Previous Year Paper

CSIR ASO/SO (Reasoning): Memory Based Test (Held on: 5th Feb 2024) (Previous Year Paper)

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General Intelligence, Reasoning and Mental Ability (25 questions)

Question 1

In the following question, select the related number from the given alternatives.

8 : 81 : : ? : 64

  1. AOption (a)

    3

  2. BOption (b)

    8

  3. COption (c)

    7

  4. DOption (d)

    9

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

7

Why this answer is correct

The pattern followed here is:

Logic: (1st number + 1)2 = 2nd number.

So, 8 : 81

→ (8 + 1)2 = 92 = 81.

Similarly, ? : 64

→ (7 + 1)2 = 82 = 64.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3".

Question 2

Which of the following terms will replace the question mark (?) in the given series?

ALW, GEY, MXA, SQC, YJE, ?

  1. AOption (a)

    ECG

  2. BOption (b)

    DBI

  3. COption (c)

    DCH

  4. DOption (d)

    EBH

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

ECG

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is :-

Hence, the correct answer is "ECG".

Question 3

Five friends A, B, C, D and E study in the same college. In age, E is older than only A and B. D is younger than only C. A is not the youngest. How many friends are older than A?

  1. AOption (a)

    4

  2. BOption (b)

    2

  3. COption (c)

    3

  4. DOption (d)

    1

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

3

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

1) E is older than only A and B

⇒ E > A and B

2) D is younger than only C

⇒ C > D > E > A and B

3) A is not the youngest.

So, the correct order will be ⇒ C > D > E > A > B

So, there are 3 persons (C, D, and E) older than A.

Hence, "option 3" is the correct answer.

Question 4

Which of the following terms will replace the question mark (?) in the given series?

MPT, PRU, STV, VVW,?

  1. AOption (a)

    YWX

  2. BOption (b)

    YXW

  3. COption (c)

    YXX

  4. DOption (d)

    ZXW

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

YXX

Why this answer is correct

Given:

MPT, PRU, STV, VVW,?

Logic: Addition of (3), (2) and (1) in the position value of the first, second and third letter.

Here, 'YXX' is the next term.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option (3)".

Question 5

Two Statements are given followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. Assuming the statements to be true, even if they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts, decide which of the conclusions logically follow(s) from the statements.

Statements:

All tables are strong.

No strong is weak.

Conclusions:

I. No tables are weak.

II. Some weak are tables.

  1. AOption (a)

    Only conclusion II follows

  2. BOption (b)

    Both conclusions I and II follow

  3. COption (c)

    Neither conclusion I nor II follows

  4. DOption (d)

    Only conclusion I follows

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

Only conclusion I follows

Why this answer is correct

Given Statements:

All tables are strong.

No strong is weak.

The least possible Venn diagram for the given statement is:

Conclusions:

I. No tables are weak - True (Because, All the tables are strong and no strong is weak, so no tables are weak).

II. Some weak are tables - False (Because, All the tables are strong and no strong is weak, so no tables are weak).

So, Only conclusion I follows.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 4".

Question 6

In a certain code language, 'WODMF' is written as 'ZRDKD'. How will 'EIDMC' be written in that language?

  1. AOption (a)

    HDLAK

  2. BOption (b)

    HDLKA

  3. COption (c)

    HLDKA

  4. DOption (d)

    HALDA

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

HLDKA

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

For, ‘WODMF' is written as 'ZRDKD’,

Similarly, for 'EIDMC'

So, 'EIDMC' will be written as 'HLDKA'.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3".

Question 7

​'Explicit' is related to 'open' in the same way as 'confidential' is to '______'.

  1. AOption (a)

    Clean

  2. BOption (b)

    Free

  3. COption (c)

    Indirectly

  4. DOption (d)

    Secret

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

Secret

Why this answer is correct

Logic : Term : Synonym

  • Explicit is a synonym of open.

Similarly,

  • Confidential is a synonym of secret.

Hence, "Secret" is the correct answer.

Additional Information

  1. Clean → Synonyms are neat, tidy, pure etc.
  2. Free → Synonyms are liberated, open, independent etc.
  3. Indirectly → Synonyms are implicitly, not directly, subtly etc.
  4. Secret → Synonyms are confidential, hidden, private etc.

Question 8

Which of the following letter-clusters will replace the question mark (?) in the given series to make it logically complete?

FAN 15, KFS 20, PKX 25, UPC 30, ?

  1. AOption (a)

    YSL 40

  2. BOption (b)

    YLS 45

  3. COption (c)

    ZVI 35

  4. DOption (d)

    ZUH 35

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

ZUH 35

Why this answer is correct

The pattern followed here is:

Thus, the pattern which logically completes the series is ZUH 35.

Hence, the correct answer is Option (4).

Question 9

Select the number from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.

26, 31, 29, 34, 32, ?

  1. AOption (a)

    39

  2. BOption (b)

    37

  3. COption (c)

    34

  4. DOption (d)

    30

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

37

Why this answer is correct

The pattern followed here is:

Hence, the correct answer is "37".

Question 10

In a certain code language,

‘A + B’ means ‘A is the brother of B’,

‘A – B’ means ‘A is the mother of B’,

‘A × B’ means ‘A is the son of B’ and

‘A ÷ B’ means ‘A is the sister of B’.

If C + D – L ÷ P × Q × V, then which of the following statements is NOT correct?

  1. AOption (a)

    C is P’s father’s brother.

  2. BOption (b)

    L is Q’s daughter.

  3. COption (c)

    D is V’s son’s wife.

  4. DOption (d)

    D is P’s mother.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

C is P’s father’s brother.

Why this answer is correct

Family Chart:

Decoding the Symbols:

Symbol+-×÷
MeaningBrotherMotherSonSister

 

Given: C + D – L ÷ P × Q × V

It means: C is the Brother of D, D is the Mother of L, L is the Sister of P, P is the Son of Q, Q is the Son of V.

Option 1: C is P’s father’s brother - False (C is P's mother Brother).

Option 2: L is Q’s daughter - True

Option 3: D is V’s son’s wife - True

Option 4: D is P’s mother - True

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 1".

Question 11

Which of the following numbers will replace the question mark (?) in the given series?

33, 80, 108, ?, 183, 230, 258

  1. AOption (a)

    160

  2. BOption (b)

    155

  3. COption (c)

    143

  4. DOption (d)

    138

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

155

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Hence, '155' is the correct answer.

Question 12

Select the option figure in which the given figure is embedded. (rotation is NOT allowed)

  1. AOption (a)

  2. BOption (b)

  3. COption (c)

  4. DOption (d)

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Why this answer is correct

The image embedded in given figure is as shown below:

Hence, "Option 1" is the correct answer.

Question 13

Choose the picture which is different from the others.

  1. AOption (a)

    (1)

  2. BOption (b)

    (2)

  3. COption (c)

    (3)

  4. DOption (d)

    (4)

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

(3)

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3".

Question 14

Identify the figure given in the options which when put in place of the question mark (?) will logically complete the series.

  1. AOption (a)

  2. BOption (b)

  3. COption (c)

  4. DOption (d)

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Logic: The symbols are getting shifting upwards and downwards with increasing and decreasing order.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 1".

Question 15

Three positions of a dice are given below. What will come on the face opposite to the face containing '9' on it?

  1. AOption (a)

  2. BOption (b)

    7

  3. COption (c)

    2

  4. DOption (d)

    8

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Why this answer is correct

The pattern followed here is:

Given:

From dice number (1) and (2).

Here, @ is common in both the dice and rotated in clockwise direction from the common face.

Opposite faces:

⇒ # ⇔ 9

⇒ 8 ⇔ 7

Clearly, # is the opposite of 9.

Hence, the correct answer is "#".

Question 16

What will be written in the place of question mark in the given series? 

A1C3M13I9?16

  1. AOption (a)

    N

  2. BOption (b)

    O

  3. COption (c)

    M

  4. DOption (d)

    P

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

P

Why this answer is correct

The positional values of the alphabets are as follows:

The logic followed here is as follows:

Logic: The positional values of letters are written next to the letter in the given series.

So missing term in the series will 'P' which positional value is 16.

Hence the correct answer is "P".

Question 17

In a certain code language, 'ACCENT' is coded as ‘CCATNE'. What is the code for ‘VENDOR' in that code language? 

  1. AOption (a)

    VENROD

  2. BOption (b)

    NVEDOR

  3. COption (c)

    NEVROD

  4. DOption (d)

    NEVORD

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

NEVROD

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

'ACCENT' is coded as ‘CCATNE',

Similarly, for 'VENDOR'

So, 'VENDOR' will be coded as 'NEVROD'.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3".

Question 18

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

C _ R C _ R _ A R _ A _ C A _

  1. AOption (a)

    R A C A C A

  2. BOption (b)

    R A C A A C

  3. COption (c)

    A C R A C R

  4. DOption (d)

    A A C C R R

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

A A C C R R

Why this answer is correct

Given : C _ R C _ R _ A R _ A _ C A _    

By checking options :

  1. R A C A C A → C R R C A R C A R A A C C A A → (It doesn't Follows the pattern)
  2. R A C A A C → C R R C A R C A R A A R C A C → (It doesn't Follows the pattern)
  3. A C R A C R → C A R C C R R A R A A C C A R → (It doesn't Follows the pattern)
  4. A A C C R R → C A R C A R C A R C A R C A R → (It follows the pattern of : CAR - CAR - CAR - CAR - CAR)

⇒Option - (4) gives the pattern of "C A R C A R C A R C A R C A R"

Hence, "A A C C R R" is the correct answer.

Question 19

Select the number from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.

15, 22, 31, 42, 55, ?

  1. AOption (a)

    70

  2. BOption (b)

    71

  3. COption (c)

    72

  4. DOption (d)

    68

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

70

Why this answer is correct

The pattern followed here is:-

Hence, the correct answer is "70".

Question 20

Shruti departs from her home and walks 26 m towards the east. She then turns left and walks 18 m. She turns right and walks 34 m. She takes a right turn again and walks 30 m. She then takes a left turn and walks 10 m. She takes a final left turn and walks 12 m to stop at Point X. How far and in which direction is her home from Point X? (Assume that all the turns are 90° turns only.)

  1. AOption (a)

    65 m east 

  2. BOption (b)

    55 m east

  3. COption (c)

    70 m west

  4. DOption (d)

    60 m west 

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

70 m west

Why this answer is correct

According to the given information,

1) Shruti departs from her home and walks 26 m towards the east.

2) She then turns left and walks 18 m.

3) She turns right and walks 34 m.

4) She takes a right turn again and walks 30 m.

5) She then takes a left turn and walks 10 m.

  1. She takes a final left turn and walks 12 m to stop at Point X.

Here, we can see that her home is 70 m in West direction from point X.

Hence, the correct answer is "70 m west".

Question 21

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. AOption (a)

    LJI

  2. BOption (b)

    GDA

  3. COption (c)

    NLK

  4. DOption (d)

    TRQ

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

GDA

Why this answer is correct

The position of the English alphabet letters is given below:

Let's check each option one by one:

Option 1) LJI

Option 2) GDA

Option 3) NLK

Option 4) TRQ

Hence, the correct answer is "GDA".

Question 22

What is the total number of triangles in the given figure?

  1. AOption (a)

    6

  2. BOption (b)

    8

  3. COption (c)

    10

  4. DOption (d)

    12

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

10

Why this answer is correct

There are total 10 triangle in the given figure.

Hence, the correct answer is "10".

Question 23

Select the option that is related to the third word in the same way as the second word is related to the first word. (The words must be considered as meaningful English words and must not be related to each other based on the number of letters/number of consonants/vowels in the word)

Anklet : Ankle :: Bracelet : ?

  1. AOption (a)

    Ear

  2. BOption (b)

    Wrist

  3. COption (c)

    Waist

  4. DOption (d)

    Neck

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Wrist

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Logic: First one is wore on the second one.

  • Anklet : Ankle → An anklet is wore on ankle.

Similarly,

  • Bracelet → A bracelet is wore on wrist.

Hence, 'Wrist' is the correct answer.

Question 24

Which of the following answer figures is the water image of the given figure?

  1. AOption (a)

  2. BOption (b)

  3. COption (c)

  4. DOption (d)

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Why this answer is correct

The water image will be:

Hence, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Question 25

If ‘+' means ‘subtraction’, ‘-’ means ‘multiplication’, ‘÷’ means ‘addition’ and ‘×’ means ‘division’, then what is the value of the following expression?

3 - 21 + 153 × 17 ÷ 26

  1. AOption (a)

    84

  2. BOption (b)

    80

  3. COption (c)

    76

  4. DOption (d)

    58

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

80

Why this answer is correct

Here, we use the BODMAS table given below:

Given:

⇒ 3 - 21 + 153 × 17 ÷ 26

As per the given data:

SymbolMeans
+Subtraction
-Multiplication
÷Addition
×Division

After changing the sign as per the table:

⇒ 3 × 21 - 153 ÷ 17 + 26

Apply BODMAS rule:

⇒ 3 × 21 - 9 + 26

⇒ 63 - 9 + 26

⇒ 89 - 9 = 80

Here, the value of the expression is '80'.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option (2)".

25 questions in the full paper