Q.1 A farmer has to cross a river with a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. His boat can carry only one item at a time. If left alone, the wolf will eat the goat and the goat will eat the cabbage. How can the farmer get all three across safely?
Take the goat first, return alone, take the cabbage, bring the goat back, take the wolf, return alone, take the goat
Take the cabbage first, return alone, take the goat, bring the cabbage back, take the wolf, return alone, take the cabbage
Take the wolf first, return alone, take the goat, bring the wolf back, take the cabbage, return alone, take the wolf
Take the goat first, return alone, take the wolf, bring the goat back, take the cabbage, return alone, take the goat
Explanation - The farmer must prevent the wolf and goat, and the goat and cabbage from being left alone. This sequence ensures safe crossing.
Correct answer is: Take the goat first, return alone, take the cabbage, bring the goat back, take the wolf, return alone, take the goat
Q.2 There are 3 boxes, one contains only apples, one contains only oranges, and one contains both. The boxes are all mislabeled. How can you correctly label all boxes by picking just one fruit from one box?
Pick a fruit from the box labeled 'apples and oranges'
Pick a fruit from the box labeled 'apples'
Pick a fruit from the box labeled 'oranges'
Pick a fruit from any box
Explanation - Since all boxes are mislabeled, the 'apples and oranges' box cannot contain both. Picking one fruit identifies the box, and the remaining boxes are easily labeled.
Correct answer is: Pick a fruit from the box labeled 'apples and oranges'
Q.3 A clock shows 3:15. What is the angle between the hour and minute hands?
0 degrees
7.5 degrees
52.5 degrees
90 degrees
Explanation - Minute hand at 15 minutes is 90°, hour hand at 3:15 is 97.5°, difference = 97.5 - 45 = 52.5°.
Correct answer is: 52.5 degrees
Q.4 If 5 cats can catch 5 mice in 5 minutes, how many cats are needed to catch 100 mice in 100 minutes?
5
10
20
100
Explanation - The rate is 1 cat per mouse per 5 minutes. Scaling up, 5 cats can catch 100 mice in 100 minutes.
Correct answer is: 5
Q.5 A man walks 1 km south, 1 km east, and 1 km north. He ends up back at his starting point. Where is he?
North Pole
South Pole
Equator
Greenwich
Explanation - Only near the North Pole can this path return him to the starting point; there are also special cases near the South Pole.
Correct answer is: North Pole
Q.6 If all Bloops are Razzies and all Razzies are Lazzies, then all Bloops are definitely Lazzies?
True
False
Cannot say
Only some
Explanation - This is a classic syllogism: Bloops → Razzies → Lazzies, so all Bloops → Lazzies.
Correct answer is: True
Q.7 A man is looking at a portrait. Someone asks him, 'Whose picture are you looking at?' He replies, 'Brothers and sisters, I have none. But the father of that man in the picture is my father’s son.' Who is in the picture?
His son
His father
His nephew
Himself
Explanation - Father's son (himself) → father of the man in picture → the man's son.
Correct answer is: His son
Q.8 A box contains 10 red, 10 blue, and 10 green balls. What is the minimum number of balls one must pick to ensure getting at least one of each color?
3
21
20
12
Explanation - In worst case, pick all 20 red/blue balls first. The 21st ensures the third color.
Correct answer is: 21
Q.9 Two fathers and two sons went fishing. Each caught one fish. How many fish did they catch in total?
2
3
4
5
Explanation - They are grandfather, father, and son — 3 people.
Correct answer is: 3
Q.10 You have a 3-liter and a 5-liter jug. How do you measure exactly 4 liters of water?
Fill 5L jug, pour into 3L jug until full, remaining in 5L jug is 2L, fill 5L jug, pour 2L into 3L, 4L remains in 5L jug
Fill 3L jug, pour into 5L jug, repeat
Fill 5L jug and pour 1L into 3L jug
Impossible
Explanation - This is the standard water jug problem solution.
Correct answer is: Fill 5L jug, pour into 3L jug until full, remaining in 5L jug is 2L, fill 5L jug, pour 2L into 3L, 4L remains in 5L jug
Q.11 Find the missing number in the sequence: 2, 6, 12, 20, ?
28
30
32
36
Explanation - The sequence adds consecutive even numbers: +4, +6, +8, +10 → next number 20 + 10 = 30.
Correct answer is: 30
Q.12 If you rearrange the letters 'CIFAIPC' you would get the name of a:
City
Ocean
Animal
Flower
Explanation - 'CIFAIPC' rearranged gives 'PACIFIC', which is an ocean.
Correct answer is: Ocean
Q.13 Five people are sitting in a row. A is left of B but right of C. D is right of B. E is at one end. Who is in the middle?
A
B
C
D
Explanation - Based on positions: E, C, A, B, D → A is in the middle.
Correct answer is: A
Q.14 Which cube cannot be formed from a given cut-out pattern of a cube?
Option A
Option B
Option C
Option D
Explanation - By visualizing fold lines, Option C has faces opposite which are adjacent in the pattern, so impossible.
Correct answer is: Option C
Q.15 A man has 53 socks in his drawer: 21 identical blue, 15 identical black, and 17 identical red. How many must he take out to be sure of getting a pair of same color?
2
3
4
5
Explanation - Worst case: pick 3 different colors → 4th ensures a pair.
Correct answer is: 4
Q.16 Which number replaces the question mark? 7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, ?
10
11
12
13
Explanation - Sequence alternates: +3, -2 → next number = 12 - 2 = 10.
Correct answer is: 10
Q.17 If 2 pencils cost 8 rupees, how much do 5 pencils cost?
15
18
20
16
Explanation - Cost per pencil = 4 rupees → 5 pencils = 20 rupees.
Correct answer is: 20
Q.18 If a day after tomorrow is two days before Thursday, what day is today?
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Explanation - Two days before Thursday = Tuesday → day after tomorrow = Tuesday → today = Sunday?
Correct answer is: Monday
Q.19 A train 120m long passes a pole in 6 seconds. What is its speed?
20 m/s
15 m/s
18 m/s
25 m/s
Explanation - Speed = distance/time = 120/6 = 20 m/s.
Correct answer is: 20 m/s
Q.20 Which of the following does not belong: Dog, Cat, Lion, Snake?
Dog
Cat
Lion
Snake
Explanation - All others are mammals; snake is a reptile.
Correct answer is: Snake
Q.21 A cube is painted on all sides. If it is cut into 27 smaller cubes, how many small cubes have exactly one face painted?
1
6
12
8
Explanation - Cubes with one face painted are at the center of each face → 6 faces → 6 cubes.
Correct answer is: 6
Q.22 If a clock takes 6 seconds to strike 6, how long will it take to strike 12?
12 seconds
11 seconds
13 seconds
6 seconds
Explanation - Time between strikes = 1 second → 11 intervals for 12 strikes → 11 seconds.
Correct answer is: 11 seconds
Q.23 A man is facing north. He turns 45° clockwise, then 90° anticlockwise, then 180° clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
South
East
West
North
Explanation - North → 45° clockwise = NE → 90° anticlockwise = NW → 180° clockwise = SE → South
Correct answer is: South
Q.24 Find the odd one out: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
2
7
9
11
Explanation - All others are prime numbers; 9 is not prime.
Correct answer is: 9
Q.25 If three typists can type three pages in three minutes, how many typists will it take to type 18 pages in six minutes?
3
6
9
12
Explanation - 1 typist types 1 page in 3 minutes. Need 18 pages in 6 minutes → 18/2 = 9 typists.
Correct answer is: 9