MBA CET 2026 Slot 2 question paper with solutions

Approach: Write 999 as 1000 − 1 and distribute.

Solution: 587 × 999 = 587 × (1000 − 1)
= 587000 − 587
= 586413

Cetking shortcut: Last three digits of N × 999 (N < 1000) are 1000 − N = 413; leading part is N − 1 = 586 → 586413. Only option A ends in 413.

Answer: A

Approach: Fix the first and last digit, count choices for the middle digit.

Solution: Number must be of the form 2 _ 2 and lie between 100 and 300.
Middle digit can be 0, 1, 2, …, 9 → 10 choices.
Numbers: 202, 212, 222, …, 292 → 10 numbers.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (9): forgets 202 (middle digit 0).
C, D, E: overcount; only 10 middle digits exist.

Answer: B

Approach: Euclid's division method.

Solution: 3239 − 2923 = 316, so HCF(3239, 2923) = HCF(2923, 316).
2923 = 316 × 9 + 79 (316 × 9 = 2844; 2923 − 2844 = 79).
316 = 79 × 4 + 0 → remainder 0.
HCF = 79. Check: 2923 = 79 × 37, 3239 = 79 × 41.

Cetking shortcut: The HCF must divide the difference 316 = 4 × 79. Among options only 79 divides 316 (and 37 does not divide 3239).

Answer: D

Approach: BODMAS — division and multiplication left to right.

Solution: 400 ÷ 0.1 = 4000 (dividing by 0.1 = multiplying by 10).
4000 × 0.2 = 800.

Why the other options are wrong:
A/B/C: decimal-place slips.
D (8000): uses × 2 instead of × 0.2.

Answer: E

Approach: Use 5376 ÷ 168 = 32 and adjust decimals.

Solution: 168 × 32 = 5376 ⇒ 5376 ÷ 168 = 32.
5.376 = 5376 ÷ 1000 and 16.8 = 168 ÷ 10.
5.376 ÷ 16.8 = (5376 ÷ 168) × (10 ÷ 1000) = 32 ÷ 100 = 0.32.

Cetking shortcut: Estimate: 5.4 ÷ 17 ≈ 0.3 → only 0.32 fits.

Answer: B

Approach: Equate the difference in per-head shares.

Solution: Let the sum be S. S/12 − S/16 = 400.
LCM 48: (4S − 3S)/48 = 400 ⇒ S/48 = 400.
S = 19200.

Cetking shortcut: The 4 removed people's money (4 × S/16) is now shared as 400 each by 12 people = 4800 ⇒ S/16 = 1200 ⇒ S = 19200.

Answer: C

Approach: Linear equation in number of correct answers.

Solution: Let correct = x, wrong = 26 − x.
8x − 5(26 − x) = 0 ⇒ 13x = 130 ⇒ x = 10.
Check: 10 × 8 = 80 and 16 × 5 = 80 → score 0.

Cetking shortcut: For zero score, correct : wrong = 5 : 8 ⇒ correct = 5/13 × 26 = 10.

Answer: C

Approach: Weighted average over Sundays and other days.

Solution: Sundays on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 → 5 Sundays, 25 other days.
Total = 5 × 510 + 25 × 240 = 2550 + 6000 = 8550.
Average = 8550 ÷ 30 = 285.

Why the other options are wrong:
E (240): ignores the Sunday visitors.
B (276): uses 4 Sundays and 26 other days → 8280/30 = 276.

Cetking shortcut: Average = 240 + 5 × 270 / 30 = 240 + 45 = 285.

Answer: D

Approach: Harmonic mean for equal distances.

Solution: Average speed = 2 × 50 × 30 / (50 + 30) = 3000/80 = 37.5 km/hr.
Check: time = 150/50 + 150/30 = 3 + 5 = 8 h; 300/8 = 37.5.

Why the other options are wrong:
E (40): simple average — the classic trap.
A, B, D: calculation slips.

Answer: C

Approach: Total percentage increase spread evenly over 10 years.

Solution: Increase = 2,62,500 − 1,75,000 = 87,500.
Total % increase = 87,500/1,75,000 × 100 = 50%.
Average per year = 50% ÷ 10 = 5%.

Why the other options are wrong:
D (8.75%): divides 87,500 by 10,000 (wrong base).
C, E: no valid working gives these; 'average' here is the simple per-year rate, not compound (≈4.1%).

Answer: B

Approach: Convert 'p% of p' into an equation.

Solution: (p/100) × p = 36 ⇒ p² = 3600 ⇒ p = 60.
Check: 60% of 60 = 36.

Why the other options are wrong:
D (3600): stops at p².
C (600): 600% of 600 = 3600.
A, E: 15% of 15 = 2.25; 36% of 36 = 12.96.

Answer: B

Approach: Find CP from the profit–loss relation, then apply 25% markup.

Solution: Let CP = x. Profit at 900 = 900 − x; loss at 450 = x − 450.
900 − x = 2(x − 450) ⇒ 900 − x = 2x − 900 ⇒ 3x = 1800 ⇒ x = 600.
SP for 25% profit = 1.25 × 600 = 750.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (600): that is the CP.
C, D, E: 33%, 50% profit and a loss price respectively.

Cetking shortcut: CP divides 450 to 900 in ratio loss : profit = 1 : 2 ⇒ CP = 450 + 450/3 = 600.

Answer: B

Approach: Successive discounts — second discount on the reduced price.

Solution: After 20% discount: 1500 × 0.8 = 1200.
Additional discount needed = 1200 − 1104 = 96.
Rate = 96/1200 × 100 = 8%.

Why the other options are wrong:
C (12%): would give 1200 × 0.88 = 1056.
B (10%): gives 1080.
D, E: far too large.

Answer: A

Approach: Income − expense = saving.

Solution: Each gets 2800 ÷ 2 = 1400.
A's expense = 1400 − 600 = 800.
A : B expense = 2 : 3 ⇒ B's expense = 800 × 3/2 = 1200.
B's saving = 1400 − 1200 = Rs. 200.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (300): no consistent working gives this.
E (600): assumes equal savings.
C, D: misuse the ratio on savings.

Answer: A

Approach: Convert value ratio to number ratio.

Solution: Values = 2k, 3k, 5k rupees.
Counts: ₹1 coins = 2k; 50p coins = 3k ÷ 0.5 = 6k; 25p coins = 5k ÷ 0.25 = 20k.
2k + 6k + 20k = 28k = 420 ⇒ k = 15.
One-rupee coins = 2 × 15 = 30.

Why the other options are wrong:
D (300): number of 25p coins.
C (90): number of 50p coins.
A, E: arithmetic slips.

Answer: B

Approach: Profit ratio = capital × months.

Solution: Raunaq's profit = 9000 − 6000 = 3000 ⇒ ratio 2 : 1.
Manick: 20000 × 6 = 120000. Raunaq: x × 12.
120000 : 12x = 2 : 1 ⇒ 24x = 120000 ⇒ x = 5000.

Why the other options are wrong:
D (10,000): ignores the time factor.
A, C, E: arithmetic slips.

Answer: B

Approach: Capital × time ratio.

Solution: Arun: 8000 × 6 = 48000; Kamal: 4000 × 8 = 32000; Vinay: 8000 × 8 = 64000.
Ratio = 48 : 32 : 64 = 3 : 2 : 4 (total 9 parts).
Kamal's share = 2/9 × 4005 = ₹890.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (₹1335): 4005/3 — treats shares as equal.
D (₹1780): Vinay's share (4/9).
C (₹1602): 2/5 of 4005.
E (₹666): not from any valid split.

Answer: A

Approach: Unitary method on total weight.

Solution: Weight bought = 16 × 900 g = 14,400 g for Rs. 28.
Required weight = 27 × 1000 g = 27,000 g.
Cost = 28 × 27000/14400 = 28 × 15/8 = Rs. 52.50.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (56): doubles 28.
C, D, E: calculation slips; 47.25 (packets only) is not offered.

Answer: A

Approach: Unitary method (work = cows × days).

Solution: 40 cows eat 40 bags in 40 days ⇒ 40 cows eat 1 bag in 1 day.
1 cow eats 1 bag in 40 days.

Why the other options are wrong:
A, B, D, E: wrong scaling; time does not change when cows and bags reduce in the same ratio.

Answer: C

Approach: LCM-unit method.

Solution: Tank = LCM(15, 20) = 60 units. A = 4 units/min, B = 3 units/min.
First 4 min together: 7 × 4 = 28 units. Remaining = 32 units.
B alone: 32 ÷ 3 = 10 2/3 min = 10 min 40 sec.
Total = 4 min + 10 min 40 sec = 14 min 40 sec.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (10 min 20 sec) and others: miss the first 4 minutes or miscalculate the remainder.

Answer: D

Approach: LCM-unit method with staggered start times.

Solution: Tank = LCM(15, 20, 30, 60) = 60 units. Rates: 4, 3, 2, 1 units/hr.
8–9 am: 4 units. 9–10 am: 4 + 3 = 7 units. 10–11 am: 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 units.
Filled by 11 am = 4 + 7 + 9 = 20 units. Remaining = 40 units.
From 11 am all four pipes: 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 10 units/hr ⇒ 40 ÷ 10 = 4 hours.
Full at 11 am + 4 h = 3:00 pm.
Check (x = hours from 8 am = 7): 7/15 + 6/20 + 5/30 + 4/60 = (28 + 18 + 10 + 4)/60 = 1.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (2:00 pm) / C (2:30 pm): wrong combined rate (1/5) or rounding.
A, E: arithmetic slips.

Cetking shortcut: Let pipe 1 run x hours: 4x + 3(x − 1) + 2(x − 2) + (x − 3) = 60 ⇒ 10x − 10 = 60 ⇒ x = 7 ⇒ 8 am + 7 h = 3 pm.

Answer: D

Approach: Convert A's work into (A + B) work.

Solution: A works 16 days and B works 44 days: 16a + 44b = 1, with a + b = 1/30.
Write 16a + 44b = 16(a + b) + 28b = 16/30 + 28b = 1.
28b = 14/30 ⇒ b = 1/60.
B alone takes 60 days. (A alone: 1/30 − 1/60 = 1/60 → also 60 days.)

Why the other options are wrong:
A (30): that is A and B together.
B, D, E: wrong pairing of the 16 and 44 days.

Cetking shortcut: 16 days of A + 44 days of B = 16 days of (A + B) + 28 days of B. 16 of the 30 joint days are done, so 28 days of B = 14 joint days ⇒ B = 2 × 30 = 60 days.

Answer: C

Approach: Share ∝ efficiency = 1/days.

Solution: Kim : David efficiency = 1/3 : 1/2 = 2 : 3.
Kim's share = 2/5 × 150 = Rs. 60.

Why the other options are wrong:
E (Rs. 90): uses days ratio 3 : 2 — the classic trap; that is David's share.
D (Rs. 75): equal split.
A, C: no valid ratio.

Answer: B

Approach: Time is the same in both cases.

Solution: Extra distance = (14 − 10) × t = 20 ⇒ t = 5 hours.
Actual distance = 10 × 5 = 50 km.

Why the other options are wrong:
C (70 km): distance at 14 km/hr.
B, D, E: arithmetic slips.

Answer: A

Approach: Relative speed with distance as 1 unit.

Solution: X takes 60 min, Y takes 90 min (4:00 to 5:30).
Let distance = 180 units. Speed X = 3 units/min, Y = 2 units/min.
Meeting time = 180 ÷ (3 + 2) = 36 min after 4 pm.
They cross at 4:36 pm.

Why the other options are wrong:
B–E: come from wrong times (e.g. averaging) — the formula gives exactly 36 min.

Cetking shortcut: T = (60 × 90)/(60 + 90) = 5400/150 = 36 min.

Answer: A

Approach: Speed ratio = √(time of the other after meeting).

Solution: Howrah train: 9 h after meeting; Patna train: 16 h.
S1 : S2 = √16 : √9 = 4 : 3.

Why the other options are wrong:
D (9 : 16): takes the time ratio directly.
A (2 : 3): no valid working.
C, E: no valid working.

Answer: B

Approach: Profit comes only from the free water.

Solution: Gain = 16 2/3% = 1/6.
If 6 litres of milk are bought, selling 7 litres at CP gives revenue for 7 litres → profit 1 litre's cost = 1/6 of cost.
So water : milk = 1 : 6.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (6 : 1): reversed ratio.
C, D, E: do not give a 1/6 gain.

Answer: A

Approach: Track the syrup, which is only removed, never added.

Solution: Take 8 litres: water 3, syrup 5.
Draw off x litres and add x water. Syrup left = 5 − (5/8)x.
Need syrup = 4 (half of 8): 5 − 5x/8 = 4 ⇒ x = 8/5 litres.
Fraction of mixture = (8/5) ÷ 8 = 1/5.

Why the other options are wrong:
E (3/5): would remove too much, leaving only 2 litres of syrup out of 8.
A, B, D: give syrup 3.33, 3.75, 4.29 out of 8 — not half.

Cetking shortcut: Syrup fraction 5/8 must become 1/2: (5/8)(1 − x) = 1/2 ⇒ 1 − x = 4/5 ⇒ x = 1/5.

Answer: C

Approach: Find principal, then apply the 0.5% extra rate.

Solution: P = 202.50 ÷ 0.045 = Rs. 4500.
Interest at 5% = 4500 × 0.05 = Rs. 225.
Additional interest = 225 − 202.50 = Rs. 22.50.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (20.25): 10% of 202.50.
D, E: wrongly add values.
C (25): 0.5% of 5000.

Cetking shortcut: Extra = 202.50 × 0.5/4.5 = 202.50/9 = 22.50.

Answer: B

Approach: SI per year from the difference of amounts.

Solution: SI for 1 year = 854 − 815 = Rs. 39.
SI for 3 years = 3 × 39 = Rs. 117.
Principal = 815 − 117 = Rs. 698.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (690), D (700): close-number traps.
A, E: wrong interest count.

Answer: C

Approach: SI gives the rate; apply CI for 3 years.

Solution: 60% in 6 years at SI ⇒ rate = 10% p.a.
CI = 12000 × (1.1³ − 1) = 12000 × 0.331 = Rs. 3972.

Why the other options are wrong:
E (1200): just one year's interest.
A, B, D: wrong rate or wrong number of years; SI for 3 years would be 3600, and CI must be a bit more.

Cetking shortcut: CI for 3 years at 10% = 33.1% of P → 0.331 × 12000 = 3972.

Answer: C

Approach: Identify which sides are painted.

Solution: Unpainted side = 9 ft, so the opposite side (9 ft) is painted along with the two other sides.
9 + 2b = 37 ⇒ b = 14 ft.
Area = 9 × 14 = 126 sq ft.

Why the other options are wrong:
D (252): (37 − 9) × 9, treating 28 as one side.
B (81): 9 × 9 square.
A, E: perimeter-type numbers, not area.

Answer: C

Approach: Find the other side from the area.

Solution: Other side = 680 ÷ 20 = 34 ft.
Fence = 20 + 34 + 34 = 88 ft.

Why the other options are wrong:
C (68): only the two 34-ft sides.
A (34): one side only.
B, E: arithmetic slips.

Answer: D

Approach: Use (l + b)² − 2lb.

Solution: Perimeter 46 ⇒ l + b = 23. Area lb = 120.
d² = 23² − 2 × 120 = 529 − 240 = 289 ⇒ d = 17 m.
(Sides are 15 and 8: 15 × 8 = 120, 2(15 + 8) = 46.)

Why the other options are wrong:
A (15): that is the length.
B, D, E: not √289.

Cetking shortcut: 8-15-17 is a Pythagorean triplet — spot 15 × 8 = 120 instantly.

Answer: C

Approach: Distance B covers in A's time.

Solution: B's speed = 100/45 m/s.
In 36 s B runs 36 × 100/45 = 80 m.
A beats B by 100 − 80 = 20 m.

Why the other options are wrong:
D (9 m): takes 45 − 36 seconds as metres.
B (25 m): uses A's speed × 9 s.
C, E: arithmetic slips.

Answer: A

Approach: Use the beat-margin to find B's speed.

Solution: B runs 35 m in 7 s ⇒ speed = 5 m/s.
B's time for 200 m = 200 ÷ 5 = 40 s.
A's time = 40 − 7 = 33 s.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (40 s): B's time.
B (47 s): adds 7 instead of subtracting.
D, E: no valid working.

Answer: C

Approach: Block method.

Solution: OPTICAL has 7 distinct letters: vowels O, I, A (3); consonants P, T, C, L (4).
Vowel block + 4 consonants = 5 units → 5! = 120 ways.
Vowels inside the block: 3! = 6 ways.
Total = 120 × 6 = 720.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (120): forgets internal arrangement.
E (6): only the internal arrangement.
C, D: wrong block counts.

Answer: B

Approach: Combinations.

Solution: Total = C(25, 3) = 25 × 24 × 23/6 = 2300.
Favourable = C(15, 2) × C(10, 1) = 105 × 10 = 1050.
P = 1050/2300 = 21/46.

Why the other options are wrong:
B, C, D, E: do not equal 1050/2300; e.g. D (3/25) ignores combinations.

Answer: A

Approach: Count outcomes for each prime sum.

Solution: Sum 2: 1; Sum 3: 2; Sum 5: 4; Sum 7: 6; Sum 11: 2.
Favourable = 1 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 2 = 15.
P = 15/36 = 5/12.

Why the other options are wrong:
B (1/2): 18/36 — includes a non-prime sum.
A (1/6): only sum 7.
D, E: overcount.

Answer: C

Approach: Compare each term with a perfect cube.

Solution: 7 = 2³ − 1, 26 = 3³ − 1, 63 = 4³ − 1, 124 = 5³ − 1, 215 = 6³ − 1, 342 = 7³ − 1.
Next = 8³ − 1 = 512 − 1 = 511.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (481), E (421), D (391), B (400): none is 8³ − 1.

Cetking shortcut: Differences 19, 37, 61, 91, 127 rise by 18, 24, 30, 36 → next difference 169 → 342 + 169 = 511.

Answer: C

Approach: Percentage-more formula on the bar values.

Solution: Interest on loans = 17.5%, Transport = 12.5% of total.
Difference = 5.
% more = 5/12.5 × 100 = 40%.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (5%): the percentage-point gap, not % more.
B, C, D: wrong base or misread bars.

Answer: E

Approach: Add the shares, then simplify.

Solution: Infrastructure + Transport = 20 + 12.5 = 32.5.
Taxes + Interest on loans = 10 + 17.5 = 27.5.
Ratio = 32.5 : 27.5 = 65 : 55 = 13 : 11.

Why the other options are wrong:
A, B, C, E: come from misread bars (e.g. 20+15 : 10+17.5 gives 14 : 11, not offered).

Answer: D

Approach: Use Advertisement as the scale.

Solution: Advertisement 15% = Rs. 2.10 crore ⇒ 1% = Rs. 0.14 crore.
Transport − Taxes = 12.5 − 10 = 2.5%.
Difference = 2.5 × 0.14 = Rs. 0.35 crore = Rs. 35 lakh.

Why the other options are wrong:
A, B, C, E: misread bars (e.g. transport as 10%) or crore–lakh unit slips.

Cetking shortcut: 2.5% is 1/6 of 15% → 2.10 crore ÷ 6 = 0.35 crore.

Answer: D

Approach: Share of total.

Solution: R&D = 5% of total.
Total ÷ R&D = 100 ÷ 5 = 20 times.

Why the other options are wrong:
E (5): the R&D % itself.
A, C, D: misread bars.

Answer: B

Approach: Use Interest on loans as the scale.

Solution: Interest on loans 17.5% = Rs. 2.45 crore ⇒ total = 2.45 ÷ 0.175 = Rs. 14 crore.
Advertisement + Taxes + R&D = 15 + 10 + 5 = 30%.
Required = 30% of 14 = Rs. 4.2 crore.

Why the other options are wrong:
A (7 crore): 50% of total.
B, D, E: wrong combined share.

Cetking shortcut: 30/17.5 × 2.45 = 2.45 × 12/7 = 0.35 × 12 = 4.2.

Answer: C

Approach: Check which options sum to 180°.

Solution: Rice 72° + Wheat 72° + Barley 36° = 180° = 50%.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: 72 + 36 + 18 = 126°.
B: 72 + 72 + 18 = 162°.
D: 18 + 45 + 72 = 135°.
E: 36 + 18 + 72 = 126°.

Answer: C

Approach: Ratio of angles.

Solution: Rice : Jowar = 72° : 18° = 4 : 1.
Rice area = 4 × 1.5 = 6 million acres.

Why the other options are wrong:
C (9): uses 108°.
B, D, E: wrong angle ratio.

Answer: A

Approach: Yield = production ÷ area.

Solution: Area ratio Wheat : Barley = 72° : 36° = 2 : 1.
Production ratio = 6 : 1.
Yield ratio = (6/2) : (1/1) = 3 : 1.

Why the other options are wrong:
C (12 : 1): multiplies instead of divides.
A, D, E: inverted or wrong ratios.

Answer: B

Approach: Production = area × yield.

Solution: Let Barley yield = 2 units/acre ⇒ Rice yield = 3.
Barley production ∝ 36 × 2 = 72; Rice production ∝ 72 × 3 = 216.
Barley as % of Rice = 72/216 × 100 = 33.33%.

Why the other options are wrong:
E (50.65%): near the 50% you get from areas alone — ignores yield.
A, C, D: arithmetic slips.

Answer: B

Approach: Scale the share by relative growth.

Solution: Wheat's old share = 72/360 = 20%.
New share = 20% × 1.12/1.05 = 22.4%/1.05 ≈ 21.33%.
New angle = 72 × 1.12/1.05 = 80.64/1.05 = 76.8°.

Why the other options are wrong:
C (80.6°): ignores the 5% growth in total.
D (84.2°): adds growth instead of dividing.
A, E: wrong direction or nonsense.

Cetking shortcut: 1.12/1.05 = 16/15 → 72 × 16/15 = 76.8°.

Answer: B

Approach: Vocabulary in context — read the sentence where the word appears.

Solution: Passage: 'Participants rated sarcasm to be more condemning than literal statements' — i.e. sarcasm sounds more critical / disapproving.
To condemn = to express strong disapproval of. 'Censuring' = expressing formal, severe disapproval — the same sense.

Why the other options are wrong:
B hurting — an effect, not disapproval.
C killing — 'condemn to death' sense, not used here.
D shouting — a manner of speaking, not a judgement.
E scolding — angry rebuke of a person (usually a child); weaker and more informal than condemning.

Cetking shortcut: The sentence links 'condemning' with 'more critical' — pick the option that means 'criticise strongly'.

Answer: A

Approach: 'False according to the passage' — match each option to a line; the one the passage contradicts is the answer.

Solution: Para 2: 'there may also be some unexpected benefits from sarcasm, greater creativity' and 'Instead of avoiding sarcasm completely ... used with care and in moderation, can be effectively used'.
So the claim that sarcasm 'should be entirely avoided as it does not have any beneficial effects' directly contradicts the passage.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — stated: 'sarcasm expresses the poisonous sting of contempt'.
B — stated: 'hurting others and harming relationships'.
C — stated: 'sarcasm takes on the debt of conflict'.
D — stated: 'unexpected benefits from sarcasm'.

Cetking shortcut: Extreme words like 'entirely' and 'does not have any' are the first suspects in a FALSE question.

Answer: E

Approach: Fill the blank with the noun that collocates with 'of wit' and suits Oscar Wilde.

Solution: Sentence: '... wrote that ______ of wit, Oscar Wilde.' Wilde was a celebrated master and judge of witty remarks.
Connoisseur = a person with refined judgement in a field; 'connoisseur of wit' is natural and complimentary.

Why the other options are wrong:
A expert — we say 'expert in/on', and it lacks the sense of refined taste.
B clown — mocking; wrong tone for a quoted authority.
D personality — 'personality of wit' is meaningless.
E player — no such collocation.

Cetking shortcut: Noun + 'of' + field of taste (wine, art, wit) → connoisseur.

Answer: C

Approach: Check each statement against the passage, then pick the matching combination.

Solution: A — false: sarcasm involves 'contradictions between intended meanings', so words are not to be taken literally.
B — true: 'sarcasm is often used to humorously convey thinly veiled disapproval'.
C — true: 'tone must overcome the contradiction between the literal and actual meanings'.
D — false: the passage lists benefits and says it can be used in moderation.
E — not stated; only Wilde's quote links it to intelligence, and the author does not endorse it.
True set = B and C.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Only A — A is false.
C Only D — D is false.
D Only E — E is unsupported.
E Only C — misses B, which is also true.

Cetking shortcut: Once A and D are clearly false, only options containing B/C survive; B is true, so 'Only B and C'.

Answer: B

Approach: False-statement question — look for an option that reverses a passage fact.

Solution: Para 3: 'as expected, sarcasm makes a statement sound more critical'.
Option B says sarcasm makes a statement sound less critical — the exact opposite, so it is false.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — stated: 'the brain must think creatively to understand or convey a sarcastic comment'.
C — stated: 'sarcasm may lead to clearer and more creative thinking'.
D — stated verbatim in para 4.
E — stated verbatim in para 4.

Cetking shortcut: Options copied almost word-for-word are usually true; hunt for the one with a flipped comparative.

Answer: B

Approach: 'Not true' question — verify each option with the passage figures.

Solution: Para 1: 'A majority of Indians prefer to use the internet for accessing banking ... than shopping online' (57% bank online, 50% shop).
So D — 'a majority of Indians prefer shopping online as compared to other online activities' — contradicts the passage.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — true: globally banking, keeping track of finances and job search are the main tasks.
B — true: Germans and British top online shopping at 74%.
C — true: almost 90% in Sweden use e-banking.
E — true: stated in para 3 almost word for word.

Cetking shortcut: The very first line of the passage contradicts D — read the opening sentence carefully.

Answer: D

Approach: Direct detail — scan for 'attract new customers'.

Solution: Para 3: 'The easy registration process for net banking has improved customers' access ... and has helped banks attract new customers.'
Option B states exactly this cause.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — staff training is never mentioned.
C — more branches not mentioned; the passage is about online banking.
D — interest rates on deposits not mentioned.
E — low-interest loans not mentioned.

Cetking shortcut: Keyword 'attract' appears only once in the passage — the reason is right before it.

Answer: B

Approach: Match the figure 'half' = 50% in the passage.

Solution: Para 2: 'Checking information ... 53% while 50% shop for products online.'
Half = 50% → online shopping.

Why the other options are wrong:
A banking — 57%, more than half.
B jobs — around 42%.
D social networking — not given.
E entertainment — not given.

Answer: C

Approach: Vocabulary in context — 'hassle' = annoying trouble or bother.

Solution: Para 1: '... due to hassle-free access and time saving features of online banking'.
Hassle-free = without bother or annoyance → 'Not annoying'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Unskilled — unrelated.
B Negotiable — open to discussion; unrelated.
C Subtle — delicate / not obvious.
D Notable — worth noticing.

Cetking shortcut: Break the compound: hassle (annoyance) + free (without) = without annoyance.

Answer: E

Approach: Inference — pick the option the passage supports without going beyond it.

Solution: Para 3: 'Online banking has made things much easier for the people and it saves a lot of time. It has eliminated the problems ... queue ... several forms.'
So the internet has made lives easier than before — option B.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — the passage mentions protection against cybercrime, not a rise in it.
C — globally banking (60%) beats shopping (48%).
D — the passage says registration is easy, not difficult.
E — same error as C; in India too, banking (57%) beats shopping (50%).

Cetking shortcut: C and E say the same thing — two options with the same claim are usually both wrong.

Answer: B

Approach: Find the groups the passage says became interested in public affairs; the one left out is the answer.

Solution: Para 1: politics 'was to be the concern no longer of the highly educated few but of the many poor, the property less, the working men in town and country'.
'Politics was not to be the concern of a small aristocracy of intellect or property' — the aristocracy is the group excluded.

Why the other options are wrong:
A the poor — named.
B the property less — named.
C the working men in town and country — named.
D the common people — 'brought to the common people a realization of their duty'.

Cetking shortcut: The question has 'not' — look for the group mentioned in a 'no longer / not' clause.

Answer: E

Approach: Separate 'before' from 'after' in para 2.

Solution: 'Till then politics had busied itself with ... making its personnel more and more native, with proposals for a better distribution of political power, with protests against the sins of omission and commission' — this is the OLD subject.
'This voice switched politics on to concern for the needs of the common people' — this is the CHANGE.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — old focus (personnel more native).
C — old focus (distribution of political power).
D — old focus (sins of omission).
E — old focus (sins of commission).

Cetking shortcut: Four options lifted from one 'Till then' sentence = all old; the odd one out is the change.

Answer: B

Approach: Match each option to the list of objectives in paras 2–3.

Solution: Para 3 lists: raising the standard of living of village people, finding subsidiary occupations for the agricultural poor, addition to income, housing of the poor, sanitation of villages — 'these were to be the objectives to be kept in view'.
Para 2 also names improvement of the lives of people of neglected villages as the goal.
'Taxes for common people' is not an objective anywhere.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — stated in para 2.
B — stated in para 3.
D — stated in para 3.
E — stated in para 3 almost verbatim.

Cetking shortcut: Options copied verbatim from the passage are 'mentioned'; the short, vague one is the outsider.

Answer: C

Approach: Direct detail — scan for 'listened to'.

Solution: Para 1: 'it had to be listened to not only on account of its form but also for the matter which it delivered'.
Option D restates this exactly.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — the Voice turned politics away from government machinery.
B — the aristocracy is the group politics moved away from.
C — 'trivial' contradicts 'a message the country needed greatly'.
E — this was the old focus of politics.

Answer: D

Approach: Fill the blank with a noun that collocates with 'political' and fits 'the goal of all political ___'.

Solution: The sentence says village improvement was to be placed before governments 'as the goal of all political ______'.
We need a word for purposeful political effort → 'endeavour' (a serious attempt to achieve something).

Why the other options are wrong:
A strife — conflict/struggle; a goal of conflict is illogical here.
C methods — methods have aims but 'goal of all political methods' is awkward and plural clashes with style.
D studies — the passage is about action, not academic study.
E science — 'political science' is an academic subject, wrong sense.

Cetking shortcut: 'Goal of all ___' needs an effort-word: endeavour/effort/activity.

Answer: B

Approach: Direct detail — the advantage is stated in para 1.

Solution: Para 1: coins 'are heavy to carry and also ... it takes much time to count them'; paper notes 'save the trouble of carrying metal coins ... paper is lighter than metal'.
So paper money is easier to carry and count.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — the guarantee explains why paper has value, not why it beats coins.
C — durability is never claimed.
D — 'every transaction' is an overstatement not in the passage.
E — the passage says the opposite: it is very easy to print paper money.

Answer: B

Approach: 'What would NOT happen' — list the consequences the passage predicts; the one that contradicts them is the answer.

Solution: If paper money were abolished: coins are heavy to carry (A happens), payments become cumbersome (D happens), 'crores and crores more of Rupee-coins would have to be minted' (E happens), and it is 'not at all easy to increase the number of Rupee-coins' (C happens).
Transactions becoming EASIER contradicts all of this — it would not happen.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — would happen: coins are heavy.
C — would happen: increasing coins is not easy.
D — would happen: paying in coins is 'cumbersome'.
E — would happen: crores more coins would have to be minted.

Cetking shortcut: In a NOT question, pick the only option with a positive outcome when the passage predicts only negatives.

Answer: B

Approach: Direct detail — answer to 'why not have paper money only?' in para 3.

Solution: Reasons given: money must be something everyone wants; metals are the best form of money; 'thirdly because it would be impossible to print just the right amount of paper money that would keep prices at their proper natural level'.
Option C reproduces the third reason.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — the passage says printing is easy, but that is not given as the reason for keeping coins in this form.
B — distorts 'best form of money' into 'best for large transactions'; para 1 says coins are cumbersome for big payments.
D — depreciation speed is never compared.
E — counterfeiting is never mentioned.

Answer: C

Approach: False-statement question — look for a reversed fact.

Solution: Para 4: 'the more money there is, the higher will be the prices of everything'.
Option B says 'lower' — false.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — stated: 'money is only useful for what it will buy'.
C — stated: 'it is very easy to print a great deal of paper money'.
D — stated: 'not at all easy to increase the number of Rupee-coins'.
E — stated: 'no good at all having more money if there are no more things to buy'.

Cetking shortcut: Same trap as the sarcasm set: a near-verbatim line with one word flipped.

Answer: B

Approach: Fill the blank so it pairs logically with 'and promises to pay'.

Solution: 'The reason is that Government ______ that the piece of paper is worth the amount printed on it and promises to pay that amount ...'
The idea is an assurance/pledge of value → 'guarantees'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A decides — a decision is not an assurance to the holder.
B assumes — mere supposition gives no value.
C discovers — value is not found; it is assured.
E realises — understanding something does not make paper worth money.

Cetking shortcut: The second verb ('promises') signals the first must be a commitment word too.

Answer: D

Approach: Build the sentence using capitalisation and connectors (that / if / however / and that).

Solution: c is the only capitalised opener ('One common mistake ... is that,').
'is that, they think' → e; e ends with 'if' → needs a clause: a.
g ('no matter whether ...') qualifies a; b ('however, they forget') gives the counter-point.
b's 'very few people would work at all' → d's condition 'if it were not for the money ...'; f ('and that ...') is a second 'forget that' clause and closes.
Correct order: c – e – a – g – b – d – f
'One common mistake that many people have made is that, (c) they think it would be a very good thing if (e) everybody had exactly the same amount of money, (a) no matter whether they worked hard or lived idly, (g) however, they forget that very few people would work at all, (b) if it were not for the money their work brings them, (d) and that without work there would be no money (f).'
Third part = a.

Cetking shortcut: Lock c-e-a from grammar alone — the third slot is found without solving the full chain.

Answer: A

Approach: Build the full chain first, then read off the position asked.

Solution: c is the only capitalised opener ('One common mistake ... is that,').
'is that, they think' → e; e ends with 'if' → needs a clause: a.
g ('no matter whether ...') qualifies a; b ('however, they forget') gives the counter-point.
b's 'very few people would work at all' → d's condition 'if it were not for the money ...'; f ('and that ...') is a second 'forget that' clause and closes.
Correct order: c – e – a – g – b – d – f
'One common mistake that many people have made is that, (c) they think it would be a very good thing if (e) everybody had exactly the same amount of money, (a) no matter whether they worked hard or lived idly, (g) however, they forget that very few people would work at all, (b) if it were not for the money their work brings them, (d) and that without work there would be no money (f).'
Sixth part = d.

Cetking shortcut: b–d–f is a fixed tail: 'they forget that X would not work if not for money, and that without work no money'.

Answer: D

Approach: Opener + pointer word: b introduces the desert, d's 'here' points back to it.

Solution: b opens (capitalised, introduces Arabia's desert); d's 'here' refers back to the desert.
c follows d: 'sand' was just mentioned, so 'The sand is so hot ...'.
a ('also, at several places in the desert') adds a new point → e (one can find springs of water) → g (that come from deep down) → f (so deep that ...).
Correct order: b – d – c – a – e – g – f
'A great part of Arabia is desert (b); here there is nothing but sand and rock (d). The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your bare feet in the daytime (c). Also, at several places in the desert (a) one can find springs of water (e) that come from deep down under the ground (g), so deep that the sun cannot dry them up (f).'
Second part = d.

Cetking shortcut: Demonstratives/adverbs like 'here', 'there', 'this' attach immediately after the noun they refer to.

Answer: C

Approach: Build the full chain first, then read off the position asked.

Solution: b opens (capitalised, introduces Arabia's desert); d's 'here' refers back to the desert.
c follows d: 'sand' was just mentioned, so 'The sand is so hot ...'.
a ('also, at several places in the desert') adds a new point → e (one can find springs of water) → g (that come from deep down) → f (so deep that ...).
Correct order: b – d – c – a – e – g – f
'A great part of Arabia is desert (b); here there is nothing but sand and rock (d). The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your bare feet in the daytime (c). Also, at several places in the desert (a) one can find springs of water (e) that come from deep down under the ground (g), so deep that the sun cannot dry them up (f).'
Fourth part = a.

Cetking shortcut: e-g-f is a fixed relative chain (springs → that come from deep → so deep that ...), so a must sit just before it.

Answer: A

Approach: Opener + phrase that completes it.

Solution: c is the capitalised opener: 'The human race is spread all over the world'.
f extends the spread: 'from the polar region to the tropics'.
b ('The people of which it is made up') + g ('eat different kinds of food') + a ('partly according to the climate ...') + d ('and partly according to the kind of food') + e ('which their country produces').
Correct order: c – f – b – g – a – d – e. Second part = f.

Cetking shortcut: 'partly ... and partly ...' fixes a before d; 'which their country produces' must follow 'kind of food' — the tail a-d-e locks fast.

Answer: E

Approach: Preposition + gerund; keep the idiom intact.

Solution: 'habit of' → 'of' is a preposition, so the verb must be a gerund: passing.
The idiom is 'pass the buck' = shift responsibility to someone else; the article 'the' is part of it.
→ 'Vimal had a habit of passing the buck ...'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A pass to bucking — meaningless.
B passing buck — article missing.
D pass buck — wrong form and no article.
E pass bill — different (and wrong) idiom.

Answer: C

Approach: Word meaning recall.

Solution: CONVALESCENT = (a person) recovering from illness or injury; in recovery.
Closest option: 'Healing'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Convergent — meeting at a point; look-alike trap.
B Pertinent — relevant.
D Acute — severe/sharp; nearly opposite in medical sense.
E Blend — to mix.

Cetking shortcut: Link to 'convalescent home' — a place where patients recover.

Answer: C

Approach: Word meaning recall.

Solution: RUMBUSTIOUS (British, = rambunctious) = boisterous, noisy and full of energy.
Closest option: 'Boisterous'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Antithesis — direct opposite; a noun.
B Slow — opposite in spirit.
C Playful — fun-loving but not noisy/unruly.
E Cheerful — happy mood, not rowdiness.

Cetking shortcut: Rumbustious ≈ rambunctious ≈ boisterous — all describe loud, energetic behaviour.

Answer: D

Approach: Word meaning recall.

Solution: DEBILITATE = to weaken (body, person or system); related to 'debility' = weakness.
Closest option: 'Weaken'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Debate — argue.
B Disperse — scatter.
C Meditate — think deeply.
D Anticipate — expect.

Cetking shortcut: Debility = weakness → debilitate = make weak.

Answer: E

Approach: Find the meaning, then its opposite in the same part of speech.

Solution: DISMAL (adjective) = gloomy, depressing, bleak.
Opposite = bright, happy → 'Cheerful' (adjective).

Why the other options are wrong:
A Despair — a noun with similar (gloomy) meaning.
C Trivial — unimportant; unrelated.
D Ordinary — unrelated.
E Smiling — describes a facial action; 'cheerful' is the direct mood opposite.

Cetking shortcut: Match part of speech: an adjective of mood needs an adjective of opposite mood.

Answer: B

Approach: Meaning first, then the direct opposite.

Solution: PLIABLE = flexible, easily bent; (of a person) easily influenced.
Direct opposite = stiff, unbending → 'Rigid'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Convenient — unrelated.
B Easy — unrelated.
C Brittle — hard but breaks easily; contrasts with 'tough', not exactly with 'flexible'.
D Arrogant — unrelated personality trait.

Cetking shortcut: Pliable ≈ flexible ↔ rigid — the textbook antonym pair.

Answer: E

Approach: Check the preposition and the meaning of the bold phrase.

Solution: 'The demand in seats in metros is maddening' — 'demand' takes 'for' (demand for seats), so the given phrase is wrong.
We need 'X for seats' meaning heavy demand → 'rush for' (rush for seats = scramble to get seats).

Why the other options are wrong:
A surge in — would mean the seats themselves increased.
C split in — meaningless here.
D line for — informal and does not convey 'maddening' demand.
E — the given 'demand in' has the wrong preposition.

Cetking shortcut: Fix the preposition first ('for'), then choose among the 'for' options by meaning.

Answer: B

Approach: Test the bold phrase in its sentence before trying replacements.

Solution: 'There is an urgent need in our country to expand the capacity of higher education.'
'Urgent need to + verb' is a standard collocation; meaning and grammar are both fine.

Why the other options are wrong:
A desperation — 'a desperation to expand' is unidiomatic and overstated.
B rush — 'a rush to expand' changes meaning to haste.
C imperative — possible as a noun but awkward with 'There is an ... in our country'.
D immediate focus — 'immediate focus to expand' is ungrammatical (focus on).

Cetking shortcut: If the original phrase reads naturally and the options are only near-synonyms, mark it correct.

Answer: E

Approach: Collocation: verb + 'gap'.

Solution: 'To link this huge demand – supply gap ...' — one does not 'link' a gap.
The standard collocation is 'bridge the gap' = reduce/close the difference.

Why the other options are wrong:
A orchestrate — organise; wrong collocation.
B manipulate — negative sense; wrong.
D align — things are aligned, not gaps.
E join — same problem as 'link'.

Cetking shortcut: Remember the fixed pair: bridge / close / narrow the gap.

Answer: C

Approach: Test the bold word in its sentence.

Solution: 'The government it seems is all set to follow this recommendation.'
'Follow a recommendation' = accept and act on it — correct collocation and meaning.

Why the other options are wrong:
A oblige — oblige a person, not a recommendation.
B apply — 'apply a recommendation' is unidiomatic.
C change — contradicts the next sentence, which discusses its effects.
D understand — the government is set to act, not merely understand.

Answer: E

Approach: Read the surrounding sentences for the author's stand, then check the collocation.

Solution: Before: students may be 'duped by fly by night operators'. After: 'Only those institutions ... accredited ... should be given permission'.
So the government must be careful/discerning. 'Skeptical' takes 'about/of', so 'skeptical in' is wrong; 'judicious in allowing entry' (sensible, careful judgement) fits both grammar and meaning.

Why the other options are wrong:
B envious in — jealousy is irrelevant.
C discriminatory in — implies unfair bias, a negative sense.
D flambouyant in — showy; meaningless here.
E proactive in — implies eagerness to allow, against the author's caution.

Cetking shortcut: No 'correct as is' option → the bold phrase must be replaced; pick the word matching the author's cautious tone.

Answer: A

Approach: Check each version for modifier, preposition and verb-form errors.

Solution: D: 'Since the area was prone to earthquakes, all the buildings were reinforced ...' — clear cause clause, correct preposition 'prone to', correct tense.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — dangling 'Knowing ...' (the buildings did not know) + 'prone for'.
B — 'was knowing' is wrong; should be 'was known'.
C — dangling 'Being prone ...' and 'earthquake' should be plural.
E — 'known to earthquakes' is meaningless; should be 'prone to'.

Cetking shortcut: Any sentence opening with a participle (-ing) must have the doer as the next noun — A and C fail that test instantly.

Answer: D

Approach: Negative inversion + correct phrasal verb.

Solution: A: 'It must be noted that under no circumstance should the company go in for diversification.' — 'should the company go' is correct inversion; 'go in for' = choose to take up.

Why the other options are wrong:
B — 'noticed' wrong word; 'noted' = kept in mind.
C — 'enter for diversification' wrong phrasal verb.
D — stray comma and missing article 'the'.
E — 'go in diversification' drops 'for'.

Cetking shortcut: All five share the frame; spot the single change in each and reject it.

Answer: A

Approach: Tense sequence and logical connector.

Solution: B: 'Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been constructed in violation of the city's building code.'
Construction happened before the earthquake → past perfect 'had been constructed'; 'destroyed or heavily damaged' is logical (a building can't be both).

Why the other options are wrong:
A — 'destroyed and damaged' illogical; 'are constructed' wrong tense.
C — 'are destroyed ... last year' tense clash; 'on violation' wrong preposition.
D — comma splice and wrong tense 'are constructed'.
E — 'destroyed ... and heavily damaged them' illogical; 'in violating' wrong form.

Cetking shortcut: 'Last year' + an even earlier event = past perfect for the earlier one.

Answer: B

Approach: Infinitive of purpose, determiner agreement and clause structure.

Solution: A: 'The article tells the story of the famous author and the effective strategy he used to overcome his chronic illness.' — 'to overcome' is the infinitive of purpose; all parts agree.

Why the other options are wrong:
B — 'to overcoming' wrong after 'used' (purpose).
C — 'These article' — plural determiner with singular noun.
D — the comma makes 'he used to overcome ...' a run-on clause.
E — 'helped him to overcoming' — wrong verb form.

Answer: A

Approach: Inverted third conditional (unreal past).

Solution: 'Had this notification been amended earlier' = 'If this notification had been amended earlier'.
Result clause of a third conditional: 'would have + V3' → 'we would have stopped the transfer of funds'.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — 'should have' changes meaning to obligation.
C — 'Had ... have been' double auxiliary.
D — 'Were ... been' mixes second-conditional inversion with a past participle.
E — 'Should ... been' is not a valid inversion (should + be).

Cetking shortcut: Inverted 'Had' at the start → the other half must be 'would have + V3'.

Answer: B

Approach: Fixed idiom with a fixed preposition.

Solution: Carry out an order to the letter = follow it exactly and precisely.
'with the letter' is not idiomatic, so it must be replaced.

Why the other options are wrong:
A for the letter — wrong preposition.
C by the letter — confuses with 'by the book'.
D into the letter — meaningless.
E — the given phrase is wrong.

Cetking shortcut: 'Follow/carry out to the letter' and 'by the book' are separate idioms — don't mix prepositions.

Answer: B

Approach: Parallel structure with 'and'.

Solution: 'He admired the speed ... and appreciated the method adopted by him.' — both verbs simple past, same subject 'He'.
'appreciating' breaks the parallel.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — 'appreciate' wrong tense.
C — base form + 'method of adoption' changes meaning.
D — base form + 'adopting method' is ungrammatical.
E — 'appreciating' is not parallel to 'admired'.

Cetking shortcut: Look left of 'and': the first verb's form decides the second.

Answer: B

Approach: Reported (indirect) question rules.

Solution: Direct: 'How did you get time ...?' → Reported: 'I asked her how she got time to write all these books.'
Rule 1: the wh-word ('how') is the connector — do not add 'that'.
Rule 2: use statement order (subject + verb), so no 'did' and no inversion.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — extra 'that' and 'did ... got' (double past).
B — extra 'that'; past continuous changes meaning.
C — question order and 'did ... getting' is ungrammatical.
E — extra 'that' and question inversion.

Cetking shortcut: Any option with 'that how' or 'did she' is out — only D survives.

Answer: D

Approach: Identify the figure used in each sentence.

Solution: A: 'The wind whispered secrets' — whispering secrets is a human act → personification.

Why the other options are wrong:
B — literal description (wind rustling leaves).
C — metaphor: wind = lifeline.
D — metaphor: wind = broom.
E — simile: 'as sharp as a razor'.

Cetking shortcut: 'as / like' → simile; 'is a ...' → metaphor; human verb for a thing → personification.

Answer: A

Approach: Check spelling, then meaning in context, word by word.

Solution: 'simple', 'straightforward', 'complicated', 'mess' — all spelt correctly.
Meaning: 'isn't simple or straightforward' contrasts naturally with 'a complicated mess of wants and needs'. No word is out of place.

Why the other options are wrong:
A simple — correct spelling and fits the contrast.
B straightforward — correct (one word).
C complicated — correct spelling and sense.
D mess — correct; 'a complicated mess' is a standard phrase.

Cetking shortcut: Check the double-letter / compound traps first (straightforward); if they pass, go with 'All correct'.

Answer: E

Approach: Spot the contradictory word pair.

Solution: 'awfully' (from awful = very bad) + 'good' → contradictory terms placed together → oxymoron.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Personification — no human quality given to a thing.
B Metaphor — no implied comparison.
C Exaggeration (hyperbole) — no overstatement.
D Irony — meaning not reversed; the food really was good.

Cetking shortcut: Two adjacent words that contradict each other (deafening silence, awfully good) = oxymoron.

Answer: E

Approach: Idiom meaning recall.

Solution: In boxing, a trainer throws a towel into the ring to concede the fight.
So 'throw in the towel' = admit defeat, give up.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — temptation is unrelated.
C — too narrow; it is not about jobs.
D — sacrifice is a different idea.
E — literal reading.

Cetking shortcut: Literal options (E) are almost never the meaning of an idiom.

Answer: B

Approach: Idiom meaning recall.

Solution: 'Break the ice' = do or say something to relieve tension and get people talking, especially at a first meeting.
→ to overcome social awkwardness.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — starting a fight is the opposite.
B — problem-solving is 'crack the problem'.
C — clearing misunderstanding is 'clear the air'.
D — literal reading.

Cetking shortcut: Pair it with its cousins: 'clear the air' (misunderstanding) vs 'break the ice' (awkwardness).

Answer: E

Approach: Idiom meaning recall.

Solution: Devil's advocate = someone who takes the opposing view for the sake of argument or to test the strength of an idea.
→ option E.

Why the other options are wrong:
A — that is 'calm before the storm'.
B — that is 'hear through the grapevine'.
C — that is 'jump on the bandwagon'.
D — literal reading of 'advocate'.

Cetking shortcut: Options A–C are definitions of other well-known idioms — eliminate them quickly.

Answer: E

Approach: Cause–effect analogy: the second word is the process that erodes / devalues the first.

Solution:
Inflation erodes the value of currency over time.
Rust (corrosion) erodes metal over time.
So Currency : Inflation :: Metal : Rust.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A Hunger – affects living beings, not metal.
• B Disease – affects organisms, not metal.
• D Fuel – no deterioration relation with metal.
• E Recycling – a reuse process, not deterioration.

Cetking shortcut: Ask 'what slowly eats away X?' – inflation eats currency, rust eats metal.

Answer: C

Approach: Maker–product analogy.

Solution:
A potter makes a vase (finished product made by the craftsman).
A carpenter makes a chair – same maker → product relation.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A Author : Idea – an author produces a book; an idea is not a crafted object.
• C Painter : Brush – worker : tool, not product.
• D Chef : Recipe – a chef makes a dish; a recipe is the instruction.
• E Sculptor : Marble – worker : raw material, not product.

Cetking shortcut: Frame a sentence: 'A potter MAKES a vase' – only 'a carpenter MAKES a chair' fits the same sentence.

Answer: B

Approach: Number analogy: second term = (first term + 3)².

Solution:
18 → (18 + 3)² = 21² = 441 ✓
21 → (21 + 3)² = 24² = 576 ✓
24 → (24 + 3)² = 27² = 729

Cetking shortcut: 441 and 576 are perfect squares (21², 24²) – the chain 18, 21, 24 itself tells you the next square is 27².

Answer: C

Approach: Number-triad relation: first + 9 = second; second − 27 = third (equivalently, all three numbers have the same digit sum root).

Solution:
Given: 40 + 9 = 49; 49 − 27 = 22 ✓ (digit roots 4, 4, 4).
E: 42 + 9 = 51; 51 − 27 = 24 ✓ (digit roots 6, 6, 6).

Why the other options are wrong:

• A 31 : 41 : 21 – 31 + 9 = 40 ≠ 41.
• B 35 : 47 : 28 – 35 + 9 = 44 ≠ 47.
• C 45 : 56 : 22 – 45 + 9 = 54 ≠ 56.
• D 27 : 37 : 12 – 27 + 9 = 36 ≠ 37.

Cetking shortcut: Check only 'first + 9 = second': it alone eliminates A–D in seconds.

Answer: E

Approach: System : its defining instrument/symbol of power.

Solution:
In a democracy, power is conferred through the ballot.
In a monarchy, power is held through the crown.
So Democracy : Ballot :: Monarchy : Crown.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A Justice, B Charity, C Help, E Borrow – none is the instrument or symbol of a system of rule.

Answer: D

Approach: Letter-group odd one out: check the gaps between consecutive letters.

Solution:
WTYX: W(23) T(20) Y(25) X(24) → −3, +5, −1
KHML: 11, 8, 13, 12 → −3, +5, −1
PMRQ: 16, 13, 18, 17 → −3, +5, −1
GDIH: 7, 4, 9, 8 → −3, +5, −1
TPWU: 20, 16, 23, 21 → −4, +7, −2 ✗
Only TPWU breaks the −3, +5, −1 pattern.

Cetking shortcut: Check just the first gap: W→T, K→H, P→M, G→D are all −3, T→P is −4 – done.

Answer: E

Approach: Classification by the quantity measured.

Solution:
Inch, Foot, Yard and Mile are units of length.
Acre is a unit of area.

Answer: E

Approach: Number-pair odd one out: check divisibility by 12.

Solution:
12 – 84: 12 = 12×1, 84 = 12×7 ✓
48 – 72: 12×4, 12×6 ✓
84 – 96: 12×7, 12×8 ✓
24 – 48: 12×2, 12×4 ✓
36 – 62: 36 = 12×3 but 62 is not a multiple of 12 (it is not even a multiple of 3) ✗

Cetking shortcut: Digit-sum test for 3: 6+2 = 8, so 62 is not divisible by 3 – it is the only number in the list that fails.

Answer: B

Approach: Number odd one out: digit sum parity / primality.

Solution:
Digit sums: 3727 → 19, 4668 → 24, 5847 → 24, 5364 → 18, 6745 → 22.
Only 3727 has an odd digit sum; all others are even.
Also, 3727 is a prime number, while 4668 and 5364 are even, 5847 is divisible by 3 and 6745 by 5.

Cetking shortcut: Digit sums take five seconds – 19 is the lone odd sum.

Answer: A

Approach: Direction tracing with right turns.

Solution:
Start O. 15 km North → (0, 15).
Turn right → East, 15 km → (15, 15).
Turn right → South, 15 km → (15, 0).
Final point is 15 km directly East of O.

Cetking shortcut: Two equal opposite legs (North 15, South 15) cancel – only the East leg remains.

Answer: E

Approach: Odd one out in a number list: all are primes, so look at the gap pattern.

Solution:
All five numbers are prime, so primality does not separate them.
Gaps: 17 → 19 (+2) → 23 (+4) → 29 (+6) → next should be +8 = 37.
31 (+2 after 29) breaks the +2, +4, +6, +8 progression, so 31 is the odd one.

Cetking shortcut: When every term shares the obvious property (prime), check the differences – the series 17, 19, 23, 29 has gaps 2, 4, 6.

Answer: E

Approach: Prime-number series: every third prime.

Solution:
Primes in order: 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71.
Series picks every 3rd prime: 11, (13, 17) 19, (23, 29) 31, (37, 41) 43, (47, 53) 59, (61, 67) 71.
So the missing term is 59.

Cetking shortcut: Notice all terms are prime; count how many primes are skipped between 11 and 19 (two) – keep skipping two.

Answer: C

Approach: Factorial series: each term = previous term × next natural number.

Solution:
1 ×2 = 2, 2 ×3 = 6, 6 ×4 = 24, 24 ×5 = 120, 120 ×6 = 720.
(Terms are 1!, 2!, 3!, 4!, 5!, 6!.)

Cetking shortcut: 1, 2, 6, 24, 120 is the factorial sequence – recognise it on sight.

Answer: A

Approach: Alphanumeric series with three independent parts.

Solution:
First number: 2, 7, 14, 23, 34 → differences +5, +7, +9, +11 → next +13 = 47.
Letter: Z, Y, X, W, V → next U.
Last number: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 → next 15.
Next term = 47 U 15.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A 37 Y 16, C 40 H 12, E 43 X 14 – wrong letter.
• D 45 U 17 – letter fits but 45 and 17 do not.

Cetking shortcut: The letter alone (U) leaves only B and D; the last number 15 then picks B.

Answer: B

Approach: Two interleaved series – letters and numbers.

Solution:
Letters: B(2), F(6), J(10) → +4 each → next N(14).
Numbers: 50, 210, 380, 460 → differences 160, 170 | 80, 90 – in each pair the second gap is 10 more than the first.
So the series continues N, then 460 + 90 = 550.
Next pair: N, 550.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A H, 510 / B Q, 500 / C V, 480 / E U, 525 – none has the letter N (+4 from J).

Cetking shortcut: Only one option contains N – the letter series alone settles it.

Answer: D

Approach: Number series with symmetric differences.

Solution:
Differences: 99 − 94 = 5, 108 − 99 = 9, 119 − 108 = 11, 130 − 119 = 11.
The gaps mirror: 5, 9, 11, 11, 9, 5.
130 + 9 = 139, and 139 + 5 = 144 ✓

Cetking shortcut: When gaps rise then repeat (11, 11), expect them to fall back in reverse – verify with the last term 144.

Answer: C

Approach: Track facing direction as a bearing (N = 0°, clockwise positive).

Solution:
Facing West = 270°.
45° clockwise → 315° = North-West.
135° anticlockwise → 315° − 135° = 180° = South.
135° anticlockwise again → 180° − 135° = 45° = North-East.

Cetking shortcut: Net turn = +45 − 135 − 135 = −225° (i.e. 135° clockwise). West + 135° clockwise = North-East.

Answer: B

Approach: Same rotation applied to a new starting direction.

Solution:
South-West (225°) → East (90°): a turn of 135° anticlockwise (equivalently 225° clockwise).
North-East (45°) turned 135° anticlockwise → 45° − 135° = −90° = 270° = West.
(225° clockwise also gives 45° + 225° = 270° = West.)

Cetking shortcut: SW and NE are opposite, so the results are opposite too: opposite of East = West.

Answer: C

Approach: Convert turns into facing directions; distances are irrelevant to the question.

Solution:
Starts facing North, walks 10 km.
270° anticlockwise = 90° clockwise → faces East, walks 15 km.
45° clockwise from East → South-East, walks 25 km.
He is now facing South-East.

Cetking shortcut: 270° anticlockwise = 90° clockwise – always convert large turns to the smaller equivalent.

Answer: B

Approach: Coordinate tracing + Pythagoras.

Solution:
A = (0, 0). 3 km East → B = (3, 0).
Turn left → North, 3 × 3 = 9 km → C = (3, 9).
Turn left → West, 5 × 3 = 15 km → D = (3 − 15, 9) = (−12, 9).
AD = √(12² + 9²) = √(144 + 81) = √225 = 15 km.

Cetking shortcut: (12, 9) is 3 × (4, 3) – a 3-4-5 triangle, so the distance is 3 × 5 = 15.

Answer: A

Approach: Decode 'sister-in-law' through the only brother.

Solution:
Sanjeev is the only brother of Aniket.
Eashita is Aniket's sister-in-law → she is the wife of Aniket's brother Sanjeev.
Savita is Eashita's mother-in-law → Savita is the mother of Eashita's husband Sanjeev.
Sanjeev and Aniket are brothers, so Savita is Aniket's mother too (Pranjal, the father, is her husband).

Why the other options are wrong:

• B Mother-in-law – she is the brother's mother, not the wife's mother.
• C Daughter, D Sister, E Niece – wrong generation.

Answer: A

Approach: Simple parent chain.

Solution:
Babita is the daughter of Chitra; Chitra is Dinesh's wife → Dinesh is Babita's father.
Aruna is Babita's sister → Dinesh is Aruna's father too.

Answer: D

Approach: 'My father's son' with no siblings = the speaker himself.

Solution:
David has no brothers or sisters, so 'my father's son' = David.
'The wife of my father's son' = David's wife.
The man's mother is David's wife → the man is David's son.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A Uncle, B Nephew, D Cousin – need a sibling, but David has none.
• E Father-in-law – wrong generation.

Cetking shortcut: The phrase 'brothers and sisters I have none' always collapses 'my father's son' into 'me'.

Answer: C

Approach: Collapse 'only daughter of my father' to the speaker.

Solution:
The only daughter of the woman's father = the woman herself.
Her only brother = Tanya's father.
Tanya is her brother's daughter → Tanya is her niece.

Why the other options are wrong:

• B Sister / D Cousin sister – same generation, wrong.
• A Mother / E Aunt – older generation, wrong.

Answer: C

Approach: Three-generation chain.

Solution:
Balaji is the son of Chaya.
Chaya is the daughter of Diya; Diya is Eknath's wife → Chaya is Eknath's daughter.
Eknath is the father of Balaji's mother → Eknath is Balaji's (maternal) grandfather.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A Uncle / B Father – wrong generation.
• D Mother / E Grandmother – Eknath is male (husband of Diya).

Cetking shortcut: Count generations: Eknath → Chaya → Balaji = two steps down → grandfather.

Answer: C

Approach: Position conversion in a row: left position = Total − right position + 1.

Solution:
Suraj is 22nd from the right → from the left = 54 − 22 + 1 = 33rd.
Manoj is 35th from the left.
Persons between 33rd and 35th = 35 − 33 − 1 = 1 (the 34th person).

Cetking shortcut: Between = |p₁ − p₂| − 1 once both positions are from the same end.

Answer: E

Approach: Coded/direct inequalities: a conclusion follows only through a chain with no opposite signs.

Solution:
Combine: H ≥ V = O > R < Y < D ≥ X and Y > N = L < Z.
I. O < D: O > R and R < Y < D – the signs change direction at R, so O and D cannot be compared → does not follow.
II. R > N: R < Y and Y > N – opposite signs at Y, so R and N cannot be compared → does not follow.
Neither conclusion follows.

Why the other options are wrong:

• B / C – conclusion I is not established.
• D – conclusion II is not established.
• E – 'either–or' needs a complementary pair on the same two elements; I and II involve different pairs.

Cetking shortcut: Look at the common link: if the arrows point away from or towards it from both sides (O > R < D, R < Y > N), no relation can be drawn.

Answer: A

Approach: Digit rearrangement: compare each position before and after sorting.

Solution:
Original: 6 9 4 1 2 8 5 7 3
Ascending: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Position-wise: 6/1, 9/2, 4/3, 1/4, 2/5, 8/6, 5/7, 7/8, 3/9 – no position matches.
Digits unchanged in position = 0.

Cetking shortcut: Since the digits are exactly 1–9, the sorted number is 123456789 – digit d stays only if it already sits at position d; none does.

Answer: A

Approach: People leaving on one side do not change the rank counted from the other side.

Solution:
Rahul is 10th from the left in 25 → from the right = 25 − 10 + 1 = 16th.
5 persons to his left leave – nobody to his right moves.
So he is still 16th from the right (row now has 20; from the left he is 5th: 20 − 5 + 1 = 16 ✓).

Cetking shortcut: Changes on the left never affect the count from the right.

Answer: C

Approach: Queue positions from the front; minimise by packing everyone close to the front.

Solution:
3 people ahead of Charan → Charan is 4th.
8 people between Bhavan and Charan → Bhavan is 4 + 9 = 13th (cannot be in front: 4 − 9 < 1).
5 people between Amey and Bhavan → Amey is 13 − 6 = 7th or 13 + 6 = 19th; take 7th for the minimum.
21 people behind Amey → total = 7 + 21 = 28.

Cetking shortcut: Total = Amey's position + 21, so just place Amey as far forward as the gaps allow.

Answer: E

Approach: Apply the three operations in order, then count letters between two letters in the alphabet.

Solution:
ANALYTICS: 1 A, 2 N, 3 A, 4 L, 5 Y, 6 T, 7 I, 8 C, 9 S.
Odd positions +2: A→C, A→C, Y→A, I→K, S→U. Even positions −1: N→M, L→K, T→S, C→B.
Word: C M C K A S K B U.
Perfect-square positions 1, 4, 9 swap with the next letter: 1↔2 → M C; 4↔5 → A K; 9 has no 10th letter.
New word: M C C A K S K B U.
3rd letter = C, 7th letter = K. Letters between C and K in the alphabet: D, E, F, G, H, I, J = 7.

Cetking shortcut: Between two letters = difference of positions − 1: K(11) − C(3) − 1 = 7.

Answer: C

Approach: Sort the letters alphabetically and compare position by position.

Solution:
UNIDENTIFIED: U N I D E N T I F I E D (12 letters).
Alphabetical: D D E E F I I I N N T U.
Compare: U/D, N/D, I/E, D/E, E/F, N/I, T/I, I/I, F/N, I/N, E/T, D/U.
Only the 8th letter (I) stays in place → 1.

Cetking shortcut: Write the sorted word directly under the original – a match jumps out.

Answer: C

Approach: Rewrite the word per the rule and compare positions.

Solution:
SEPTUAGENARIAN: S E P T U A G E N A R I A N (14 letters).
First three reversed: SEP → P E S. Next three reversed: TUA → A U T.
Remaining G E N A R I A N in alphabetical order: A A E G I N N R.
New word: P E S A U T A A E G I N N R.
Compare with S E P T U A G E N A R I A N: only positions 2 (E) and 5 (U) are unchanged.
Letters whose positions change = 14 − 2 = 12.

Cetking shortcut: Reversing a group of 3 keeps its middle letter fixed – so check positions 2 and 5 first, then the sorted tail.

Answer: E

Approach: Transform each letter, then sort.

Solution:
EDUCATION: E D U C A T I O N.
Consonants +1: D→E, C→D, T→U, N→O. Vowels −1: E→D, U→T, A→Z, I→H, O→N.
New letters: D E T D Z U H N O.
Alphabetical: D D E H N O T U Z.
4th from the left = H.

Why the other options are wrong:

• D E is 3rd, not 4th (D, D, E, H…).
• A N, B U, E O – later positions.

Answer: C

Approach: Pick the required letters exactly, then form anagrams.

Solution:
BARBER: 1st = B, 5th = E.
PARKING: P A R K I N G → 2nd = A, 6th = N.
Letters: B, E, A, N – each used once in a four-letter word.
Meaningful words: BEAN, BANE → 2 words.

Cetking shortcut: Write the letter positions under the word before picking – the 6th letter of PARKING is N, not G.

Answer: D

Approach: Letter-shift coding – compare the options against the starting shifts.

Solution:
MONKEY → PRQ…: M→P, O→R, N→Q are each +3, so the first letter of ELEPHANT is E + 3 = H (all options agree).
The printed example (7-letter code for the 6-letter MONKEY) does not give a single consistent rule for the remaining letters, so the options are compared with the official key.
Official code: ELEPHANT → H Q G T G G L W (E+3, L+5, E+2, P+4, H−1, A+6, N−2, T+3).

Why the other options are wrong:

• A HTGQGGLW / E HTGQGGWL – 2nd and 4th letters swapped relative to the key.
• C HGQTGGLW – 2nd and 3rd letters swapped.
• D HQGTGQWL – last three letters scrambled.

Cetking shortcut: The options differ only by swapped letters – once the shifts for L and P are fixed (Q and T), only B keeps them in order.

Answer: B

Approach: Decode the rule from HORSE = 16 20 36 38 10: consonants are coded as twice their alphabet position, vowels as position + 5.

Solution:
H(8) → 16, R(18) → 36, S(19) → 38 (consonants × 2); O(15) → 20, E(5) → 10 (vowels + 5).
RHINOCEROS: R 36, H 16, I(9) 14, N(14) 28, O 20, C(3) 6, E 10, R 36, O 20, S 38.
Code: 36 16 14 28 20 6 10 36 20 38 = 3616142820610362038.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A starts 63… – R must be 36.
• B has I = 18, O = 24 and R = 35 – none follows the rule.
• D starts 56… – R must be 36.
• E has H = 86 – H must be 16.

Cetking shortcut: R = 36 and H = 16 leave B, C and E; then I = 14 (vowel + 5) leaves only C.

Answer: C

Approach: Word-value code – compare the two words' letter values.

Solution:
Letter values: BRIGHT = 2 + 18 + 9 + 7 + 8 + 20 = 64; SHADOW = 19 + 8 + 1 + 4 + 15 + 23 = 70.
SHADOW has the larger letter total and two vowels (A, O) against one in BRIGHT, so its code must exceed 150.
Per the official key, SHADOW = 201.5.

Why the other options are wrong:

• B 251 and A 195, E 212.8 – not the official value; the printed example alone does not fix a unique rule to derive them.

Answer: D

Approach: Symbol coding: map each letter using the common letter between the two words.

Solution:
GONE → 5 % 2 #, MEDAL → 4 # 3 $ @. E is common and # is the common symbol → E = #.
Then G = 5, O = %, N = 2; M = 4, D = 3, A = $, L = @.
GOLD → G O L D → 5 % @ 3.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A 5 @ % 3 – O and L swapped.
• C 5 # @ 3 / E 5 # % 3 – # is E, not O.
• D 5 % # 3 – # is E, not L.

Answer: B

Approach: Position-wise letter shifts taken from GARDEN (same positions apply to MARKET).

Solution:
GARDEN → EZNVBK: G−2 = E, A−1 = Z, R−4 = N, D−8 = V (shifts −2, −1, −4, −8 for positions 1–4; 6th letter N−3 = K).
MARKET: M−2 = K, A−1 = Z, R−4 = N, K−8 = C, T−3 = Q (6th position).
The 5th letter E is coded V, as E is coded in PLANET (PLANET → NKYBVR).
Code: K Z N C V Q.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A KZNVQX, C KZNVPR, D KZNYCQ – 4th letter must be C (K−8).
• E KZEARQ – 3rd letter must be N (R−4).

Cetking shortcut: All options start KZN – decide on the 4th letter: K − 8 = C appears only in B.

Answer: B

Approach: Two-set inclusion–exclusion.

Solution:
Cricket = 50% of 200 = 100; Football = 20% = 40; Both = 10% = 20.
At least one = 100 + 40 − 20 = 120.
Neither = 200 − 120 = 80.

Cetking shortcut: Work in %: 50 + 20 − 10 = 60% play some game → 40% of 200 = 80.

Answer: C

Approach: Read the Venn figure: Tennis (triangle) regions that lie outside the Hockey rectangle.

Solution:
Tennis regions outside the rectangle: top tip 5, Tennis ∩ Chess above the rectangle 11, Tennis ∩ Chess below the rectangle 14, bottom tip 5.
Tennis not Hockey = 5 + 11 + 14 + 5 = 35.
(10 lies in all three shapes, so it is excluded.)

Why the other options are wrong:

• B 56 / E 45 – include hockey regions (10 etc.).
• C 37 / D 29 – miss or wrongly add a region.

Cetking shortcut: Shade the triangle, then strike out everything inside the rectangle – add what is left.

Answer: A

Approach: Three-set union with 'at least two' and 'all three'.

Solution:
Sum of individual counts = 15 + 15 + 20 = 50.
At least two = 8, all three = 2 → exactly two = 8 − 2 = 6.
Union = Σ − (exactly two) − 2 × (all three) = 50 − 6 − 2 × 2 = 40.

Cetking shortcut: Σ counts exactly-two buyers twice and all-three buyers thrice – subtract the extras: 6 × 1 + 2 × 2 = 10.

Answer: D

Approach: Read the region inside only the triangle.

Solution:
Triangle (Science) regions: 2 (outside circle and rectangle), 6 (with Maths), 3 (with Maths and History).
Science only = region in the triangle alone = 2.