” is called “night”, “night” is called “sunshine”, and “sunshine” is called “dusk”, then when (by name) do we sleep?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Code-language questions rename familiar words. To answer correctly, you must map the real-world concept to its new assigned label, not chain through labels recursively. The prompt provides a renaming scheme for several time-related words and asks: “when do we sleep?” Most people typically sleep at night. Under the code, we must identify what the word “night” has been renamed to. Given Data / Assumptions: “light” → “morning” “morning” → “dark” “dark” → “night” “night” → “sunshine” “sunshine” → “dusk” Sleeping time (ordinary meaning) ≈ night. Concept / Approach: In standard code-language puzzles, you replace the real concept with its direct coded label. You do not reapply the code repeatedly. Since we sleep at night, and “night” is called “sunshine,” the coded answer must be “sunshine.” The presence of an additional mapping “sunshine → dusk” is a distractor; it does not mean we continue renaming “night” to “dusk.” Each mapping stands alone for its source word. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify the underlying real-world term: we sleep at night.2) Read the direct mapping for “night”: “night” is called “sunshine.”3) Report the coded label: “sunshine.” Verification / Alternative check: The trick is resisting the urge to cascade “night → sunshine → dusk.” The rules never say to re-code outputs; they only rename original source words. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Dusk: Comes from mapping “sunshine,” not “night.” Dark: Is the code for “morning.” Night: Is the uncoded original term, not the coded answer requested. Common Pitfalls: Double-coding the output. Always map the underlying concept once to its new label. Final Answer: Sunshine

Question 18

Letter transformation puzzle: Change only the consonants in the word “MEAT” to the next consonant in the alphabet (keep vowels unchanged). Using the new four letters, how many meaningful English words can be formed (each letter used exactly…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This classic transformation puzzle asks you to shift only consonants to their next consonant, skipping vowels, while leaving vowels unchanged. Then, with the new multiset of letters, you must count how many distinct, meaningful English words can be formed, using each letter exactly once. The base word is “MEAT.” Given Data / Assumptions: Original letters: M (consonant), E (vowel), A (vowel), T (consonant). Vowels remain unchanged: E, A stay as E, A. Consonants move to the next consonant in alphabetic order (skip vowels): M → N (skip nothing in between), T → V (skip U since it is a vowel). Concept / Approach: Apply the consonant-only step: M→N, T→V, retain E and A. The new letter set is {N, E, A, V}. Now enumerate meaningful arrangements. Obvious candidates are VANE and NAVE, both standard English words. A quick check of other permutations (EVAN, AVEN, VNEA, etc.) either yields proper names or non-words, which we do not count for typical aptitude tests. Therefore, exactly two valid words can be formed. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Transform consonants: M→N, T→V; keep vowels E, A.2) New multiset: N, E, A, V.3) List permutations and filter to dictionary words: NAVE, VANE.4) Count valid outcomes: 2. Verification / Alternative check: Cross-checking common dictionaries confirms nave (central part of a church) and vane (blade or weather-vane fin) as legitimate words. No other everyday dictionary words exist from these four letters. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “None/One/Three” miscount; exactly two standard dictionary words fit. Common Pitfalls: Misreading the rule as “next letter” (including vowels) would make T→U and destroy word formation; the standard puzzle intent is “next consonant.” Final Answer: Two

Question 19

Letter-series completion: Identify the next letter that logically follows the sequence B, E, I, N, T by analysing the pattern of positional jumps in the English alphabet and accounting for wraparound after Z.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Letter-series puzzles typically progress through the alphabet using a repeatable rule based on position numbers. The task is to discover the increment pattern between consecutive letters and apply it to find the next term. Because the alphabet is circular for such puzzles, movement past Z wraps to A. Here the sequence is B, E, I, N, T, and we must determine the next letter. Given Data / Assumptions: Alphabet positions: A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26. Sequence provided: B (2), E (5), I (9), N (14), T (20). Standard wraparound applies: after Z (26) comes A (1) when stepping forward. Concept / Approach: The cleanest way is to compute successive differences in positions. From B→E is +3, E→I is +4, I→N is +5, and N→T is +6. This forms a clear increasing step pattern of +3, +4, +5, +6. The next step naturally continues as +7. We then add +7 to T. If the sum exceeds 26, we wrap back to the start of the alphabet. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Convert letters to positions: B=2, E=5, I=9, N=14, T=20.2) Compute gaps: 5-2=3, 9-5=4, 14-9=5, 20-14=6.3) Extrapolate next gap: +7.4) Add +7 to T's position: 20 + 7 = 27.5) Apply wraparound: 27 maps to 1 (since 27-26=1), which is A. Verification / Alternative check: List the cumulative increments explicitly: starting at 2 (B), after +3 we get 5 (E), after +4 we get 9 (I), after +5 we get 14 (N), after +6 we get 20 (T), and after +7 we arrive at 27 which wraps to 1 (A). The arithmetic and wrap rule align without contradiction. Why Other Options Are Wrong: S, U, and V do not satisfy the required +7 from T. For example, T→S is backward, T→U is only +1, and T→V is +3, none matching the derived +7 step. Common Pitfalls: Forgetting the increasing step pattern or missing the wraparound after Z can lead to an incorrect small-step choice. Another frequent mistake is assuming a constant step size when the data clearly indicates a growing increment. Final Answer: A

Question 20

Alphabet run with alternating decrements: Determine the next letter that logically follows the descending sequence Z, W, S, P, L, I, E by recognising the alternating −3, −4 step pattern and applying wraparound rules.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Many alphabet series use alternating step sizes to produce a jagged yet regular path through letters. Here we have a descending sequence: Z, W, S, P, L, I, E. The goal is to find the rule that transforms one letter to the next and then apply it to E to obtain the next term. Because we move within the finite set A–Z, if a calculation falls below A, wraparound back from A to Z would be used, though in this item the steps remain within range. Given Data / Assumptions: Uppercase positions: A=1 to Z=26. Sequence: Z(26), W(23), S(19), P(16), L(12), I(9), E(5). We expect a consistent alternating decrement pattern. Concept / Approach: Compute successive differences: Z→W is −3, W→S is −4, S→P is −3, P→L is −4, L→I is −3, I→E is −4. The alternation −3, −4 repeats precisely. Therefore, from E we continue with the next step in the cycle, which is −3. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Convert to numeric positions to make subtraction transparent.2) Confirm the repeating pattern: −3, −4, −3, −4, −3, −4.3) Apply the next required decrement to E(5): 5 − 3 = 2.4) Position 2 corresponds to letter B. Verification / Alternative check: Project the pattern one step earlier or later to ensure it remains consistent across the entire sequence. Every consecutive pair conforms to the alternating −3, −4 rule, and extending by −3 from E cleanly produces B with no anomalies. Why Other Options Are Wrong: D (4) would imply −1 from E; F (6) implies +1; K (11) implies +6. None match the mandated −3 step. Common Pitfalls: Misreading the direction (adding instead of subtracting) or assuming a single constant decrement. Always test at least three successive gaps to detect alternation reliably. Final Answer: B

Analogy Questions