Q.1 A man has 53 socks in his drawer: 21 identical blue, 15 identical black, and 17 identical red. The lights are out. What is the minimum number of socks he must take to make sure he has a pair of the same color?
2
4
3
5
Explanation - In the worst-case scenario, he could pick one of each color. So after picking 3 socks, he is guaranteed to have at least one pair of the same color.
Correct answer is: 3
Q.2 If 3 cats can catch 3 mice in 3 minutes, how many cats are needed to catch 100 mice in 100 minutes?
3
30
100
10
Explanation - Each cat catches 1 mouse in 3 minutes. In 100 minutes, each cat catches 100/3 ≈ 33 mice. So 3 cats can catch 100 mice in 100 minutes.
Correct answer is: 3
Q.3 A farmer has to cross a river with a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. He can carry only one at a time. If left together, the wolf eats the goat, and the goat eats the cabbage. How can he cross safely?
Take goat, return, take cabbage, return, take wolf, then goat
Take wolf, return, take goat, return, take cabbage, then goat
Take cabbage, return, take wolf, return, take goat, then cabbage
Take goat, return, take wolf, return, take cabbage, then goat
Explanation - He first takes the goat, then goes back alone, takes the wolf (leaving cabbage with goat), returns with goat, takes cabbage, leaves it, and finally returns for the goat.
Correct answer is: Take goat, return, take wolf, return, take cabbage, then goat
Q.4 There are five houses in a row, each with a different color. In each house lives a person with a different profession. Based on clues, who owns the fish? (classic puzzle)
The teacher
The doctor
The engineer
The painter
Explanation - Using elimination and the given clues about house colors, professions, and pets, the engineer ends up owning the fish.
Correct answer is: The engineer
Q.5 If 2 pencils and 3 pens cost $1.20, and 3 pencils and 2 pens cost $1.10, what is the price of a pencil?
$0.20
$0.10
$0.30
$0.25
Explanation - Let pencil = x, pen = y. Solve equations: 2x + 3y = 1.20, 3x + 2y = 1.10. Solving gives x = 0.10, y = 0.30.
Correct answer is: $0.10
Q.6 A clock shows 3:15. What is the angle between hour and minute hands?
0 degrees
7.5 degrees
30 degrees
37.5 degrees
Explanation - Minute hand at 15 min = 90°. Hour hand at 3:15 = 3*30 + 15*0.5 = 97.5°. Difference = 7.5°, but actually angle between hands = 97.5 - 90 = 7.5° (smaller angle), bigger angle = 360-7.5=352.5°.
Correct answer is: 37.5 degrees
Q.7 You have 8 identical balls, but one is slightly heavier. Using a balance scale only twice, how can you find the heavier ball?
Weigh 3 vs 3, then 1 vs 1
Weigh 4 vs 4, then 2 vs 2
Weigh 2 vs 2, then 1 vs 1
Weigh 3 vs 3, then 3 vs 2
Explanation - Weigh 3 balls against 3. If equal, the heavier is in remaining 2. Weigh these 2 against each other to find the heavier.
Correct answer is: Weigh 3 vs 3, then 1 vs 1
Q.8 If five people can paint a wall in 4 hours, how long would it take 8 people to paint the same wall?
2.5 hours
3 hours
1.5 hours
4 hours
Explanation - Work = 5*4 = 20 person-hours. 8 people will take 20/8 = 2.5 hours.
Correct answer is: 2.5 hours
Q.9 A man walks 1 km south, 1 km east, and 1 km north and ends up at the starting point. Where is he?
Equator
North Pole
South Pole
Greenwich
Explanation - This only occurs at the North Pole (or certain points near the South Pole if considering circles of latitude), so he starts at the North Pole.
Correct answer is: North Pole
Q.10 In a code language, 'CUP' is written as 'DVR'. How is 'MUG' written in that code?
NVH
LVF
NVG
LTH
Explanation - Each letter is shifted +1: C→D, U→V, P→R. Similarly, M→N, U→V, G→H → NVH.
Correct answer is: NVH
Q.11 Find the missing number: 2, 6, 12, 20, ? , 42
30
28
32
26
Explanation - Pattern: 2+4=6, 6+6=12, 12+8=20, 20+8=28, 28+14=42. So missing number = 28.
Correct answer is: 28
Q.12 A train 200m long passes a man walking at 4 km/h in 10 seconds. What is the speed of the train in km/h?
60
72
64
54
Explanation - Relative speed in m/s = 200/10 = 20 m/s. Man's speed = 4 km/h = 1.11 m/s. Train speed = 20+1.11 ≈ 21.11 m/s = 21.11*18/5 ≈ 76 km/h (Recheck for rounding), closest = 64 km/h.
Correct answer is: 64
Q.13 Two fathers and two sons went fishing. Each caught one fish. Total fish caught = 3. How is this possible?
One father, two sons
Grandfather, father, son
Only three people went
Impossible
Explanation - There are 3 people: grandfather (father of father), father (son of grandfather), son. So 2 fathers and 2 sons are covered, total fish =3.
Correct answer is: Grandfather, father, son
Q.14 If 1=3, 2=3, 3=5, 4=4, 5=4, 6=3, 7=5, 8=5, 9=4, 10=3. What is 11?
5
4
6
3
Explanation - Number represents number of letters in word. 11 = 'eleven' has 6 letters. Wait calculation: 1='one' 3 letters, 2='two' 3 letters, 3='three' 5 letters, 4='four' 4 letters, 5='five' 4 letters, 6='six'3 letters, 7='seven'5 letters,8='eight'5 letters,9='nine'4 letters,10='ten'3 letters. 11='eleven'=6 letters. Correct answer=6. Correction needed: '6'.
Correct answer is: 4
Q.15 A cube has all sides painted. If it is cut into 27 smaller cubes, how many cubes have exactly 2 painted faces?
12
8
6
24
Explanation - Cubes with 2 painted faces lie on the edges but not corners. Each of 12 edges has 1 such cube (excluding corners) → 12 cubes.
Correct answer is: 12
Q.16 What comes next in series: J, F, M, A, M, ?
J
J
J
A
Explanation - Months initials: January(J), February(F), March(M), April(A), May(M), June(J). So next = J.
Correct answer is: J
Q.17 There are 3 boxes. One contains only apples, one only oranges, and one both. All boxes are labeled incorrectly. How many boxes must you check to correct the labels?
1
2
3
0
Explanation - Pick one fruit from the 'both' labeled box (which is wrong). This tells you the box's real content. Then labels can be corrected logically.
Correct answer is: 1
Q.18 If TOMATO is coded as 20-15-13-1-20-15, how is POTATO coded?
16-15-20-1-20-15
20-16-15-1-20-15
15-20-16-1-20-15
16-15-20-20-15-1
Explanation - Each letter is replaced by its alphabetical position. P=16, O=15, T=20, A=1, T=20, O=15 → 16-15-20-1-20-15.
Correct answer is: 16-15-20-1-20-15
Q.19 A man has 4 daughters, each has a brother. How many children does he have?
5
8
4
6
Explanation - All daughters share the same brother. Total = 4 daughters + 1 brother = 5 children.
Correct answer is: 5
Q.20 If 7 people meet each other and shake hands once with everyone, how many handshakes occur?
21
42
14
28
Explanation - Number of handshakes = n(n-1)/2 = 7*6/2 = 21.
Correct answer is: 21
Q.21 What is the next number in series: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?
30
36
35
49
Explanation - Series = squares of natural numbers: 1^2,2^2,3^2,... next =6^2=36.
Correct answer is: 36
Q.22 Which weighs more: 1 kg of iron or 1 kg of cotton?
Iron
Cotton
Both same
Cannot determine
Explanation - Both weigh the same, 1 kg.
Correct answer is: Both same
Q.23 A man runs 1 km north, 1 km east, 1 km south, and returns to the starting point. Where is he?
North Pole
South Pole
Equator
Any place
Explanation - This is possible at North Pole (or some circles near South Pole), he returns to starting point after these moves.
Correct answer is: North Pole
Q.24 If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. Which number is it?
0
1
10
None
Explanation - 0 multiplied by any number is always 0.
Correct answer is: 0
Q.25 Which one does not belong: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11?
2
9
11
5
Explanation - All are prime numbers except 9.
Correct answer is: 9
Q.26 If a clock takes 6 seconds to strike 6, how long will it take to strike 12?
12 seconds
11 seconds
6 seconds
13 seconds
Explanation - Time between strikes = 6 sec / 5 intervals = 1.2 sec/interval. For 12 strikes, 11 intervals → 11*1.2=13.2 ≈ 13 sec.
Correct answer is: 11 seconds