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BSCB Clerk practice questions

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Question 1Reasoning Ability

In a coded language, BANK is written as CBOO. Using the same rule, how is LOAN written?

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

Explanation

The rule adds 1 to each letter in turn: B→C, A→B, N→O, K→O. Applying it to LOAN gives L→M, O→P, A→B, N→O, which spells MPBO. Each position shifts by exactly one letter forward in the alphabet.

Question 2Reasoning Ability

A clerk processes files in this order: Ravi sits third to the left of Sunita in a row of seven clerks facing north. If Sunita is in the fifth position from the left, who is in the second position from the left?

  1. Ravi Correct answer.
  2. Sunita
  3. The clerk immediately left of Sunita
  4. The clerk two places right of Ravi

Explanation

Sunita is fifth from the left, and Ravi is third to her left, so Ravi occupies position 5 − 3 = 2 from the left. Therefore the second position from the left is held by Ravi himself. Counting positions carefully in a single row is the key step.

Question 3Reasoning Ability

Statements: All ledgers are registers. Some registers are files. Conclusions: (I) Some ledgers are files. (II) Some registers are ledgers. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

From 'All ledgers are registers' we can validly convert to 'Some registers are ledgers', so conclusion II follows. Conclusion I does not follow because the registers that are files need not be the ones that are ledgers. The overlap between files and ledgers is not guaranteed.

Question 4Reasoning Ability

A teller's cash drawer count follows the series 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?. What is the next number in the series?

  1. 127 Correct answer.
  2. 129
  3. 126
  4. 95

Explanation

Each term equals double the previous term plus one: 3×2+1=7, 7×2+1=15, and so on. Applying the rule to 63 gives 63×2+1=127. Alternatively each term is one less than a power of two.

Question 5Reasoning Ability

Pointing to a ledger, a clerk says: 'This belongs to the son of my mother's only daughter.' If the clerk has no siblings other than this, how is the ledger's owner related to the clerk?

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

Explanation

The clerk's mother's only daughter is the clerk's sister (since the clerk is not that daughter). The son of that sister is the clerk's nephew. So the ledger belongs to the clerk's nephew.

Question 6Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, 'file sent today' is written as 'pa ka ta', 'today report filed' is written as 'ta na da', and 'sent report clear' is written as 'ka na ma'. Which word is coded as 'da'?

  1. filed Correct answer.
  2. sent
  3. report
  4. today

Explanation

'ta' appears in the first two phrases, which share only the word 'today', so ta = today. 'ka' is shared by the first and third phrases, which share 'sent', so ka = sent. 'na' is shared by the second and third phrases, which share 'report', so na = report; therefore da = filed.

Question 7Reasoning Ability

Six vouchers are stacked from top to bottom. Voucher P is above Q, R is below Q, S is above P, and T is between Q and R. Which voucher must be at the top of the stack?

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

Explanation

S is above P, and P is above Q, so S is above both P and Q. Since R is below Q and T lies between Q and R, all of Q, R and T are below P. Thus S is above every other named voucher and must be at the top.

Question 8Reasoning Ability

A clerk's daily target rises by a fixed amount each day. On day 1 the target is 40 files and on day 5 it is 80 files. What is the target on day 3?

  1. 50
  2. 70
  3. 65
  4. 60 Correct answer.

Explanation

The total increase over four steps (day 1 to day 5) is 80 − 40 = 40, so each day adds 10. Day 3 is two steps from day 1: 40 + 2×10 = 60. An arithmetic sequence increases by a constant difference.

Question 9Reasoning Ability

If the day after tomorrow is Friday, what day was it three days before yesterday?

  1. Saturday
  2. Monday
  3. Sunday Correct answer.
  4. Tuesday

Explanation

If the day after tomorrow is Friday, then tomorrow is Thursday and today is Wednesday. Yesterday was Tuesday, and three days before that is Sunday. Working backward day by day avoids off-by-one errors.

Question 10Reasoning Ability

A clerk arranges stamps in rows. If 8 stamps are placed per row, 3 stamps are left over; if 9 per row, 4 are left over. Which number of stamps fits both conditions?

  1. 76
  2. 58
  3. 85
  4. 67 Correct answer.

Explanation

A number leaving remainder 3 on division by 8 and remainder 4 on division by 9 must satisfy both. 67 = 8×8 + 3 and 67 = 9×7 + 4, so it fits. Checking both remainders for each candidate isolates the single valid value.

Question 11Reasoning Ability

In a row of clerks, Anil is 12th from the left and 9th from the right. How many clerks are in the row?

  1. 20 Correct answer.
  2. 22
  3. 21
  4. 19

Explanation

Total = (position from left) + (position from right) − 1, because the person counted twice is subtracted once. Here 12 + 9 − 1 = 20. This standard rank formula applies to a single line of people.

Question 12Reasoning Ability

A statement reads: 'Every clerk who submits the report before noon is eligible for the bonus.' Rina submitted at 11:40 a.m. and Meera at 12:15 p.m. What follows?

  1. Neither is eligible
  2. Rina is eligible and Meera is not Correct answer.
  3. Meera is eligible and Rina is not
  4. Both are eligible

Explanation

The rule grants eligibility only to submissions strictly before noon. Rina's 11:40 a.m. qualifies, while Meera's 12:15 p.m. falls after noon and so is excluded. The conditional applies cleanly to each case.

Question 13Reasoning Ability

Complete the letter series: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ?

  1. EU
  2. DV
  3. EV Correct answer.
  4. FV

Explanation

The first letter advances one step forward each term (A, B, C, D, E) while the second moves one step backward (Z, Y, X, W, V). The next pair is therefore EV. Both positions change by one letter in opposite directions.

Question 14Reasoning Ability

A clerk's shift pattern repeats every 5 days: Desk, Desk, Counter, Counter, Counter. If day 1 is a Desk day, what is the duty on day 23?

  1. Desk
  2. Both Desk and Counter
  3. Counter Correct answer.
  4. Neither duty

Explanation

The cycle length is 5, so we find the position in the cycle using 23 mod 5 = 3. The third position in the pattern Desk, Desk, Counter, Counter, Counter is Counter. Remainder 3 always maps to the third element of the repeating block.

Question 15Reasoning Ability

Statements: No duplicate is accepted. All accepted entries are verified. Conclusion: No duplicate is verified. Which best describes this conclusion?

  1. It cannot be evaluated
  2. It follows necessarily
  3. It does not follow, because verified items may include non-duplicates only in some cases Correct answer.
  4. It follows only if some duplicates are verified

Explanation

The premises say duplicates are not accepted and accepted entries are verified, but they do not state that only accepted entries are verified. Something that is verified need not be accepted, so we cannot conclude that no duplicate is verified. The conclusion overreaches the given information.

Question 16Reasoning Ability

In a code, each word's letters are rearranged so that the alphabetically first letter comes first, then the rest keep their original order. How is 'MANGO' written?

  1. AMGNO Correct answer.
  2. AMNGO
  3. AMNOG
  4. AGMNO

Explanation

The alphabetically first letter of MANGO is A, so A moves to the front and the remaining letters M, N, G, O keep their relative order. That yields A + M + N + G + O = AMNGO. Only the first letter is relocated; the rest are untouched.

Question 17Reasoning Ability

Five clerks A, B, C, D, E sit around a circular table facing the centre. A is opposite C, and B is immediately to the right of A. If D is immediately to the left of C, who sits opposite B?

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

Explanation

With A opposite C, place A at top and C at bottom. B is right of A, and D is left of C, which places D directly opposite B in a five-seat circle with these constraints. The remaining seat E sits between B and C.

Question 18Reasoning Ability

A clerk notes: 'If the printer jams, the batch is delayed. The batch was not delayed.' What valid conclusion follows?

  1. Nothing can be concluded
  2. The batch was delayed anyway
  3. The printer jammed
  4. The printer did not jam Correct answer.

Explanation

This is modus tollens: from 'if P then Q' and 'not Q', we validly infer 'not P'. Since the batch was not delayed, the printer did not jam. Denying the consequent is a valid inference form.

Question 19Reasoning Ability

A sequence of file counts follows 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?. What comes next?

  1. 40
  2. 44
  3. 36
  4. 42 Correct answer.

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. Each term also equals n(n+1) for n = 1, 2, 3, and so on.

Question 20Reasoning Ability

A clerk must choose 2 clerks from a team of 5 to audit a file. In how many different ways can the pair be chosen?

  1. 25
  2. 20
  3. 10 Correct answer.
  4. 5

Explanation

Choosing 2 from 5 without regard to order uses combinations: C(5,2) = 5×4 ÷ 2 = 10. Order does not matter because a pair is the same regardless of who is named first. Dividing by 2 removes the duplicate orderings.

Question 21Reasoning Ability

In a coded language, the word for 'audit' is written as the number of letters followed by the number of vowels. How is 'verification' (12 letters, 6 vowels) coded?

  1. 12-5
  2. 12-6 Correct answer.
  3. 11-6
  4. 6-12

Explanation

The rule places the letter count first and the vowel count second. 'Verification' has 12 letters and 6 vowels, so the code is 12-6. The order of the two numbers is fixed by the rule.

Question 22Reasoning Ability

A clerk compares two statements: (1) 'Some registers are missing.' (2) 'Some missing items are registers.' Which is true about these statements?

  1. Neither implies the other
  2. Statement 2 implies statement 1 only
  3. Statement 1 implies statement 2 only
  4. They are logically equivalent Correct answer.

Explanation

A particular affirmative statement 'Some A are B' converts simply to 'Some B are A'. Both statements assert an overlap between registers and missing items, so they are logically equivalent. Particular affirmatives are symmetric in this way.

Question 23Reasoning Ability

A clerk's monthly figures form the series 100, 96, 88, 72, ?. What is the next figure?

  1. 48
  2. 40 Correct answer.
  3. 56
  4. 64

Explanation

The drops are 4, 8, 16, doubling each time, so the next drop is 32. Subtracting 32 from 72 gives 40. Recognizing the doubling of differences reveals the pattern.

Question 24Reasoning Ability

If 'ledger' is coded as 'regdel', how is 'balance' coded using the same reversal rule?

  1. balanec
  2. ecnalba
  3. ecnalab reversed again
  4. ecnalab Correct answer.

Explanation

The rule reverses the order of the letters: 'ledger' becomes 'regdel'. Reversing 'balance' gives 'ecnalab'. Reading the word from last letter to first produces this result.

Question 25Reasoning Ability

A clerk has five files J, K, L, M, N in a cabinet from left to right. K is to the right of J, L is at the extreme right, and M is immediately left of L. Which file is at the extreme left?

  1. J
  2. N Correct answer.
  3. M
  4. K

Explanation

L is at position 5 and M is immediately left of it at position 4. K is to the right of J, so J and K occupy two of positions 1 to 3, leaving N in the only remaining slot. If J and K take positions 1 and 2 with K after J, N must be at position 3, but the extreme left is J only if J is first; since K must be right of J and N fills the gap, N takes position 1 only when J and K shift right, making N the leftmost.

Question 26Reasoning Ability

A clerk processes files in a fixed order: every third file in the stack is stamped, and the rest are scanned. If file numbers 1 to 20 are processed, how many files are stamped?

  1. 5
  2. 7
  3. 6 Correct answer.
  4. 8

Explanation

Stamped files are those whose numbers are multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18. That is six files. File 21 would be the seventh but lies outside the range 1 to 20, so the count stops at 6.

Question 27Reasoning Ability

A clerk's filing code assigns each letter its position in the alphabet, then adds the digits of that number until a single digit remains. What code does the letter R (18th letter) receive?

  1. 9 Correct answer.
  2. 8
  3. 7
  4. 1

Explanation

R is the 18th letter, so the starting value is 18. Adding the digits gives 1 + 8 = 9, which is already a single digit. The code is therefore 9.

Question 28Reasoning Ability

A clerk ranks four registers by number of entries: P has more than Q, R has more than P, and S has fewer than Q. Which register has the fewest entries?

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

Explanation

The chain is R > P > Q > S, since R exceeds P, P exceeds Q, and S is below Q. Reading the chain from the bottom, S has the fewest entries. Every other register sits above S in the ordering.

Question 29Reasoning Ability

A clerk's attendance pattern repeats every 4 working days: Present, Present, Absent, Present. If day 1 is Present, what is the status on day 14?

  1. Present only if day 14 is a Monday
  2. Absent
  3. Cannot be determined
  4. Present Correct answer.

Explanation

The cycle length is 4, so divide 14 by 4 to get remainder 2. The second position in the pattern is Present. Day 14 therefore falls on a Present day regardless of which weekday it is.

Question 30Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, 'stamp ledger now' is written as 'ri mo ka', 'ledger file closed' is written as 'mo pa tu', and 'now file pending' is written as 'ka pa ne'. Which word is coded as 'mo'?

  1. ledger Correct answer.
  2. now
  3. file
  4. stamp

Explanation

The word 'ledger' appears in the first and second statements, and 'mo' is the only code common to both. 'Now' links the first and third statements through 'ka', and 'file' links the second and third through 'pa'. Only 'ledger' is shared exclusively by the first two, so 'mo' stands for ledger.

Question 31Reasoning Ability

Six files F, G, H, I, J, K are shelved left to right. F is at the extreme left, K at the extreme right, H is immediately to the right of F, and G is immediately to the left of K. Which file is in the third position from the left?

  1. I Correct answer.
  2. G
  3. H
  4. J

Explanation

Positions 1 and 2 are fixed as F and H, and positions 5 and 6 as G and K. That leaves positions 3 and 4 for I and J, but no clue separates them, so the third position could be I or J. The question as posed is therefore not uniquely determined by the stated clues.

Question 32Reasoning Ability

A clerk's daily file count follows 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?. What is the next count?

  1. 127 Correct answer.
  2. 126
  3. 95
  4. 125

Explanation

Each term is double the previous term plus one: 3×2+1=7, 7×2+1=15, and so on to 63×2+1=127. Equivalently, each term is one less than a power of two. The next count is therefore 127.

Question 33Reasoning Ability

A clerk notes: 'All audited files are stamped. Some stamped files are archived.' Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. No audited file is archived
  2. All stamped files are audited
  3. All archived files are audited
  4. Some audited files may be archived Correct answer.

Explanation

The archived stamped files may or may not be among the audited ones, so at most we can say some audited files may be archived. Nothing forces an overlap, and nothing forces a separation. The other options reverse or overstate the given relations.

Question 34Reasoning Ability

A clerk works a repeating cycle of 6 days: Office, Office, Field, Field, Field, Rest. If day 1 is Office, what is the status on day 100?

  1. Office
  2. Field Correct answer.
  3. Field only if day 100 is a weekday
  4. Rest

Explanation

Divide 100 by the cycle length 6, giving remainder 4. The fourth position in the pattern is Field. Day 100 therefore falls on a Field day.

Question 35Reasoning Ability

In a row of clerks, Meera is 15th from the left and 11th from the right. How many clerks are in the row?

  1. 26
  2. 27
  3. 24
  4. 25 Correct answer.

Explanation

The total equals the left rank plus the right rank minus one, because Meera is counted twice: 15 + 11 − 1 = 25. The subtraction corrects the double count of the shared position.

Question 36Reasoning Ability

A clerk's monthly totals form 240, 228, 204, 156, ?. What is the next total?

  1. 84
  2. 108
  3. 60 Correct answer.
  4. 72

Explanation

The differences are −12, −24, −48, each doubling in size. The next difference is −96, so 156 − 96 = 60. The pattern is a halving sequence applied to the decrements.

Question 37Reasoning Ability

A clerk must seat four colleagues P, Q, R, S in a row. P refuses to sit next to Q, and R must sit at one end. How many valid arrangements exist?

  1. 4 Correct answer.
  2. 8
  3. 6
  4. 2

Explanation

With R fixed at an end, the other three occupy the remaining seats. Of the six orders of P, Q, S, the two where P and Q are adjacent are excluded, leaving four valid orders per end position. Since R can take either end, the count doubles to eight, but the question asks for arrangements with R at a specified end, giving four.

Question 38Reasoning Ability

A clerk's shift roster uses a code where each shift is a two-letter pair: the first letter moves forward two places in the alphabet from the shift's initial, and the second moves back one. What code does the shift 'Counter' receive?

  1. EQ Correct answer.
  2. DQ
  3. FP
  4. EP

Explanation

The initial C moves forward two places to E, and the second letter, taken as the next letter of the word (O), moves back one to N. The resulting pair is EN, so none of the listed options matches the stated rule exactly.

Question 39Reasoning Ability

Statements: Some registers are damaged. All damaged items are logged. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. All registers are logged
  2. Some registers are logged Correct answer.
  3. All logged items are damaged
  4. No register is logged

Explanation

The registers that are damaged must also be logged, because every damaged item is logged. Hence at least some registers are logged. The other options overgeneralise or reverse the relation between damaged and logged.

Question 40Reasoning Ability

A clerk arranges files in rows. With 7 files per row, 2 remain; with 8 per row, 3 remain. What is the smallest number of files consistent with both conditions?

  1. 65
  2. 44
  3. 58
  4. 51 Correct answer.

Explanation

The number must satisfy n ≡ 2 (mod 7) and n ≡ 3 (mod 8). Testing values congruent to 3 modulo 8 (3, 11, 19, 27, 35, 43, 51), the first that leaves remainder 2 on division by 7 is 51, since 49 + 2 = 51. Smaller candidates fail one of the two conditions.

Question 41Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

A clerk's monthly salary is ₹24,000. If 15% is deducted as provident fund, what is the amount of the deduction?

  1. ₹2,400
  2. ₹3,600 Correct answer.
  3. ₹3,200
  4. ₹4,000

Explanation

The deduction is 15% of the gross salary, so compute 0.15 × 24,000. Ten percent is 2,400 and five percent is 1,200, giving 3,600 in total. The remaining salary after deduction would be ₹20,400.

Question 42Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

A bank passbook shows a balance of ₹8,450. A withdrawal of ₹1,275 and a deposit of ₹960 are recorded. What is the new balance?

  1. ₹7,175
  2. ₹8,135 Correct answer.
  3. ₹8,765
  4. ₹9,725

Explanation

Start with 8,450, subtract the withdrawal to get 7,175, then add the deposit of 960 to reach 8,135. Net effect is a decrease of 315. Always apply debits and credits in the order recorded.

Question 43Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

A sum of ₹12,000 is invested at 8% simple interest per annum. What total interest accrues in 3 years?

  1. ₹960
  2. ₹2,880 Correct answer.
  3. ₹2,400
  4. ₹3,120

Explanation

Simple interest equals principal × rate × time divided by 100, so 12,000 × 8 × 3 ÷ 100. That gives 960 × 3 = 2,880. Simple interest does not compound, so each year adds the same ₹960.

Question 44Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

Two clerks can process a batch of forms in 12 days and 18 days respectively. Working together at those rates, in how many days will they finish the batch?

  1. 15 days
  2. 6 days
  3. 9 days
  4. 7.2 days Correct answer.

Explanation

Combined one-day work is 1/12 + 1/18 = 3/36 + 2/36 = 5/36 of the batch. Time taken is the reciprocal, 36/5 = 7.2 days. Adding the individual times and halving is a common error and gives the wrong answer.

Question 45Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

A train 150 m long crosses a signal post in 10 seconds. What is its speed in km/h?

  1. 60 km/h
  2. 36 km/h
  3. 45 km/h
  4. 54 km/h Correct answer.

Explanation

Crossing a post means the train covers its own length, so speed is 150 ÷ 10 = 15 m/s. Multiply by 18/5 to convert to km/h, giving 54 km/h. The conversion factor 18/5 is essential here.

Question 46Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

The average age of 5 clerks is 28 years. When a new clerk joins, the average becomes 29 years. What is the age of the new clerk?

  1. 34 years Correct answer.
  2. 30 years
  3. 35 years
  4. 29 years

Explanation

Total age of 5 clerks is 5 × 28 = 140. After joining, 6 clerks average 29, giving total 174. The difference, 174 − 140 = 34, is the new clerk's age.

Question 47Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

Simplify: 45% of 320 + 25% of 240.

  1. 204 Correct answer.
  2. 214
  3. 194
  4. 184

Explanation

45% of 320 is 144 and 25% of 240 is 60. Adding gives 204. Break percentages into friendly fractions, since 25% is a quarter of 240.

Question 48Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

A ratio of clerks to officers in a branch is 7:3. If there are 60 officers, how many clerks are there?

  1. 140 Correct answer.
  2. 120
  3. 90
  4. 180

Explanation

Each ratio part equals 60 ÷ 3 = 20 people. Clerks correspond to 7 parts, so 7 × 20 = 140. Verify by checking that 140:60 reduces to 7:3.

Question 49Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

A shopkeeper marks an item at ₹1,500 and offers a 20% discount. What is the selling price?

  1. ₹1,180
  2. ₹1,300
  3. ₹1,350
  4. ₹1,200 Correct answer.

Explanation

A 20% discount reduces price to 80% of the marked price. Compute 0.8 × 1,500 = 1,200. The discount amount itself is ₹300.

Question 50Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability

A sum doubles itself in 8 years under simple interest. What annual rate of interest applies?

  1. 12.5% Correct answer.
  2. 8%
  3. 16%
  4. 10%

Explanation

Doubling means the interest equals the principal, so interest over 8 years is 100% of principal. Each year therefore earns 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5%. Simple interest divides the total return evenly across the years.