Puzzles & Arrangements MCQs for UPSC Prelims

Consider the given information and answer the three items that follow. Six boxes A, B, C, D, E and F have been painted with six different colours viz., violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow and orange and arranged from left to right (not necessarily either kept or painted with the colours in the same order). Each box contains a ball of any one of the following six games: cricket, hockey, tennis, golf, football and volleyball (not necessarily in the same order). The golf ball is in violet box and is not in the box D. The box A which contains tennis ball is orange in colour and is at the extreme right. The hockey ball is neither in box D nor in box E. The box C having cricket ball is painted green. The hockey ball is neither in the box painted blue nor in the box painted yellow. The box C is fifth from right and next to box B. The box B contains volleyball. The box containing the hockey ball is between the boxes containing golf ball and volleyball. Which one of the following boxes contains the golf ball?

1. A F
2. B E
3. C D
4. D None of the above

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows: A tennis coach is trying to put together a team of four players for the forthcoming tournament. For this, 7 players are available: males A, B and C; and females W, X, Y and Z. All players have equal capability and at least 2 males will be there in the team. For a team of four, all players must be able to play with each other. But, B cannot play with W, C cannot play with Z and W cannot play with Y. If Y is selected and B is rejected, the team will consist of which one of the following groups?

1. A A, C, W and Y
2. B A, C, X and Y
3. C A, C, Y and Z
4. D A, W, Y and Z

Directions: A, B, C, D, E, F and G are Lecturers from different cities - Hyderabad, Delhi, Shillong, Kanpur, Chennai, Mumbai and Srinagar (not necessarily in the same order) who participated in a conference. Each one of them is specialized in a different subject, viz., Economics, Commerce, History, Sociology, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics (not necessarily in the same order). Further: 1. Lecturer from Kanpur is specialized in Geography. 2. Lecturer D is from Shillong. 3. Lecturer C from Delhi is specialized in Sociology. 4. Lecturer B is specialized in neither History nor Mathematics. 5. Lecturer A who is specialized in Economics does not belong to Hyderabad. 6. Lecturer F who is specialized in Commerce belongs to Srinagar. 7. Lecturer G who is specialized in Statistics belongs to Chennai. Who of the following belongs to Hyderabad? (a) B (b) E (c) Neither B nor E (d) Cannot be determined as data are inadequate

1. A B
2. B E
3. C Neither B nor E
4. D Cannot be determined as data are inadequate

The letters A, B, C, D and E are arranged in such a way that there are exactly two letters between A and E. How many such arrangements are possible?

1. A 12
2. B 18
3. C 24
4. D 36

Directions: A, B, C, D, E, F and G are Lecturers from different cities - Hyderabad, Delhi, Shillong, Kanpur, Chennai, Mumbai and Srinagar (not necessarily in the same order) who participated in a conference. Each one of them is specialized in a different subject, viz., Economics, Commerce, History, Sociology, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics (not necessarily in the same order). Further: 1. Lecturer from Kanpur is specialized in Geography. 2. Lecturer D is from Shillong. 3. Lecturer C from Delhi is specialized in Sociology. 4. Lecturer B is specialized in neither History nor Mathematics. 5. Lecturer A who is specialized in Economics does not belong to Hyderabad. 6. Lecturer F who is specialized in Commerce belongs to Srinagar. 7. Lecturer G who is specialized in Statistics belongs to Chennai. Who is specialized in Geography? (a) B (b) D (c) E (d) Cannot be determined as data are inadequate

1. A B
2. B D
3. C E
4. D Cannot be determined as data are inadequate

Eight students A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H sit around a circular table, equidistant from each other, facing the centre of the table, not necessarily in the same order. B and D sit neither adjacent to C nor opposite to C. A sits in between E and D, and F sits in between B and H. Which one of the following is definitely correct?

1. A B sits in between A and G
2. B C sits opposite to G
3. C E sits opposite to F
4. D None of the above

Examine the information given in the following paragraph and answer the item that follows: Guest lectures on five subjects, viz., Economics, History, Statistics, English and Mathematics have to be arranged in a week from Monday to Friday. Only one lecture can be arranged on each day. Economics cannot be scheduled on Tuesday. Guest faculty for History is available only on Tuesday. Mathematics lecture has to be scheduled immediately after the day of Economics lecture. English lecture has to be scheduled immediately before the day of Economics lecture. Question: Which lecture is scheduled between Statistics and English?

1. A Economics
2. B History
3. C Mathematics
4. D No lecture

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows: A tennis coach is trying to put together a team of four players for the forthcoming tournament. For this, 7 players are available: males A, B and C; and females W, X, Y and Z. All players have equal capability and at least 2 males will be there in the team. For a team of four, all players must be able to play with each other. But, B cannot play with W, C cannot play with Z and W cannot play with Y. If B is selected and Y is rejected, the team will consist of which one of the following groups?

1. A A, B, C and W
2. B A, B, C and Z
3. C A, B, C and X
4. D A, W, Y and Z