SSC CGL 26 September 2025 · Shift 3 · General Intelligence & Reasoning — questions with answers · ShikshaSphere
Chapter 177 of 192
26 September 2025 · Shift 3
General Intelligence & Reasoning
25 questions ~25 min readFree
25 questions
A
1
A Mumbai event was on 5th October and the Delhi event on 15th October. The Bengaluru event date is a perfect cube lying between them. What is the date?
A.1st October
B.8th October
C.14th October
D.9th October
Solution
Perfect cube date
The date must lie strictly between 5 and 15.
The perfect cubes are 1, 8, 27, …
Of these only 8 falls between 5 and 15.
= 8 October — option (b).
2
Choose the address that is exactly the same as the one given below.
House No. 25, Block B, MG Road, Pune - 411001
A.House No. 25, Block B, MG Road, Pune - 411001
B.House No. 25, Block B, MG Road, Pooné - 411001
C.House No. 26, Block B, MG Road, Pune - 411001
D.House No. 25, Block B, MG Rod, Pune - 511001
Solution
Address matching
(b) misspells Pune and (c) changes the house number to 26.
(d) writes MG Rod and changes the PIN to 511001.
Only (a) matches the sample exactly.
Hence option (a).
3
Select the missing number from the given series.
144, 169, 196, 225, ?
A.256
B.361
C.484
D.384
Solution
Consecutive squares
These are the squares of consecutive numbers.
12² = 144, 13² = 169, 14² = 196, 15² = 225 ✓.
The next is 16².
= 256 — option (a).
4
If 10 @ 3 = 13, 5 @ 3 = 8 and 8 @ 2 = 10, then 6 @ 5 = ?
A.11
B.10
C.13
D.12
Solution
Sum of the two numbers
Rule: a @ b = a + b.
Check: 10 + 3 = 13 ✓, 5 + 3 = 8 ✓ and 8 + 2 = 10 ✓.
6 + 5.
= 11 — option (a).
5
If I = 19, J = 21 and K = 23, then N = ?
A.23
B.29
C.25
D.27
Solution
Odd number code
The values rise by 2 as the letters advance by one.
I = 19, J = 21, K = 23, so L = 25 and M = 27.
N comes next.
= 29 — option (b).
6
Which roll number is a perfect cube?
A.343
B.144
C.169
D.324
Solution
Perfect cube
343 = 7 × 7 × 7 = 7³ ✓.
144 = 12², 169 = 13² and 324 = 18² — all perfect SQUARES.
None of those three is a cube.
Hence option (a).
7
Which one is not like the others?
A.Rose
B.Tulip
C.Lily
D.Car
Solution
Flowers vs vehicle
Rose, tulip and lily are all FLOWERS.
A car is a vehicle.
So it belongs to a different category.
Hence option (d).
8
By rearranging the letters of 'ADEGINR' we get a meaningful English word of seven letters. Each letter is denoted by a different number as shown below.
1 → A, 2 → D, 3 → E, 4 → G, 5 → I, 6 → N, 7 → R
The combination of numbers for the meaningful word is ____.
A.5412367
B.3245671
C.7312564
D.5267413
Solution
Letter-number code
Decode option (c): 7→R, 3→E, 1→A, 2→D, 5→I, 6→N, 4→G.
That spells READING, a meaningful word ✓.
The other combinations give IGADENR, EDGINRA and IDNGAEC — none is a word.
Hence option (c).
9
Solve:
FM : HP :: BG : ?
A.CJ
B.FK
C.KP
D.DJ
Solution
Letter pairs (+2)
Compare FM with HP: F+2 = H and M+3 = P.
So the first letter moves +2 and the second +3.
Apply to BG: B+2 = D and G+3 = J.
Hence DJ — option (d).
Read the following statement carefully and identify the action that follows.Statement: A school is facing frequent cases of student absenteeism.
Courses of Action:
I. Hire a counsellor to understand the reasons.
II. Expel all students with absences.
A.Only I follows
B.Only II follows
C.Both follow
D.Neither follows
Solution
Course of action
A sound course of action addresses the cause rather than punishing everyone.
A counsellor can find out why students stay away — I follows.
Expelling every absent student is extreme and would defeat the school’s purpose — II does not follow.
Only I — option (a).
12
Eight companies — Tata, IBM, Netflix, Swiggy, Microsoft, Wipro, TCS and Zomato — occupy different floors of an 8-storey building. The bottom floor is numbered 1 and the top floor 8.
At least two companies have offices above Swiggy. Neither Netflix nor Microsoft is adjacent to Wipro. Swiggy is two floors above Zomato. Tata is on an even-numbered floor. Wipro is on the 7th floor and is not adjacent to Tata. TCS is neither on an even-numbered floor nor on a prime-numbered floor. There is one floor between Netflix and Microsoft.
How many floors are above the office of Microsoft?
A.Cannot be determined
B.Two
C.Three
D.Five
Solution
Floor puzzle
TCS avoids even floors and prime floors, and among 1 to 8 only floor 1 is left, so TCS = 1.
Wipro is on 7, so Tata cannot be on 6 or 8; Tata must be on an even floor, giving Tata = 2. Zomato and Swiggy sit two apart with at least two floors above Swiggy, which fixes Zomato = 4 and Swiggy = 6, leaving 8 for IBM.
Netflix and Microsoft take floors 3 and 5, one floor apart ✓, and neither is next to Wipro on 7 ✓ — but WHICH of them sits on 3 and which on 5 is never settled.
So the count above Microsoft cannot be fixed — option (a).
13
Read the following statements carefully and identify the conclusion that follows.Statements:
Some books are pens.
No pen is a pencil.
Conclusions:
I. Some books are not pencils.
II. All pencils are pens.
A.Only I follows
B.Only II follows
C.Both I and II follow
D.Neither I nor II follows
Solution
Syllogism
Some books are pens, and no pen is a pencil.
So those particular books cannot be pencils — I follows.
"No pen is a pencil" keeps the two apart; it can never make pencils a part of pens — II is false.
Only I — option (a).
14
Read the following statements carefully and identify the conclusion that follows.Statements:
All teachers are readers.
Some readers are learners.
All learners are students.
Conclusions:
I. Some teachers are students.
II. Some readers are students.
A.Only II follows
B.Only I follows
C.Both I and II follow
D.Neither I nor II follows
Solution
Syllogism
Some readers are learners, and every learner is a student, so those readers are students — II follows.
Teachers lie inside readers, but need not be among the readers who are learners.
So nothing links teachers to students — I does not follow.
Only II — option (a).
15
Find the odd one out.
Sparrow, Eagle, Penguin, Parrot
A.Sparrow
B.Eagle
C.Penguin
D.Parrot
Solution
Flightless bird
The sparrow, the eagle and the parrot can all FLY.
The penguin is a bird but cannot fly; it uses its wings to swim.
So it stands apart from the rest.
Hence option (c).
16
What is the next number in the series?
3, 9, 27, 81, ____
A.255
B.250
C.243
D.190
Solution
Powers of 3
Each term is three times the previous one.
3 × 3 = 9, 9 × 3 = 27, 27 × 3 = 81 ✓.
81 × 3.
= 243 — option (c).
17
What comes next in the series?
M, N, P, S, W, B, ?
A.J
B.Z
C.I
D.H
Solution
Rising letter gaps
Positions: M(13), N(14), P(16), S(19), W(23), B(28 → 2) — the gaps are +1, +2, +3, +4, +5.
So the next gap is +6.
2 + 6 = 8.
The 8th letter is H — option (d).
18
In a code language STOOL becomes RSPNK. What is the code for CHAIR?
A.BGBHQ
B.BHBGQ
C.BGBQH
D.BGQHB
Solution
Coding (−1)
Compare STOOL with RSPNK: S−1 = R, T−1 = S, O+1 = P, O−1 = N, L−1 = K.
So the shifts by position are −1, −1, +1, −1, −1.
Apply to CHAIR: C−1 = B, H−1 = G, A+1 = B, I−1 = H, R−1 = Q.
Hence BGBHQ — option (a).
19
Which option comes next in the following series?
OK, NJ, MI, ?
A.LH
B.KH
C.JG
D.GF
Solution
Letter pairs (−1, −1)
1st letters: O, N, M — each −1 ⇒ next is L.
2nd letters: K, J, I — each −1 ⇒ next is H.
So the pair is L and H.
Hence LH — option (a).
20
If SUN is coded as 192114, what is the code for FUN?
A.62114
B.62115
C.62117
D.62118
Solution
Letter positions
Each letter is replaced by its place in the alphabet: S = 19, U = 21, N = 14 ✓.
F is the 6th letter.
U = 21 and N = 14 as before.
Hence 6-21-14 = 62114 — option (a).
21
Complete the series.
12, 24, 22, 44, 42, ?
A.84
B.80
C.85
D.82
Solution
Alternating ×2 and −2
The rule alternates × 2 and − 2.
12 × 2 = 24, 24 − 2 = 22, 22 × 2 = 44, 44 − 2 = 42 ✓.
The next step is × 2.
42 × 2 = 84 — option (a).
22
A school bus driver regularly overloads the bus with students, putting their safety at risk. What should you prioritise as a responsible transport officer?
A.Ignore the issue since no accident has happened yet
B.Wait for a written complaint from parents
C.Secretly take photos and spread them online
D.Take immediate action and enforce safety rules strictly
Solution
Ethical judgement
Children’s safety is the officer’s direct responsibility and cannot wait for an accident.
Enforcing the rules at once is the only proper course.
Waiting for a complaint or posting photos online would neither stop the danger nor be proper conduct.
Hence option (d).
23
A man buys 4 books and 5 pens for ₹80. If a book costs ₹10, what is the cost of a pen?
A.₹8
B.₹10
C.₹6
D.₹5
Solution
Simple equation
Cost of 4 books = 4 × 10 = ₹40.
So the 5 pens cost 80 − 40 = ₹40.
One pen = .
= ₹8 — option (a).
24
If CANDLE is coded as EDRIRL, how is FRIEND written in that code?
A.HUMKTJ
B.HUMJTK
C.HJKMUT
D.HUKMTJ
Solution
Rising letter shifts
Compare CANDLE with EDRIRL: C+2 = E, A+3 = D, N+4 = R, D+5 = I, L+6 = R, E+7 = L.
So the shifts rise by one at each position: +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7.
Apply to FRIEND: F+2 = H, R+3 = U, I+4 = M, E+5 = J, N+6 = T, D+7 = K.
Hence HUMJTK — option (b).
25
Study the following series and answer the question.
T % ^ L R Q 1 0 7 S 0 & 2 9 D H X B 4 * @ Y ? G
What is the fourth element to the left of the 6th element from the right end?
A.X
B.D
C.H
D.9
Solution
Alphanumeric series
Count from the right: G(1), ?(2), Y(3), @(4), *(5), 4(6).
So the 6th element from the right is 4.
Now count four places to the LEFT of 4: B(1), X(2), H(3), D(4).
= D — option (b).
Finished reading? Now test yourself.
The same 25 questions, but with a timer and the answers hidden — 15 minutes.
The date must lie strictly between 5 and 15.
The perfect cubes are 1, 8, 27, …
Of these only 8 falls between 5 and 15.
= 8 October — option (b).
These are the squares of consecutive numbers.
12² = 144, 13² = 169, 14² = 196, 15² = 225 ✓.
The next is 16².
= 256 — option (a).
Rule: a @ b = a + b.
Check: 10 + 3 = 13 ✓, 5 + 3 = 8 ✓ and 8 + 2 = 10 ✓.
6 + 5.
= 11 — option (a).
The values rise by 2 as the letters advance by one.
I = 19, J = 21, K = 23, so L = 25 and M = 27.
N comes next.
= 29 — option (b).
343 = 7 × 7 × 7 = 7³ ✓.
144 = 12², 169 = 13² and 324 = 18² — all perfect SQUARES.
None of those three is a cube.
Hence option (a).
Rose, tulip and lily are all FLOWERS.
A car is a vehicle.
So it belongs to a different category.
Hence option (d).
Decode option (c): 7→R, 3→E, 1→A, 2→D, 5→I, 6→N, 4→G.
That spells READING, a meaningful word ✓.
The other combinations give IGADENR, EDGINRA and IDNGAEC — none is a word.
Hence option (c).
Compare FM with HP: F+2 = H and M+3 = P.
So the first letter moves +2 and the second +3.
Apply to BG: B+2 = D and G+3 = J.
Hence DJ — option (d).
Rule: double the number and add 1.
Check: 11 × 2 + 1 = 23 ✓.
13 × 2 + 1 = 26 + 1.
= 27 — option (d).
TCS avoids even floors and prime floors, and among 1 to 8 only floor 1 is left, so TCS = 1.
Wipro is on 7, so Tata cannot be on 6 or 8; Tata must be on an even floor, giving Tata = 2. Zomato and Swiggy sit two apart with at least two floors above Swiggy, which fixes Zomato = 4 and Swiggy = 6, leaving 8 for IBM.
Netflix and Microsoft take floors 3 and 5, one floor apart ✓, and neither is next to Wipro on 7 ✓ — but WHICH of them sits on 3 and which on 5 is never settled.
So the count above Microsoft cannot be fixed — option (a).
Some books are pens, and no pen is a pencil.
So those particular books cannot be pencils — I follows.
"No pen is a pencil" keeps the two apart; it can never make pencils a part of pens — II is false.
Only I — option (a).
Some readers are learners, and every learner is a student, so those readers are students — II follows.
Teachers lie inside readers, but need not be among the readers who are learners.
So nothing links teachers to students — I does not follow.
Only II — option (a).
The sparrow, the eagle and the parrot can all FLY.
The penguin is a bird but cannot fly; it uses its wings to swim.
So it stands apart from the rest.
Hence option (c).
Each term is three times the previous one.
3 × 3 = 9, 9 × 3 = 27, 27 × 3 = 81 ✓.
81 × 3.
= 243 — option (c).
Positions: M(13), N(14), P(16), S(19), W(23), B(28 → 2) — the gaps are +1, +2, +3, +4, +5.
So the next gap is +6.
2 + 6 = 8.
The 8th letter is H — option (d).
Compare STOOL with RSPNK: S−1 = R, T−1 = S, O+1 = P, O−1 = N, L−1 = K.
So the shifts by position are −1, −1, +1, −1, −1.
Apply to CHAIR: C−1 = B, H−1 = G, A+1 = B, I−1 = H, R−1 = Q.
Hence BGBHQ — option (a).
1st letters: O, N, M — each −1 ⇒ next is L.
2nd letters: K, J, I — each −1 ⇒ next is H.
So the pair is L and H.
Hence LH — option (a).
Each letter is replaced by its place in the alphabet: S = 19, U = 21, N = 14 ✓.
F is the 6th letter.
U = 21 and N = 14 as before.
Hence 6-21-14 = 62114 — option (a).
The rule alternates × 2 and − 2.
12 × 2 = 24, 24 − 2 = 22, 22 × 2 = 44, 44 − 2 = 42 ✓.
The next step is × 2.
42 × 2 = 84 — option (a).
Cost of 4 books = 4 × 10 = ₹40.
So the 5 pens cost 80 − 40 = ₹40.
One pen = .
= ₹8 — option (a).
Compare CANDLE with EDRIRL: C+2 = E, A+3 = D, N+4 = R, D+5 = I, L+6 = R, E+7 = L.
So the shifts rise by one at each position: +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7.
Apply to FRIEND: F+2 = H, R+3 = U, I+4 = M, E+5 = J, N+6 = T, D+7 = K.
Hence HUMJTK — option (b).
Count from the right: G(1), ?(2), Y(3), @(4), *(5), 4(6).
So the 6th element from the right is 4.
Now count four places to the LEFT of 4: B(1), X(2), H(3), D(4).
= D — option (b).