SSC CGL 12 September 2025 · Shift 3 · General Intelligence & Reasoning — questions with answers · ShikshaSphere
Chapter 9 of 192
12 September 2025 · Shift 3
General Intelligence & Reasoning
25 questions ~25 min readFree
25 questions
A
1
Select the letter-cluster from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.
EIM, IMQ, MQU, QUY, ?
A.UYC
B.UKC
C.UYX
D.DJS
Solution
Letter series (+4 each)
Each term starts with the 2nd letter of the previous one, and every letter is +4 (cyclic).
After QUY: Q+4 = U, U+4 = Y, Y+4 = C.
So the next cluster is UYC — option (a).
2
Select the letter-cluster from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.
EIM, IOU, MUC, QAK, ?
A.QGS
B.UHS
C.UGS
D.UGD
Solution
Letter series (+4, +6, +8)
1st letters: E, I, M, Q → U (+4).
2nd letters: I, O, U, A → G (+6, cyclic); 3rd letters: M, U, C, K → S (+8, cyclic).
So the next cluster is UGS — option (c).
3
What comes next:
30, 56, 90, 132, 182, ?
A.240
B.241
C.139
D.293
Solution
Series n(n+1)
The terms are products of consecutive numbers: 5×6, 7×8, 9×10, 11×12, 13×14.
The next pair is 15×16.
15 × 16 = 240 — option (a).
4
What will come at the place of the question mark?
1, 2, 5, ?, 677, 458330
A.26
B.25
C.27
D.24
Solution
Series a²+1
Each term = (previous term)² + 1.
1²+1 = 2, 2²+1 = 5, 5²+1 = 26, 26²+1 = 677, 677²+1 = 458330 ✓.
The missing term is 26 — option (a).
5
Find the number that fits:
5, 10, 17, 26, ?
A.37
B.35
C.36
D.38
Solution
Series n²+1
The terms are n² + 1: 2²+1, 3²+1, 4²+1, 5²+1.
The next term is 6² + 1.
= 37 — option (a).
6
Identify the assumptions that must hold for the statement to be valid, then choose the correct option.Statement: "For the development of smart cities, it is important that equal emphasis be placed on citizen engagement and community empowerment, alongside technological innovations."
Assumptions:
I. Technological innovations alone are not sufficient for a successful smart city.
II. Citizen engagement creates unnecessary complexity for smart cities.
III. Community empowerment contributes to the long-term success of smart cities.
A.Only I and II are implicit
B.Only II and III are implicit
C.Only I and III are implicit
D.All are implicit
Solution
Statement — assumptions
Demanding "equal emphasis" beyond technology assumes technology alone is not enough — I is implicit.
Stressing community empowerment assumes it helps long-term success — III is implicit; II contradicts the statement.
Hence only I and III — option (c).
7
The position of how many letters will remain unchanged if each of the letters in the word FRIENDS is arranged in alphabetical order?
A.Two
B.Four
C.Three
D.Five
Solution
Alphabetical arrangement — FRIENDS
FRIENDS = F, R, I, E, N, D, S; alphabetical order = D, E, F, I, N, R, S.
Compare position by position: only N (5th) and S (7th) stay in the same place.
Hence Two — option (a).
8
Identify the similar address:
No. 35, First Avenue, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 101001
B.No. 35, First Avenue, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 101001
C.35, First Avenue, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 101011
D.No. 35/1, First Avenue, R. Annamalaipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 100101
Solution
Address matching
Options (a), (c) and (d) change the abbreviations, house number or PIN code.
Option (b) matches the given address word-for-word, including PIN 101001.
Hence option (b).
9
From the given options, find the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word:
CONCENTRATION
A.CANCEL
B.RATION
C.TRAIN
D.NATION
Solution
Word formation — CONCENTRATION
CONCENTRATION contains C, O, N, E, T, R, A, I — but no letter L.
CANCEL needs an L, so it cannot be formed.
RATION, TRAIN and NATION can all be formed — option (a).
10
Eight persons P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are sitting around a circle facing the center. R is second to the right of P. T is opposite R. U is to the immediate left of T. Q is to the immediate right of P. V is to the immediate left of S. Who is sitting to the right of S?
A.W
B.P
C.Q
D.U
Solution
Circular seating
Fix P; going right (anticlockwise, facing centre): Q is next to P, R is 2nd right; T sits opposite R with U on its immediate left.
Placing V immediately left of S in the two remaining adjacent seats puts S beside U, with W in the last seat.
The person to the immediate right of S is U — option (d).
11
In each of the following questions, a specific alphabetic coding pattern has been applied to the first word to form the second word. Identify the same coding logic and apply it to the third word to determine the correct answer from the given options.
FRXQWUB : IUATZXE :: FYBNJOF : ?
A.IAEQMRH
B.IBEQMRI
C.IBEQLMI
D.IBEDVWB
Solution
Coding (+3 each)
FRXQWUB → IUATZXE: every letter moves +3 (F+3 = I, R+3 = U, X+3 = A …).
Apply +3 to FYBNJOF: F→I, Y→B, B→E, N→Q, J→M, O→R, F→I.
Hence IBEQMRI — option (b).
12
In each of the following questions, the second word is formed by rearranging the letters of the first word using a specific transformation, such as reversal or block shifting. Identify that transformation and apply it to the third word to choose the correct option.
MITBAT : BATTIM :: TENKOP : ?
A.KOPTEN
B.KOPNEP
C.KOPNEM
D.KOPNET
Solution
Block shifting
MITBAT → BATTIM: the second half (BAT) comes first, followed by the first half reversed (MIT → TIM).
TENKOP: second half KOP first, then first half TEN reversed = NET.
Hence KOPNET — option (d).
13
In each of the following questions, a group of three numbers/symbols is given in each option. Identify the group that does NOT follow the same pattern as the others.
A.X2# : W3@ : V4$
B.Z5% : Y6^ : X7&
C.W1* : V2( : U3)
D.T10 : S9@ : R8$
Solution
Odd group — pattern break
In (a), (b) and (c): the letters move one step back while the numbers increase by 1.
In (d) the letters move back but the numbers DECREASE (10, 9, 8), and the first member has no symbol.
Hence option (d) breaks the pattern.
14
In a certain coding system:
'swift move build skill' is coded as 'trq, xnz, hmd, clv'
'move quick swift' is coded as 'trq, jkp, xnz'
'hope quick build swift' is coded as 'xnj, clv, jkp, trq'
Question: What is the code for 'build skill quick hope'?
A.clv, hmd, jkp, xnj
B.clv, xnj, jkp, trq
C.hmd, xnz, jkp, xnj
D.hmd, clv, xnj, xnz
Solution
Word–code mapping
Common to all three sentences: swift = trq. From sentences 1 & 2: move = xnz; from 2 & 3: quick = jkp; from 1 & 3: build = clv.
So in sentence 1, skill = hmd, and in sentence 3, hope = xnj.
'build skill quick hope' = clv, hmd, jkp, xnj — option (a).
15
If x + 4y = 16 and x − y = 9, find x.
A.10.35
B.10
C.10.25
D.10.4
Solution
Linear equations
Subtracting the equations: (x + 4y) − (x − y) = 16 − 9 ⇒ 5y = 7.
y = 1.4.
x = 9 + y = 10.4 — option (d).
16
If 5$3 = 23 and 5$4 = 29, then 6$3 = ?
A.26
B.27
C.28
D.25
Solution
Number puzzle (ab + a + b)
The rule is a$b = a × b + (a + b).
Check: 15 + 8 = 23 ✓ and 20 + 9 = 29 ✓.
So 6$3 = 18 + 9 = 27 — option (b).
17
If 'GAVE' is coded as '★ 4 # 6', and 'VAGE' as '# 4 ★ 6', then what is the code for 'EVAG'?
A.6 ★ 4 #
B.★ 6 # 7
C.★ 6 # 4
D.6 # 4 ★
Solution
Symbol coding
Comparing the two codes letter-wise: G = ★, A = 4, V = #, E = 6.
Spell EVAG with these symbols: E = 6, V = #, A = 4, G = ★.
Code = 6 # 4 ★ — option (d).
18
If the ratio of two numbers is 4 : 6 and their sum is 90, find the numbers.
A.36, 54
B.35, 53
C.37, 55
D.32, 48
Solution
Ratio — dividing a sum
Total parts = 4 + 6 = 10; 10 parts = 90 ⇒ 1 part = 9.
Numbers = 4 × 9 = 36 and 6 × 9 = 54.
Hence option (a).
19
If 6 @ 4 = 40 and 5 @ 3 = 28, then what is 7 @ 5?
A.54
B.62
C.64
D.76
Solution
Number puzzle (a² + b)
The rule is a @ b = a² + b.
Check: 36 + 4 = 40 ✓ and 25 + 3 = 28 ✓.
So 7 @ 5 = 49 + 5 = 54 — option (a).
20
Pointing to a boy, a woman said, "He is the son of my father's only brother." How is the boy related to the woman?
A.Son
B.Nephew
C.Brother
D.Cousin
Solution
Blood relation
The woman's father's only brother is her paternal uncle (chacha).
The boy is that uncle’s son.
An uncle's son is one's cousin — option (d).
21
If T is the maternal uncle of U, how is U related to T's sister?
A.Niece/Nephew
B.Cousin
C.Son/Daughter
D.Uncle
Solution
Blood relation
T is the maternal uncle of U, so U is the child of T’s sister.
Therefore, to T's sister, U is her own child.
Hence Son/Daughter — option (c).
22
After interchanging + & × and 6 & 10, which of the following equations will hold true?
A.(3 + 6) × 10 = 36
B.(10 + 2) × 6 = 10
C.(6 + 7) × 10 = 60
D.(10 + 1) × 6 = 24
Solution
Interchange check
Apply the interchanges: + becomes ×, × becomes +, 6 becomes 10 and 10 becomes 6.
Option (a): (3 + 6) × 10 → (3 × 10) + 6 = 30 + 6 = 36 ✓.
The other options do not balance — hence option (a).
23
If x % y = 74, where x % y = x + 2y, what is the value of x and y?
A.50, 10
B.54, 10
C.32, 20
D.54, 20
Solution
Defined operation
We need x + 2y = 74.
Test option (b): 54 + 2 × 10 = 54 + 20 = 74 ✓.
The other pairs do not satisfy it — option (b).
Each term starts with the 2nd letter of the previous one, and every letter is +4 (cyclic).
After QUY: Q+4 = U, U+4 = Y, Y+4 = C.
So the next cluster is UYC — option (a).
1st letters: E, I, M, Q → U (+4).
2nd letters: I, O, U, A → G (+6, cyclic); 3rd letters: M, U, C, K → S (+8, cyclic).
So the next cluster is UGS — option (c).
The terms are products of consecutive numbers: 5×6, 7×8, 9×10, 11×12, 13×14.
The next pair is 15×16.
15 × 16 = 240 — option (a).
Each term = (previous term)² + 1.
1²+1 = 2, 2²+1 = 5, 5²+1 = 26, 26²+1 = 677, 677²+1 = 458330 ✓.
The missing term is 26 — option (a).
The terms are n² + 1: 2²+1, 3²+1, 4²+1, 5²+1.
The next term is 6² + 1.
= 37 — option (a).
FRIENDS = F, R, I, E, N, D, S; alphabetical order = D, E, F, I, N, R, S.
Compare position by position: only N (5th) and S (7th) stay in the same place.
Hence Two — option (a).
Fix P; going right (anticlockwise, facing centre): Q is next to P, R is 2nd right; T sits opposite R with U on its immediate left.
Placing V immediately left of S in the two remaining adjacent seats puts S beside U, with W in the last seat.
The person to the immediate right of S is U — option (d).
FRXQWUB → IUATZXE: every letter moves +3 (F+3 = I, R+3 = U, X+3 = A …).
Apply +3 to FYBNJOF: F→I, Y→B, B→E, N→Q, J→M, O→R, F→I.
Hence IBEQMRI — option (b).
MITBAT → BATTIM: the second half (BAT) comes first, followed by the first half reversed (MIT → TIM).
TENKOP: second half KOP first, then first half TEN reversed = NET.
Hence KOPNET — option (d).
In (a), (b) and (c): the letters move one step back while the numbers increase by 1.
In (d) the letters move back but the numbers DECREASE (10, 9, 8), and the first member has no symbol.
Hence option (d) breaks the pattern.
Common to all three sentences: swift = trq. From sentences 1 & 2: move = xnz; from 2 & 3: quick = jkp; from 1 & 3: build = clv.
So in sentence 1, skill = hmd, and in sentence 3, hope = xnj.
'build skill quick hope' = clv, hmd, jkp, xnj — option (a).
The rule is a$b = a × b + (a + b).
Check: 15 + 8 = 23 ✓ and 20 + 9 = 29 ✓.
So 6$3 = 18 + 9 = 27 — option (b).
Comparing the two codes letter-wise: G = ★, A = 4, V = #, E = 6.
Spell EVAG with these symbols: E = 6, V = #, A = 4, G = ★.
Code = 6 # 4 ★ — option (d).
Total parts = 4 + 6 = 10; 10 parts = 90 ⇒ 1 part = 9.
Numbers = 4 × 9 = 36 and 6 × 9 = 54.
Hence option (a).
The rule is a @ b = a² + b.
Check: 36 + 4 = 40 ✓ and 25 + 3 = 28 ✓.
So 7 @ 5 = 49 + 5 = 54 — option (a).
The woman's father's only brother is her paternal uncle (chacha).
The boy is that uncle’s son.
An uncle's son is one's cousin — option (d).
T is the maternal uncle of U, so U is the child of T’s sister.
Therefore, to T's sister, U is her own child.
Hence Son/Daughter — option (c).
Number of matches = number of ways to choose 2 players from 9.
= .
= 36 — option (a).