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UPSC CSE CSAT 2016 · Paper II (CSAT) · Question 12 · Puzzles, arrangements & general mental ability

पांच लोग A, B, C, D और E, एक गोल मेज के चारों ओर बैठे हुए हैं। प्रत्येक कुर्सी निकटवर्ती कुर्सियों…

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Question 12 — Puzzles, arrangements & general mental ability.

पांच लोग A, B, C, D और E, एक गोल मेज के चारों ओर बैठे हुए हैं। प्रत्येक कुर्सी निकटवर्ती कुर्सियों से सम-दूरस्थ है।

(i) C, A के बगल में बैठा है

(ii) A, D से दो सीट के अंतर पर बैठा है

(iii) B, A के बगल में नहीं बैठा है

उपर्युक्त सूचना के आधार पर, निम्नलिखित में से कौनसा सही होना ही चाहिए ?

  1. 1.D, B के बगल में बैठा है
  2. 2.E, A के बगल में बैठा है
  3. 3.D और C के बीच दो सीटों का अन्तराल है

नीचे दिए गए कूट का प्रयोग कर सही उत्तर चुनिए :

Read this question in English

Five people A, B, C, D and E are seated about a round table. Every chair is spaced equidistant from adjacent chairs.

(i) C is seated next to A

(ii) A is seated two seats from D

(iii) B is not seated next to A

On the basis of above information, which of the following must be true?

1. D is seated next to B

2. E is seated next to A

3. D and C are separated by two seats

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only · (b) 1 and 2 only · (c) 3 only · (d) Neither 1 nor 2 nor 3

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) केवल 1 और 2

A's two neighbours can only be C and E, because D is two seats away and B is not next to A. B and D then fill the two adjacent seats away from A, so D is always beside B. D may sit beside C or beside E, so statement 3 is not certain.

  1. With 5 seats in a circle, each person has exactly two neighbours.
  2. A's neighbours: C (i); not D, who is two seats away (ii); not B (iii). So the other neighbour is E — statement 2 must be true.
  3. The two remaining seats are next to each other and each is two seats from A; B and D take them in either order.
  4. So D always sits next to B — statement 1 must be true.
  5. If D takes the seat beside C, D and C are adjacent; so statement 3 need not be true.
  • ✓ 1. B and D fill the two adjacent seats not next to A.
  • ✓ 2. A's only possible neighbours are C and E.
  • ✗ 3. In one valid arrangement D sits right beside C, so this is not certain.

Remember · In small circular seatings, fix one person, settle the neighbours first, and treat 'must be true' as true in every valid arrangement.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2016, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE CSAT 2016, Q12 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/csat/2016/q12

In the UPSC syllabus: Puzzles, arrangements & general mental ability › Seating & linear arrangements See it and tick it covered →

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