UPSC Prelims 2005 Q93: Science & Technology – Logical Reasoning & Puzzles
Which College is situated in Inder’s hometown?
- (a) Commerce
- (b) Medical
- (c) Economics
- (d) Commerce or Medical
Answer: (d) Commerce or Medical
Explanation
Logic puzzle: college in Inder's hometown
| Clue | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Fixed colleges | Engineering in Ernakulam (vii), Economics in Bhopal (iii), History in Ahmedabad (vi) |
| Left colleges | Commerce and Medical for Cuttack and Delhi |
| Inder's hometown | Cuttack (iv), so its college is Commerce or Medical |
Five boys Gopal, Harsh, Inder, Jai and Krishnan have Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Cuttack, Delhi and Ernakulam as hometowns and study in Engineering, Medical, Commerce, Economics and History colleges, each in one of these cities but never in his own hometown. Inder's hometown is Cuttack. Engineering, Economics and History are placed in Ernakulam, Bhopal and Ahmedabad, so Cuttack holds either Commerce or Medical, and the clues do not decide between them.
Answer: (d) Commerce or Medical.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Commerce alone cannot be fixed by the clues.
- (b) Incorrect. Medical alone cannot be fixed by the clues.
- (c) Incorrect. Economics is in Bhopal, not Cuttack.
- (d) CORRECT. Cuttack has the Commerce or the Medical college.
Key point
Place the three fixed colleges first; two cities and two colleges remain.
Remember
Inder's hometown Cuttack has the Commerce or the Medical college.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Economics since a clue names it.
- Forcing a single answer where the data leave two.
- Forgetting that Engineering and History are already placed.
Exam tip
When two options remain, the either-or choice is the answer.
Sources
- R. S. Aggarwal — A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning (Puzzle Test)
- Arun Sharma — How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT (arrangement and matching puzzles)