SSC Stenographer · Topic Collection

Reasoning PYQs

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, analogies, syllogisms, number series, coding-decoding, blood relations, and analytical puzzles.

2650 Total Questions53 Official PapersYears: 2017–2025Search in Reasoning
Showing questions 21–40 of 2650Page 2 of 100
SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 21

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Sandeep was given some money by his father. He spent all of it in six shops. In each shop, he spent one rupee more than half of what he had when he entered. How much money did Sandeep receive from his father?

  1. AOption (a)

    126 rupees

  2. BOption (b)

    15  rupees

  3. COption (c)

    31 rupees

  4. DOption (d)

    63 rupees

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

126 rupees

Why this answer is correct

Given:

Total shops = 6

Condition: In each shop he spends (½ of what he had + ₹1)

At last he has ₹0 left

Formula used:

If money before entering a shop = M

Money spent = (M ÷ 2 + 1)

Money left = M − (M ÷ 2 + 1) = (M ÷ 2 − 1)

We work backward from last shop (final = 0)

Calculations:

After shop 6 = 0

⇒ Before shop 6 = (0 + 1) × 2 = 2

⇒ Before shop 5 = (2 + 1) × 2 = 6

⇒ Before shop 4 = (6 + 1) × 2 = 14

⇒ Before shop 3 = (14 + 1) × 2 = 30

⇒ Before shop 2 = (30 + 1) × 2 = 62

⇒ Before shop 1 = (62 + 1) × 2 = 126

∴ Sandeep received ₹126 from his father.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 22

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

In a class of 45 students, Rahul is ranked 20th from the top. If the students are arranged in the descending order of ranks, what will be Rahul's position from the bottom?

  1. AOption (a)

    26th

  2. BOption (b)

    23rd

  3. COption (c)

    24th

  4. DOption (d)

    25th

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

26th

Why this answer is correct

Given:

Total students = 45

Rahul's position from the top = 20

According to the question, if the students are arranged in the descending order of ranks:

Rahul's position from the bottom → Total students - Rahul's position from the top + 1

→ 45 - 20 + 1 = 26​

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 1".

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 23

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

If in a certain code, SUN is written as 54, and MOON is written as 57, how is STAR written?

  1. AOption (a)

    64

  2. BOption (b)

    58

  3. COption (c)

    57

  4. DOption (d)

    75

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

58

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

SUN is written as 54

And,

MOON is written as 57

Similarly,

STAR written

Hence, "Option 1" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 24

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

If 5#3=8 and 7#2=9, then what is the value of 9#4?

  1. AOption (a)

    36

  2. BOption (b)

    13

  3. COption (c)

    12

  4. DOption (d)

    5

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

13

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

means '+'

5#3=8 → 5 + 3 = 8

And

7#2=9 → 7 + 2 =9 

Similarly,

9#4 → 9 + 4 = 13

Hence, "Option 2" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 25

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Find the number that doesn't belong:

  1. AOption (a)

    11, 13, 17, 19

  2. BOption (b)

    37, 41, 43, 47

  3. COption (c)

    23, 29, 31, 33

  4. DOption (d)

    2, 3, 5, 7

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

23, 29, 31, 33

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

​​Option 1) 11, 13, 17, 19 → Prime numbers

Option 2) 37, 41, 43, 47 → Prime numbers

Option 3) 23, 29, 31, 33 → Prime and composite numbers

Option 4) 2, 3, 5, 7 → Prime numbers

Hence, "Option 3" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 26

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Complete this series:

131, 137, 149, 163, 181, ?

  1. AOption (a)

    211

  2. BOption (b)

    193

  3. COption (c)

    191

  4. DOption (d)

    197

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

211

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Hence, "Option 1" is the correct answer.

Additional Information Prime numbers from 1 - 220:

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97, 101, 103, 107, 109, 113, 127, 131, 137, 139, 149, 151, 157, 163, 167, 173, 179, 181, 191, 193, 197, 199, 211.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 27

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Which of the following actions shows the best judgment in a social situation?  

  1. AOption (a)

    Offering help to an elderly person carrying heavy bags

  2. BOption (b)

    Yelling at someone who bumped into you

  3. COption (c)

    Posting negative comments online anonymously

  4. DOption (d)

    Ignoring a crying child in a public place

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

Offering help to an elderly person carrying heavy bags

Why this answer is correct

According to the question:

StatementCorrectnessReasoning
Offering help to an elderly person carrying heavy bags.CorrectPositive action
Yelling at someone who bumped into youIncorrectNegative action
Posting negative comments online anonymouslyIncorrectNegative action
Ignoring a crying child in a public place.IncorrectNegative action

Hence, "Option 1" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 28

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

A is to C as E is to:

  1. AOption (a)

    I

  2. BOption (b)

    H

  3. COption (c)

    G

  4. DOption (d)

    F

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

G

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

A is to C

Similarly,

E is to

​

Hence, "Option 3" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 29

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Find the next term in the given series. B, DE, HJK, ?, WXYZB

  1. AOption (a)

    S37T

  2. BOption (b)

    R74A

  3. COption (c)

    OPQR

  4. DOption (d)

    T89Z

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

OPQR

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Hence, "Option 3" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 30

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

If A is the mother of B, and B is the father of C, then how is A related to C?

  1. AOption (a)

    Sister

  2. BOption (b)

    Grandmother

  3. COption (c)

    Mother 

  4. DOption (d)

    Aunt 

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Grandmother

Why this answer is correct

Given: 

  1. A is the mother of B

  2. B is the father of C

Thus, A is C's grandmother.

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 2"

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 31

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

A boat travels 40 km upstream in 4 hours and downstream in 2 hours. What is the speed of the stream? 

  1. AOption (a)

    3 km/h

  2. BOption (b)

    4 km/h

  3. COption (c)

    6 km/h

  4. DOption (d)

    5 km/h

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

5 km/h

Why this answer is correct

According to the question:

Distance upstream = 40 km

Time upstream = 4 hrs

Time downstream = 2 hr

So, 

Speed upstream = 40/4 ⇒ 10 km/hr

Speed downstream = 40/2 ⇒ 20 km/hr

Now,

let the speed of the boat be = b

let the speed of the stream be = s

Upstream = b - s ⇒ 10 km/hr

Downstream = b + s ⇒ 20 km/hr

Solving both the equation we get:

2b = 30

b = 15 km/hr

∴ b - s = 10 

s = 5 km/hr

Hence, "Option 4" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 32

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Find the next term in the given series. K1F, M3E, O8D, Q19C, ? 

  1. AOption (a)

    s37c

  2. BOption (b)

    S42R

  3. COption (c)

    S42B

  4. DOption (d)

    T42A

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

S42B

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Hence, "Option 3" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 33

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Statements:

  1. All books are papers.

  2. All papers are trees.

Conclusions:

  1. All books are trees.

  2. Some trees are books

  1. AOption (a)

    Only II follows 

  2. BOption (b)

    Only I follows

  3. COption (c)

    Both I and II follow

  4. DOption (d)

    Neither I nor II follows

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Both I and II follow

Why this answer is correct

The least possible Venn diagram for the given statements is as shown below :

Conclusions:

  1. All books are trees → Follow (As all books are papers and all papers are trees. As whole books comes in papers which whole comes in trees, therefore it is true.)
  2. Some trees are books → Follow (As all books are papers and all papers are trees. As whole books comes in papers which whole comes in trees, therefore it is true.)

∴ Here, Both I and II follow.​

Hence, the correct answer is "Option 3".

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 34

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Nishant has 68% B.Sc., pending M.Sc. result, 3 years teaching experience, 27 years old, willing for probation. What to do? 

  1. AOption (a)

    Wait for result then decide

  2. BOption (b)

    Reject due to incomplete PG

  3. COption (c)

    Refer to Principal

  4. DOption (d)

    Can't be determined

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

Can't be determined

Why this answer is correct

Correct Answer: Option (4) – Can't be determined

Nishant’s M.Sc. result is pending, and without his final post-graduation percentage, it is impossible to verify if he meets the complete educational eligibility. Since the specific recruitment guidelines for "result awaited" candidates are not provided, a definitive decision cannot be made.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 35

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

If "A" is coded as 2, "B" as 4, "a" as 11, "b" as 12 (following a pattern for capitals and small letters), what is the code for "Hi"?

  1. AOption (a)

    17,20

  2. BOption (b)

    19,22

  3. COption (c)

    18,21

  4. DOption (d)

    16,19

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

16,19

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

For capital letter → Place value × 2 

For small letter → 1 is positioned ahead of place value → '1' ' Place value'

"A" is coded as 2

"B" as 4

"a" as 11

"b" as 12

Similarly,

"Hi" is coded as

For 'H'

For 'i'

Hence, "Option 4" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 36

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

A man walks 10 meters south, then turns left and walks 15 meters. In which direction is he facing now?

  1. AOption (a)

    North 

  2. BOption (b)

    East

  3. COption (c)

    South

  4. DOption (d)

    West 

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

East

Why this answer is correct

Given:

A man walks 10 meters south, then turns left and walks 15 meters.

Thus, facing in the east direction now.

Hence, "Option 2" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 37

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

In a row of 8 seats, how many ways can 3 people sit next to each other? 

  1. AOption (a)

    48

  2. BOption (b)

    36

  3. COption (c)

    54

  4. DOption (d)

    72

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

36

Why this answer is correct

Given:

8 people are seated in a row.

3 people sit next to each other

Formula:

Ways of arranging n distinct things taken all at a time = n!

Explanation:

So, the number of ways 8 people be seated in a row such that 3 people sit next to each other = 3! × 6 ⇒ 36

Hence, "Option 2" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 38

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

In how many ways can 5 people be seated in a row such that A and B are not next to each other?

  1. AOption (a)

    36

  2. BOption (b)

    54

  3. COption (c)

    72

  4. DOption (d)

    48 

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

72

Why this answer is correct

Given: 

5 people are seated in a row.

A and B are not next to each other.

Formula:

Ways of arranging n distinct things taken all at a time = n!

Explanation:

So, the number of ways 5 people be seated in a row such that A and B are not next to each other = 3! × 4C2 ⇒ 72

Hence, "Option 3" is the correct answer.

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 39

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

Select the correct option that will complete the series. (2, 7), (3, 13), (5, 31), ?, (11, 133)

  1. AOption (a)

    (10, 101) 

  2. BOption (b)

    (8,76)

  3. COption (c)

    (7,57)

  4. DOption (d)

    (9,91)

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

(7,57)

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Hence, "Option 3" is the correct answer

SSC Stenographer 2025 Official Paper (Held On: 06 Aug, 2025 Shift 1) (Previous Year Paper)·General Intelligence & Reasoning
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Question 40

SSC Stenographer 2025• General Intelligence & Reasoning

A coding rule is followed by Roll numbers ending with an even digit belong to Batch 1 and Roll numbers ending with an odd digit belong to Batch 2.

Identify the roll number for Batch 1 and Batch 2.

  1. AOption (a)

    D1400 and C3882 

  2. BOption (b)

    E2894 and F3917 

  3. COption (c)

    A3841 and B4537

  4. DOption (d)

    G8763 and F4711

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

E2894 and F3917 

Why this answer is correct

The logic followed here is:

Roll numbers ending with an even digit belong to Batch 1

Roll numbers ending with an odd digit belong to Batch 2.

Option 2) E2894 and F3917 

E2894 → Ends with an even digit

F3917 → Ends with an odd digit

Hence, "Option 2" is the correct answer.

How should I prepare for Reasoning in SSC Stenographer?

Solving previous year questions by topic helps identify recurring concepts, question patterns, and frequently asked sub-topics. Attempt each question, review the step-by-step explanation, and note down key formulas or facts for quick revision before the exam.