2013 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2013 · CSAT

Question 45: Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability

In each item, there are two sets of figures; first four figures named Problem figures and next four figures named Answer figures indicated as (a), (b), (c) and (d). The problem figures follow a particular sequence. In accordance with the same, which one of the four answer figures should appear as the fifth figure ?

a row of four Problem figures, each a triangle with an arrow inside and a circle with a plus sign at different corners, and below it a row of four Answer figures (a) to (d) of the same kind
apicture (a)
bpicture (b)
cpicture (c)
dpicture (d)

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Follow the arrow and the circle separately. The arrow alternates direction: down, up, down, up, so stage five has it pointing down. The circle sits on one corner of the triangle and moves to the next corner at each stage (top, bottom-right, bottom-left, then top again), so the cycle repeats and stage five has the circle on the bottom-right corner, as in stage two. The answer figure with the circle at the bottom-right and the arrow down is (c).

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. The circle position fits, but the arrow points up; stage five needs it down.
  • (b) Wrong. The circle is on the top corner, the stage-one position, not bottom-right.
  • (c) Right. Circle at the bottom-right and arrow pointing down.
  • (d) Wrong. The arrow is down, but the circle is on a different corner.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.