SSC CGL Prelims Reasoning Question Paper 2020

SSC CGL refers to ‘Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level,’ and ‘Reasoning’ is one of the most critical yet scoring topics asked in the SSC CGL exams. Reasoning is the section that analyses your logical thinking abilities, problem-solving and decision-making skills. However, one cannot master reasoning by the book learning method, and it requires constant and consistent practice. 

Following are a few important questions asked in the SSC CGL Prelims exams from this section: 

Q1. Four letter clusters have been given, wherein three are alike in some manner while one is different. Choose the odd one:

(a) ACXZ
(b) MIRN
(c) DXWC
(d) BFUY

Solution: Option – (c); Sum of the place value of first & last letters is (1+26=) 27 and sum of the place value of the middle (second & third) letters is (3+24=) 27. Except option – (c), all follow the above pattern.

Q2. Select the option in which the words share the same relationship as shared by the given pair of words: Gujarat: Gandhi Nagar

(a) Rajasthan: Ajmer
(b) Karnataka: Bengaluru
(c) Uttar Pradesh: Noida
(d) Madhya Pradesh: Gwalior 

Solution: Option – (b); Gandhi Nagar is the capital of Gujarat. Similarly, Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka. All other options do not follow.

Q3. Select the option that is related to the third term in the same way as the second term is related to the first term?
6 : 222 ∷ 8 : 

(a) 512
(b) 520
(c) 418
(d) 518

Solution: Option – (b)
6^3 + 6 = 222
8^3 + 8 = 520

Q4. Select the option that is related to the fifth number in the same way as the second number is related to the first number and the fourth number is related to the third number?
26 : 35 : : 50 : 63 : : 82 : ?

(a) 101
(b) 100
(c) 121
(d) 99

Solution: Option – (d)
5^2 + 1 = 26 : 6^2 – 1 = 35
7^2 + 1 = 50 : 8^2 – 1 = 63
9^2 + 1 = 82 : 10^2 – 1 = 99

Q5. Select the letter that can replace the question mark in the following series:
D, X, U, O, L, ?, C

(a) E
(b) F
(c) G
(d) H

Solution: Option – (b); follow -6, -3 sequence. 

Q6. Select the option in which the numbers share the same relationship as that shared by that given pair of numbers:
70 : 120

(a) 42 : 82
(b) 48 : 78
(c) 35 : 85
(d) 65 : 105

Solution: Option – (c); 120 – 70 = 50, similarly 85 – 35 = 50

Q7. In a code language, LOVE is coded as 1512522 then WAVE is coded as?

(a) 426522
(b) 425622
(c) 426252
(d) 462522

Solution: Option – (a)
Here, LOVE = L(12): Opposite alphabet number O(15); O(15) Opposite alphabet number L(12)….and so on. 
Similarly, WAVE = W(23): Opposite alphabet number D(4); A(1): Opposite alphabet number Z(26); V(22): Opposite alphabet number E(5) & E(5): Opposite alphabet number V(22).

Q8. A cube is made by folding the given sheet. In the cube so formed, what would be the number on the opposite of 4?

a) 5
b) 7
c) 6
d) 8

Solution: Option – (b); after folding the cube, the following numbers would be the opposite of each other:
2——6; 8——5; 4——7

Q9. Select the number that can replace the question mark in the following series:
2, 2, 3, 6, 15, 45, ?

(a) 155
(b) 157.5
(c) 167.5
(d) 135

Solution: Option – (b)

Q10. Select the set in which the numbers are related in the same way as are the numbers of the following set: (6, 8, 114) 

(a) (7, 8, 125) 
(b) (4, 9, 97) 
(c) (5, 6, 72) 
(d) (8, 9, 123)

Solution: Option – (c)
Here, (6^2) + (8^2) + (6 + 8) = 114; similarly in option – (c), (5^2) + (6^2) + (5 + 6) = 72.

Q11. Which one of the given options would be a logical sequence of the following words?

i) Sikkim
ii) Uttar Pradesh
iii) Rajasthan
iv) Chhattisgarh
v) Bihar

(a) 2 5 4 3 1
(b) 2 1 4 5 3
(c) 2 5 3 4 1
(d) 4 5 3 2 1

Solution: Option – (c); the answer has been selected based on the population in ascending order.

Q12. Select the combination of letters that, when sequentially placed in the blanks of the given series, will complete the series: 

a_bab_abc_a_c_e

(a) a  e d a d
(b) c e d c e
(c) a c d b d 
(d) a c e b a

Solution: Option – (c); a/ab/abc/abcd/abcde

Q13. Three statements are given, followed by three conclusions – I, II & III. You have to consider these statements to be true, even if they seem at variance from commonly known facts. Decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the given statements?

Statements:  
Each silk is fan. 
Few silk is bat. 
Some sofa is not silk. 

Conclusions:  
I. Some bats can be sofa. 
II. Some bats are silk is a possibility. 
III. All sofas can be silk. 

(a) All conclusions follow
(b) Only conclusions I and III follow
(c) Only conclusions II and III follow
(d) Only conclusions I follow

Solution: Option – (d); Only Conclusion I follow.

Q14. Select the Venn diagram that best represents the relationship between the following classes:
Lawyer, Engineer, Doctor

Solution: Option – (a), because all the professions are different.

Q15. Which pair does NOT belong with the others?

a) 23 – 32
b) 43 – 12
c) 28 – 27
d) 38 – 18

Solution: Option – (d); 38 – 18 does not belong with the others because sum of each of the pair is 55.

Q16. Study the given pattern carefully and select the number that can replace the question mark (?) in:

(a) 35
(b) 78
(c) 72
(d) 65

Solution: Option – (c) 
1st row: (9*8)/2 = 36; 2nd row: (8*9)/3 = 24; 3rd row: (12*15)/4 = 45 

Similarly, 4th row: (18*20)/5 = 72

Q17. In a code language, INVERT is coded as HNWGUX. How will FARMER be written in that language?

(a) EASOVH
(b) EBSOHV
(c) EASOHV
(d) EASPHV

Solution: Option – (c)
Following the same sequence as followed in INVERT: -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4

Q18. Four words have been given, out of which three are alike in some manner, while one is different. Select the odd word.

a) Toad
b) Crocodile
c) Fish
d) Frog

Solution: Option – (c) Except for fish, all others live in water and land.

Q19. The sequence of folding a piece of paper and how the folded paper has been cut is shown in the following figures. How would this paper look when unfolded?

Solution: Option – (c)

Q20. The ratio of the present ages of Samdish and Manoj is 7 : 8. If the difference between their ages is 8 years, what will be Samdish’s age after 7 years?

a) 56
b) 64
c) 71
d) 57

Solution: Option – (c)
Samdish’s age : Manoj’s age = 7 : 8
Since difference between their ages is 8 years, so multiplying both the numbers by 8, we get –

7 x 8 = 56
8 x 8 = 64

Therefore, Samdish’s age after 7 years: 64 + 7 = 71 years.

Q21. In the following equations, if ‘+’ is interchanged with ‘-‘ and ‘4’ is interchanged with ‘5’, which equation would be correct?

(a) 46 + 57 – 45 = 78
(b) 78 – 38 + 54 = 98
c) 56 – 47 + 37 = 66
d) 45 + 76 – 78 = 54

Solution: Option – (c); 46 + 57 – 37 = 66

(a); 56 – 47 + 54 = 63

(b); 78 + 38 – 45 = 71

(d); 54 – 76 + 78 = 56

Q22. How many triangles are there in the given figure?

a) 22
b) 34
c) 23
d) 24

Solution: Option – (d)

Q23. Select the option that is related to the third word in the same way as the second word is related to the first word:

Cow : Cowshed :: Lion : ?

a) Ocean
b) Non-vegetarian
c) Forest
d) Hunt

Solution: Option – (c); Cowshed is where cattle are kept. Similarly, the forest is home to lions.

Q24. Select the letter cluster that can replace the question (?) in the following series:

BGE, DNJ, GTM, HWO, ?

a) CHF
b) HRJ
c) GVP
d) DML

Solution: Option – (b); BGE – B(2) + E(5) = G(7)…. and so on. Therefore, HRJ – H(8) + J(10) = R(18)

Q25. Select the figure that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series: 

Solution: Option – (d)