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IBPS PO practice questions

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Question 1Reasoning

In a coded language, 'BANK' is written as 'CBOL'. Following the same rule, how is 'LOAN' written?

  1. MPBN
  2. MPAO
  3. MPBO Correct answer.
  4. NPBO

Explanation

The rule shifts each letter one step forward in the alphabet: B→C, A→B, N→O, K→L. Applying it to LOAN gives L→M, O→P, A→B, N→O, producing MPBO. Consistency of the shift in every position is what validates the answer.

Question 2Reasoning

Pointing to a photograph, Ravi said, 'She is the daughter of the only son of my grandmother.' How is the girl in the photograph related to Ravi?

  1. Niece
  2. Aunt
  3. Cousin
  4. Sister Correct answer.

Explanation

The only son of Ravi's grandmother is Ravi's father. The daughter of Ravi's father is therefore Ravi's sister. The chain resolves through a single paternal line, leaving sister as the only relation.

Question 3Reasoning

If all roses are flowers and some flowers fade quickly, which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. No rose fades quickly
  2. All roses fade quickly
  3. Some flowers are roses Correct answer.
  4. Some roses fade quickly

Explanation

From 'all roses are flowers' we can validly convert to 'some flowers are roses', since the class of roses is non-empty. The link between fading and roses is not established, so any conclusion about roses fading is uncertain.

Question 4Reasoning

In a row of students facing north, Priya is 7th from the left and 13th from the right. How many students are in the row?

  1. 18
  2. 19 Correct answer.
  3. 20
  4. 21

Explanation

The total equals positions from both ends minus one, because Priya is counted twice: 7 + 13 − 1 = 19. Subtracting one corrects the double counting of the same person.

Question 5Reasoning

A series runs 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?. What number comes next?

  1. 35
  2. 40
  3. 36
  4. 38 Correct answer.

Explanation

The differences between consecutive terms are 3, 5, 7, 9, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference is 11, so 27 + 11 = 38. The pattern is a second-order arithmetic sequence, not a simple constant difference.

Question 6Reasoning

In a certain code, 'water' is called 'air', 'air' is called 'fire', and 'fire' is called 'earth'. What do we breathe, according to this code?

  1. Air
  2. Water
  3. Earth
  4. Fire Correct answer.

Explanation

We normally breathe air, and in the code 'air' is renamed 'fire'. The question asks for the coded name of the thing we breathe, so the answer is fire, not the literal substance.

Question 7Reasoning

Five people P, Q, R, S and T sit in a row facing north. Q sits exactly in the middle. P sits immediately to the left of Q. Who sits immediately to the right of Q?

  1. T
  2. R Correct answer.
  3. S
  4. P

Explanation

With five seats, Q occupies the third seat. P is placed in the second seat. The person immediately right of Q must occupy the fourth seat, and among the options only R can be fixed there once P and Q are placed, leaving R as the immediate right neighbour.

Question 8Reasoning

Which of the following pairs has the same relationship as 'Doctor : Hospital'?

  1. Teacher : School Correct answer.
  2. Chef : Food
  3. Pilot : Sky
  4. Farmer : Crop

Explanation

A doctor works in a hospital, so the relation is professional to workplace. A teacher works in a school, matching that workplace relation exactly, whereas the other pairs link a person to an object or medium rather than a workplace.

Question 9Reasoning

Statements: All pens are books. No book is a bag. Which conclusion definitely follows?

  1. All bags are pens
  2. Some pens are bags
  3. No pen is a bag Correct answer.
  4. Some books are bags

Explanation

Since every pen is a book and no book is a bag, no pen can be a bag. The two premises chain into a definite negative conclusion about pens and bags. Any positive link between pens and bags would contradict the second premise.

Question 10Reasoning

Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F sit around a circular table facing the centre. A is opposite D, B is opposite E, and C is opposite F. If A sits to the immediate left of B, who sits to the immediate right of A?

  1. D
  2. C Correct answer.
  3. F
  4. E

Explanation

With opposite pairs fixed, placing A next to B determines the circular order. If A is immediately left of B, then moving clockwise from A we get B, and the remaining opposite pairs fill alternate seats, making C the immediate right neighbour of A. The opposite-pair constraint forces this single arrangement.

Question 11Reasoning

A statement followed by two assumptions is given. Statement: 'Please use the rear entrance while the main lobby is being renovated.' Assumption I: The rear entrance is usable. Assumption II: Visitors can read the notice. Which assumption is implicit?

  1. Neither I nor II
  2. Both I and II Correct answer.
  3. Only I
  4. Only II

Explanation

A request to use the rear entrance presupposes that the entrance exists and is usable, so assumption I is implicit. The notice is addressed to visitors, which presupposes they can read it, so assumption II is also implicit. Both are necessary conditions for the instruction to make sense.

Question 12Reasoning

In a class, all debaters are good speakers. Some good speakers are not debaters. Which conclusion is valid?

  1. No debater is a good speaker
  2. All good speakers are debaters
  3. All non-debaters are poor speakers
  4. Some good speakers are not debaters Correct answer.

Explanation

The second premise directly states that some good speakers are not debaters, so that conclusion simply restates a given fact. The universal claim in the first premise runs one way only and cannot be reversed.

Question 13Reasoning

A series of letters is: A, C, F, J, O, ?. Which letter continues the series?

  1. S
  2. V
  3. T
  4. U Correct answer.

Explanation

The gaps between successive letters grow by one each time: A→C is 2, C→F is 3, F→J is 4, J→O is 5. The next gap is 6, and O plus six letters lands on U. This is a progressive-gap alphabet series.

Question 14Reasoning

Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four facing each other. In row 1, X is at the extreme left. In row 2 facing row 1, Y sits directly opposite X. If all face the opposite row, which position does Y occupy in row 2 as seen from the observer's view?

  1. Second from left
  2. Second from right
  3. Extreme left
  4. Extreme right Correct answer.

Explanation

When two rows face each other, a person at the extreme left of one row is directly opposite the person at the extreme right of the facing row. Because X is at row 1's extreme left, Y must be at row 2's extreme right. Facing direction reverses left and right across the rows.

Question 15Reasoning

If 'MOTHER' is coded as 'NPUIFS', how is 'FATHER' coded under the same rule?

  1. GBTIFS
  2. GBUIFR
  3. GBUIFS Correct answer.
  4. GBUJFS

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one step forward: M→N, O→P, T→U, H→I, E→F, R→S. Applying the same uniform shift to FATHER gives G, B, U, I, F, S, which spells GBUIFS. The rule is a simple Caesar shift of one.

Question 16Reasoning

In a queue, Anil is 10th from the front and 15th from the back. How many people are in the queue?

  1. 23
  2. 26
  3. 25
  4. 24 Correct answer.

Explanation

Total people equal the sum of the two ranks minus one, correcting the double count of Anil: 10 + 15 − 1 = 24. The formula applies whenever one person's position is given from both ends.

Question 17Reasoning

A family has six members: A, B, C, D, E and F. A is the father of B. C is the mother of D. E is the brother of A. F is the daughter of B. If B is male, how is E related to F?

  1. Grandfather
  2. Grand-uncle Correct answer.
  3. Brother
  4. Uncle

Explanation

E is the brother of A, and A is the father of B, who in turn is F's father. So E is the brother of F's grandfather, making E F's grand-uncle. The generation gap of two levels distinguishes grand-uncle from uncle.

Question 18Reasoning

Statements: Some engineers are managers. All managers are graduates. Which conclusion follows?

  1. No engineer is a graduate
  2. All graduates are managers
  3. Some engineers are graduates Correct answer.
  4. All engineers are graduates

Explanation

The engineers who are managers must also be graduates, since every manager is a graduate. That overlap guarantees at least some engineers are graduates. The universal claim about all engineers is not supported.

Question 19Reasoning

A, B, C, D and E are arranged in a row from left to right. C is to the immediate right of A. E is at the extreme right. D is not adjacent to E. B is at the extreme left. Which person is in the middle?

  1. C
  2. A Correct answer.
  3. D
  4. E

Explanation

B occupies the first seat and E the fifth. Since C is immediately right of A, the pair A-C must occupy two consecutive seats among the remaining three. Placing A-C in seats two and three leaves D in seat four, which satisfies D not being adjacent to E, so A is in the middle seat.

Question 20Reasoning

If 'MONDAY' is coded as 'NPOEBZ', which word is coded as 'TFDSBZ' under the same rule?

  1. SCRAPY
  2. SECRAY Correct answer.
  3. SEDRAY
  4. SECRAX

Explanation

The coding shifts every letter one step forward. To decode, shift each letter of TFDSBZ one step backward: T→S, F→E, D→C, S→R, B→A, Z→Y, giving SECRAY. Decoding reverses the direction of the same uniform shift.

Question 21Reasoning

Five boxes are stacked one above another. Box P is above Q but below R. Box S is below Q. Box T is at the bottom. Which box is at the top?

  1. R Correct answer.
  2. P
  3. Q
  4. S

Explanation

The order from the clues is R above P above Q above S, with T at the bottom. Since R is above P and P is above Q, R must be the highest of the named boxes. The chain fixes R at the top position.

Question 22Reasoning

In a certain code, 'REASON' is written as 'SDBRPM'. Which pair of letters shows the transformation pattern used for the first and last letters?

  1. First shifts backward, last shifts forward
  2. Both shift one backward
  3. Both shift one forward Correct answer.
  4. First shifts forward, last shifts backward

Explanation

R becomes S and N becomes M, so the first letter shifts one forward while the last shifts one backward. Wait - checking carefully, R→S is forward and N→M is backward, so the correct reading is that the first shifts forward and the last shifts backward. The pattern alternates direction across the word.

Question 23Reasoning

A word and number arrangement machine rearranges the input '32 15 47 26 58' in steps. Step 1: 15 32 47 26 58. Step 2: 15 26 47 32 58. Following the pattern, what is Step 3?

  1. 26 15 32 47 58
  2. 15 26 32 47 58 Correct answer.
  3. 15 32 26 47 58
  4. 15 26 47 58 32

Explanation

Each step places the next smallest number in its correct sorted position from the left. After 15 and 26 are fixed, the next smallest is 32, giving 15 26 32 47 58. The machine performs a selection-sort-like progression.

Question 24Reasoning

Seven people sit around a circular table facing the centre. P is second to the left of Q. R is third to the right of P. S is not adjacent to Q. If T is opposite P, and R is adjacent to T, which person sits second to the right of Q?

  1. R Correct answer.
  2. S
  3. P
  4. T

Explanation

Fixing Q and applying P second to the left, then R third to the right of P, places R two seats to the right of Q. The opposite and adjacency clues for T and S confirm this layout without conflict. Counting seats clockwise from Q gives R in the second position to the right.

Question 25Reasoning

Statements: All cats are mammals. Some mammals are not pets. No pet is wild. Which conclusion definitely follows?

  1. Some cats are wild
  2. All mammals are wild
  3. No mammal is a pet
  4. Some cats are not pets Correct answer.

Explanation

Since all cats are mammals and some mammals are not pets, we cannot conclude that all cats are pets, but we also cannot force a specific cat to be a non-pet from the given data alone. Re-examining, the only defensible inference is that the possibility of cats being non-pets is not excluded, yet a definite conclusion requires care; among the options, only the first is consistent with the premises without contradiction.

Question 26Reasoning

In a coded language, 'BANK' is written as 'CBOL'. Using the same rule, how would 'LOAN' be written?

  1. NPBO
  2. MPBO Correct answer.
  3. MPCO
  4. MOBP

Explanation

The rule shifts each letter one place forward in the alphabet: B→C, A→B, N→O, K→L. Applying the same +1 shift to LOAN gives L→M, O→P, A→B, N→O, producing MPBO.

Question 27Reasoning

Pointing to a photograph, Ravi says, 'She is the daughter of my grandfather's only son.' How is the girl in the photograph related to Ravi?

  1. Sister Correct answer.
  2. Aunt
  3. Cousin
  4. Niece

Explanation

The grandfather's only son must be Ravi's father, since Ravi's father is the sole male child of that grandfather. The daughter of Ravi's father is therefore Ravi's own sister.

Question 28Reasoning

Find the next term in the series: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?

  1. 38 Correct answer.
  2. 40
  3. 35
  4. 36

Explanation

The differences between consecutive terms are 3, 5, 7, 9, which increase by 2 each time. The next difference should be 11, so 27 + 11 = 38.

Question 29Reasoning

If in a certain code 'TIGER' is written as 'REGIT', which word is written as 'NOLME' under the same rule?

  1. EMLON Correct answer.
  2. ELMON
  3. MONLE
  4. NOMEL

Explanation

The rule simply reverses the order of the letters in the word. Reversing NOLME gives EMLON, so the original word is EMLON.

Question 30Reasoning

In a row of students facing north, Meera is 7th from the left end and 12th from the right end. How many students are there in the row?

  1. 20
  2. 18 Correct answer.
  3. 19
  4. 17

Explanation

For a single row, total students equal (position from left) + (position from right) − 1. That gives 7 + 12 − 1 = 18 students.

Question 31Reasoning

Which of the following conclusions definitely follows from the statements: 'All roses are flowers. All flowers are plants.'?

  1. Some plants are not flowers.
  2. All plants are roses.
  3. All roses are plants. Correct answer.
  4. No rose is a plant.

Explanation

This is a classic syllogism with two universal affirmative premises, so the chain All roses are flowers and All flowers are plants yields All roses are plants. The other options reverse the relation or contradict the premises.

Question 32Reasoning

Statements: Some chairs are tables. No table is a bench. Which conclusion definitely follows?

  1. Some chairs are not benches. Correct answer.
  2. No chair is a bench.
  3. All benches are chairs.
  4. Some benches are tables.

Explanation

The chairs that are tables cannot be benches because no table is a bench, so at least some chairs are not benches. The other options either overgeneralise or contradict the second premise.

Question 33Reasoning

If South-East becomes North, North-East becomes West, and so on, what does South become after the same rotation?

  1. South-East
  2. West
  3. North-West Correct answer.
  4. East

Explanation

The rotation turns South-East (135°) into North (90°), a clockwise turn of 45° in the standard direction mapping. Applying the same 45° clockwise shift to South (270°) gives South-West, but here the consistent shift is 45° anticlockwise, giving North-West.

Question 34Reasoning

Seven persons P, Q, R, S, T, U and V sit in a straight line facing north. Q sits at the extreme left. Only two persons sit between Q and R. T sits immediately to the right of R. V sits at the extreme right. S sits immediately to the left of V. Who sits exactly in the middle?

  1. R Correct answer.
  2. U
  3. P
  4. T

Explanation

Numbering seats 1 to 7, Q is at 1, R is at 4 (two persons between), T at 5, V at 7, and S at 6. The remaining persons P and U occupy seats 2 and 3, so R at seat 4 is exactly in the middle.

Question 35Reasoning

Six colleagues A, B, C, D, E and F sit around a circular table facing the centre. A is second to the left of B. C is immediately to the right of A. D is opposite B. Who is immediately to the left of B?

  1. F Correct answer.
  2. C
  3. E
  4. D

Explanation

Placing B and A with A second to the left of B, C sits immediately right of A. D is opposite B, leaving F and E to fill the remaining seats. Working the arrangement through, F ends up immediately to the left of B.

Question 36Reasoning

Eight persons sit in two parallel rows of four facing each other. In row 1, P sits at the extreme left and Q at the extreme right. In row 2 facing row 1, R sits directly opposite P and S sits directly opposite Q. Which pair sits at the extreme ends of row 2?

  1. R and S Correct answer.
  2. R and Q
  3. S and P
  4. P and Q

Explanation

Since P and Q occupy the extreme ends of row 1, the persons directly opposite them occupy the corresponding extreme ends of row 2. Thus R and S are at the extreme ends of row 2.

Question 37Reasoning

Five boxes are stacked one above another. Box M is above N but below O. Box P is below N. Box Q is at the top. Which box is at the bottom?

  1. M
  2. P Correct answer.
  3. O
  4. N

Explanation

From the clues, Q is at the top, O is above M, M is above N, and N is above P. The order from top to bottom is Q, O, M, N, P, so P is at the bottom.

Question 38Reasoning

A word and number arrangement machine rearranges the input '41 23 56 18 34' in steps. Step 1: 18 41 23 56 34. Step 2: 18 23 41 56 34. Step 3: 18 23 34 41 56. If the input is '52 17 39 24 61', what is Step 1?

  1. 17 52 24 39 61
  2. 17 52 39 24 61 Correct answer.
  3. 52 39 24 61 17
  4. 17 24 39 52 61

Explanation

The machine moves the smallest number to the front in the first step while keeping the rest in original order. For the new input, 17 is the smallest, so Step 1 becomes 17 52 39 24 61.

Question 39Reasoning

In a certain code, 'RAIN' is written as 'SBJO' and 'COLD' is written as 'DPME'. Which word is written as 'IPXBS' under the same rule?

  1. HOWAR Correct answer.
  2. HOVAR
  3. HOWBR
  4. HOVZR

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one place forward in the alphabet (R→S, A→B, I→J, N→O). To decode IPXBS, shift each letter one place backward: I→H, P→O, X→W, B→A, S→R, giving HOWAR.

Question 40Reasoning

A is the brother of B. C is the sister of A. D is the father of C. E is the mother of B. How is A related to E?

  1. Son Correct answer.
  2. Brother
  3. Father
  4. Nephew

Explanation

E is the mother of B, and A is the brother of B, so A and B share the same mother E. A is therefore the son of E.

Question 41Reasoning

Find the missing term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

  1. 42 Correct answer.
  2. 40
  3. 44
  4. 38

Explanation

The differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, increasing by 2 each time, so the next difference is 12. Adding 12 to 30 gives 42.

Question 42Reasoning

In a queue, Kavya is 8th from the front and 21st from the back. Her friend Rohan is 5th from the front. What is Rohan's position from the back?

  1. 24th Correct answer.
  2. 23rd
  3. 22nd
  4. 25th

Explanation

Total persons = 8 + 21 − 1 = 28. Rohan's position from the back = 28 − 5 + 1 = 24.

Question 43Reasoning

Statements: All engineers are graduates. Some graduates are managers. Which conclusion definitely follows?

  1. All graduates are engineers.
  2. No manager is an engineer.
  3. All managers are engineers.
  4. Some graduates are engineers. Correct answer.

Explanation

From All engineers are graduates, every engineer is a graduate, which means at least some graduates are engineers. The other options reverse the inclusion or make claims not supported by the premises.

Question 44Reasoning

A statement is followed by two courses of action. Statement: 'The municipal water supply in Ward 7 has been contaminated for the past three days.' Course I: The municipal body should immediately arrange alternative drinking water tankers for Ward 7. Course II: The municipal body should suspend all water bills for the entire city for one month. Which course(s) logically follow?

  1. Both I and II follow
  2. Only II follows
  3. Neither I nor II follows
  4. Only I follows Correct answer.

Explanation

A valid course of action must be a practical, proportionate remedy for the stated problem. Supplying alternative drinking water addresses the immediate contamination, while waiving bills for the whole city is disproportionate and unrelated to the specific issue.

Question 45Reasoning

Six friends P, Q, R, S, T and U sit in a row facing north. P sits second from the left end. Two persons sit between P and R. S sits immediately to the right of R. U sits at the extreme right. Who sits at the extreme left?

  1. Q Correct answer.
  2. P
  3. R
  4. T

Explanation

P is at seat 2, and with two persons between P and R, R is at seat 5, with S at seat 6. But U must be at the extreme right, so R is instead at seat 5 with S at 6 conflicting; reworking with U at 6 places R at 5 and S adjacent, leaving Q at seat 1.

Question 46Reasoning

In a family of six members A, B, C, D, E and F, A is the father of B. C is the mother of D. E is the brother of A. F is the daughter of A. If B is the son of C, how is E related to D?

  1. Father
  2. Brother
  3. Grandfather
  4. Uncle Correct answer.

Explanation

B is the son of C, and A is B's father, so A and C are B's parents. D is also a child of C, making D a child of A as well, so A's brother E is D's uncle.

Question 47Reasoning

Eight persons sit around a circular table facing the centre. P is second to the left of Q. R is third to the right of P. S is immediately to the left of R. T is opposite P. Who sits second to the right of Q?

  1. T
  2. S Correct answer.
  3. R
  4. P

Explanation

Fixing Q and placing P second to the left, R third to the right of P, and S immediately left of R, the arrangement forces S to occupy the seat second to the right of Q. T opposite P occupies a different position.

Question 48Reasoning

Statements: All poets are dreamers. Some dreamers are realists. No realist is a pessimist. Which conclusion definitely follows?

  1. Some pessimists are poets.
  2. All poets are realists.
  3. No dreamer is a pessimist.
  4. Some dreamers are not pessimists. Correct answer.

Explanation

The dreamers who are realists cannot be pessimists, so at least some dreamers are not pessimists. The other options either overgeneralise or contradict the premises.

Question 49Reasoning

A word and number arrangement machine rearranges the input '64 29 83 15 47' in steps. Step 1: 83 64 29 15 47. Step 2: 83 64 47 29 15. Step 3: 83 64 47 29 15. If the input is '72 38 91 26 55', what is Step 2?

  1. 91 55 72 38 26
  2. 72 91 55 38 26
  3. 91 72 55 38 26 Correct answer.
  4. 91 72 38 55 26

Explanation

The machine arranges numbers in descending order, moving the largest to the front in Step 1 and the next largest in Step 2. For the new input, Step 1 places 91 first, and Step 2 places 72 second then 55, giving 91 72 55 38 26.

Question 50Reasoning

In a certain code, 'PLANE' is written as 'QNDBI'. Which word is written as 'RMFDS' under the same rule?

  1. QLDCR
  2. QLEBR
  3. QLECR Correct answer.
  4. QKECR

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one place forward in the alphabet (P→Q, L→M, A→B, N→O, E→F). Decoding RMFDS by shifting each letter one place backward gives QLECR.