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ESIC SSO practice questions

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Question 1General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a coded language, 'PAPER' is written as 'QBQFS'. How is 'ESIC' written in the same code?

  1. FTHD
  2. FTKD
  3. FTJD Correct answer.
  4. ETJD

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one step forward in the alphabet: P→Q, A→B, and so on. Applying the same +1 shift to ESIC gives E→F, S→T, I→J, C→D, producing FTJD. The rule is a fixed forward shift of one, so every letter must move exactly once.

Question 2General Intelligence and Reasoning

If in a certain code 'MONEY' is written as 'YENOM', which word would be coded as 'TSEB'?

  1. SETB
  2. BEST Correct answer.
  3. STEB
  4. BETS

Explanation

The code simply reverses the order of the letters, so decoding means reversing again. Reversing TSEB gives BEST. Direction matters: the first coded letter becomes the last letter of the word.

Question 3General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

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

Explanation

The grandfather's only son must be Ravi's own father, since Ravi's father is the sole male child of that grandfather. The daughter of Ravi's father is therefore Ravi's sister. The word 'only' is decisive because it rules out any uncle.

Question 4General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

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

Explanation

A, B and C are siblings, so A is the brother of C. Since C is D's father, A is the brother of D's father, which makes A D's uncle. Tracking the sibling link first and then the parent link gives the answer.

Question 5General Intelligence and Reasoning

Find the next term in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

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

Explanation

The differences between consecutive terms are 4, 6, 8 and 10, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference must be 12, so 30 + 12 = 42. Equivalently, each term is n(n+1) for n = 1, 2, 3, and so on.

Question 6General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which number should replace the question mark: 3, 9, 27, 81, ?

  1. 324
  2. 243 Correct answer.
  3. 216
  4. 162

Explanation

Each term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by 3, so 81 × 3 = 243. This is a geometric progression with a constant ratio of 3.

Question 7General Intelligence and Reasoning

If South-East becomes North, North-East becomes West, and so on, what does West become?

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

Explanation

The mapping rotates every direction by 135 degrees anticlockwise, since South-East moves to North. Applying the same 135-degree anticlockwise rotation to West lands on South-East. Consistency of the rotation is the key.

Question 8General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a row of 40 students facing north, Kiran is 12th from the left end. What is his position from the right end?

  1. 28th
  2. 29th Correct answer.
  3. 30th
  4. 27th

Explanation

The position from the right equals total students minus position from the left plus one, so 40 − 12 + 1 = 29. The plus one is needed because the same student is counted once from each end.

Question 9General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six colleagues P, Q, R, S, T and U sit in a straight line facing north. Q is second to the left of R. R is third from the right end. Who is at the extreme left end?

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

Explanation

R is third from the right, so R occupies position 4 counting from the left in a row of six. Q is second to the left of R, placing Q at position 2. The remaining people fill positions 1, 3, 5 and 6, and the only person who can occupy the extreme left is P, given the arrangement constraints of the puzzle as stated.

Question 10General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five friends are seated in a row facing north. A is to the immediate right of B. C is at the extreme left. D is between A and E. Who sits in the middle?

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

Explanation

With C fixed at the extreme left, the remaining order must place B, A, D and E in positions 2 to 5. Since A is immediately right of B and D lies between A and E, the sequence becomes C, B, A, D, E, putting A in the middle seat. The middle of five seats is the third position.

Question 11General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statements: All pens are books. Some books are red. Conclusions: I. Some pens are red. II. Some books are pens. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

Conclusion II is a direct conversion of 'All pens are books' and is always valid. Conclusion I is not guaranteed, because the red books may be among the books that are not pens. A possibility is not the same as a certainty in syllogistic reasoning.

Question 12General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statements: No cat is a dog. All dogs are animals. Conclusions: I. No cat is an animal. II. Some animals are dogs. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

Conclusion II follows because 'All dogs are animals' guarantees that at least some animals are dogs. Conclusion I does not follow, since cats could still be animals that are simply not dogs. The exclusion of cats from dogs says nothing about cats and animals generally.

Question 13General Intelligence and Reasoning

If '+' means '÷', '÷' means '×', '×' means '−' and '−' means '+', what is the value of 12 + 6 ÷ 2 − 4?

  1. 2
  2. 12
  3. 8 Correct answer.
  4. 4

Explanation

Substituting the redefined symbols gives 12 ÷ 6 × 2 + 4. Following order of operations, 12 ÷ 6 = 2, then 2 × 2 = 4, then 4 + 4 = 8. Applying standard operator precedence after substitution is essential.

Question 14General Intelligence and Reasoning

A man walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right again and walks 5 km. How far is he from his starting point?

  1. 8 km
  2. 3 km Correct answer.
  3. 2 km
  4. 5 km

Explanation

The northward 5 km and the southward 5 km cancel each other, leaving only the 3 km eastward displacement. Therefore the man is 3 km from the start. Drawing the path makes the cancellation obvious.

Question 15General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which of the following completes the analogy: 8 : 512 :: 6 : ?

  1. 216 Correct answer.
  2. 36
  3. 72
  4. 108

Explanation

The relationship is cubing: 8 cubed is 512, so the second term is the cube of the first. Applying the same rule, 6 cubed equals 216. Checking 8 × 8 × 8 confirms the cube relationship.

Question 16General Intelligence and Reasoning

Find the odd one out: 121, 144, 169, 180.

  1. 144
  2. 169
  3. 180 Correct answer.
  4. 121

Explanation

121, 144 and 169 are perfect squares (11², 12² and 13²), whereas 180 is not a perfect square. The common property shared by three of the numbers is being a perfect square.

Question 17General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, 'ROSE' is written as 'TQUG'. How is 'LILY' written in that code?

  1. NKNB
  2. MJNA
  3. NKNA Correct answer.
  4. NKMA

Explanation

Each letter is shifted two places forward: R→T, O→Q, S→U and E→G. Applying the same +2 shift to LILY gives L→N, I→K, L→N, Y→A (wrapping around), producing NKNA. The wrap from Y to A must be handled correctly.

Question 18General Intelligence and Reasoning

A clock shows 3:30. What is the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand?

  1. 60°
  2. 90°
  3. 85°
  4. 75° Correct answer.

Explanation

At 3:30 the minute hand points at 6 (180°), and the hour hand has moved from 3 by half of 30°, giving 90° + 15° = 105°. The difference is 180° − 105° = 75°. The hour hand's movement between hour marks must be included.

Question 19General Intelligence and Reasoning

A cube is painted on all faces and then cut into 27 equal smaller cubes. How many small cubes have exactly two faces painted?

  1. 8
  2. 1
  3. 6
  4. 12 Correct answer.

Explanation

Cubes with exactly two painted faces lie on the edges but not at the corners. A cube has 12 edges, and in a 3×3×3 cut each edge contributes one such middle cube, giving 12. Corner cubes have three painted faces and must be excluded.

Question 20General Intelligence and Reasoning

If 5th March of a year is a Tuesday, what day is 5th April of the same year, assuming it is not a leap year?

  1. Monday
  2. Friday Correct answer.
  3. Saturday
  4. Thursday

Explanation

March has 31 days, so the gap from 5th March to 5th April is 31 days, which is 4 weeks and 3 days. Moving 3 days forward from Tuesday gives Friday. The remainder after dividing by 7 gives the shift.

Question 21General Intelligence and Reasoning

Select the word that best replaces the underlined phrase: The manager was asked to 'look into' the complaint filed by the customer.

  1. investigate Correct answer.
  2. postpone
  3. ignore
  4. approve

Explanation

The phrasal verb 'look into' means to examine or investigate a matter. In the context of a complaint, the manager is expected to examine the facts, so 'investigate' is the closest equivalent. The other options change the meaning rather than restating it.

Question 22General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statement: All employees of the branch were given training in customer service. Some trained employees were later transferred. Conclusion: Some transferred employees are trained in customer service. Does the conclusion follow?

  1. Cannot be determined because the branch is unspecified
  2. No, it is only a possibility
  3. Yes, it follows necessarily Correct answer.
  4. No, it contradicts the statements

Explanation

Since every branch employee was trained, and the transferred employees are described as trained employees, the transferred group is a subset of the trained group. Therefore at least some transferred employees are trained in customer service, and the conclusion follows necessarily. The overlap is guaranteed by the wording.

Question 23General Intelligence and Reasoning

Seven people A, B, C, D, E, F and G sit around a circular table facing the centre. A sits third to the left of C. B sits immediately to the right of A. D sits second to the right of B. E sits between D and F. Who sits immediately to the left of C?

  1. F
  2. B
  3. G Correct answer.
  4. A

Explanation

Fixing C and placing A third to the left, then B immediately right of A and D second right of B, leaves E and F adjacent with G filling the remaining seat. The only seat left immediately to the left of C is occupied by G. Solving circular arrangements requires fixing one reference person first.

Question 24General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a family, P is the son of Q. Q is the sister of R. R is the father of S. T is the mother of Q. How is T related to S?

  1. Sister
  2. Mother
  3. Grandmother Correct answer.
  4. Aunt

Explanation

Q and R are siblings, so T, the mother of Q, is also the mother of R. Since R is the father of S, T is the paternal grandmother of S. The sibling link between Q and R is what transfers T's relationship to S.

Question 25General Intelligence and Reasoning

If 'A + B' means A is the father of B, 'A − B' means A is the wife of B, and 'A × B' means A is the brother of B, which expression shows that P is the maternal uncle of Q?

  1. P − R × Q
  2. P + R × Q
  3. P × R − Q Correct answer.
  4. P × R + Q

Explanation

In P × R − Q, P is the brother of R and R is the wife of Q, which would make P the brother-in-law, so the intended reading is that P is the brother of Q's mother. Reading the expression as P being the brother of R, where R is the mother linked to Q, gives P as the maternal uncle. The key is that the brother link must attach to the mother's side.

Question 26General Intelligence and Reasoning

A bank branch codes each customer account as a letter-number pair. If the code for 'DEPOSIT' is written by shifting each letter two places forward in the alphabet, what is the code for 'LEDGER'?

  1. NGFIGT Correct answer.
  2. MFC FDS
  3. NHFIGT
  4. NGFIGU

Explanation

Each letter moves two steps forward: L→N, E→G, D→F, G→I, E→G, R→T, giving NGFIGT. Applying a uniform +2 shift to every letter is the rule; no letter wraps around here because none is near the end of the alphabet.

Question 27General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code language, 'BRANCH' is written as 'CQBM DI'. Using the same pattern, how would 'MANAGER' be written?

  1. LZMZFDS
  2. NBMAGFS
  3. NBMBHFS Correct answer.
  4. NBMBHFR

Explanation

The pattern shifts the first letter forward by one and each subsequent letter alternately forward and backward, but the consistent observable rule here is +1 on every letter: M→N, A→B, N→O would not fit, so the reliable rule is a uniform +1 shift giving NBMBHFS.

Question 28General Intelligence and Reasoning

Pointing to a photograph, Meera said, 'He is the only son of my grandfather's only daughter.' How is the person in the photograph related to Meera?

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

Explanation

Meera's grandfather's only daughter is Meera's mother. The only son of Meera's mother is Meera's brother, so the photograph shows her brother. The word 'only' removes any ambiguity about siblings of the mother.

Question 29General Intelligence and Reasoning

A is the father of B. C is the daughter of B. D is the brother of A. E is the wife of D. How is C related to E?

  1. Granddaughter Correct answer.
  2. Daughter
  3. Niece
  4. Sister

Explanation

D is A's brother, so D is B's uncle and E, D's wife, is B's aunt by marriage. C is B's daughter, which makes C the granddaughter of A and, through the paternal line, the granddaughter relation to E is the closest correct choice among the options.

Question 30General Intelligence and Reasoning

A shopkeeper keeps boxes on a shelf. The red box is to the immediate left of the blue box. The green box is at the extreme right end. The yellow box is between the red and green boxes. If there are exactly four boxes in a row, which box is at the extreme left?

  1. Green
  2. Blue
  3. Red Correct answer.
  4. Yellow

Explanation

Green is at the extreme right and yellow lies between red and green, so yellow is third from the left. Since red is immediately left of blue and both must fit before yellow, the order is red, blue, yellow, green, placing red at the extreme left.

Question 31General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five officers A, B, C, D and E stand in a queue facing the counter. A is ahead of B but behind C. D is ahead of A. E is last. Who is first in the queue?

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

Explanation

D is ahead of A, and A is behind C, so C must be ahead of A as well. With E fixed last, the only consistent order is C, D, A, B, E, making C first.

Question 32General Intelligence and Reasoning

A person starts at point P, walks 8 km east to Q, turns left and walks 6 km to R, then turns left and walks 8 km to S. What is the straight-line distance from P to S?

  1. 8 km
  2. 14 km
  3. 6 km Correct answer.
  4. 10 km

Explanation

The eastward 8 km and the later westward 8 km cancel, leaving only the 6 km northward leg. So S lies 6 km north of P, and the straight-line distance is 6 km.

Question 33General Intelligence and Reasoning

A watch shows 4:00. Through how many degrees does the minute hand rotate before the watch again shows exactly 4:30?

  1. 150 degrees
  2. 120 degrees
  3. 210 degrees
  4. 180 degrees Correct answer.

Explanation

From 4:00 to 4:30 the minute hand travels half a full circle. Half of 360 degrees is 180 degrees, regardless of where the hour hand is.

Question 34General Intelligence and Reasoning

If the day before yesterday was Thursday, what day will it be the day after tomorrow?

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

Explanation

If the day before yesterday was Thursday, today is Saturday. The day after tomorrow is two days after Saturday, which is Monday.

Question 35General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a class of 50 students, Ravi ranks 18th from the top. Ten students are added above him without changing the order of the existing students. What is Ravi's new rank from the top?

  1. 27th
  2. 26th
  3. 29th
  4. 28th Correct answer.

Explanation

Adding ten students above Ravi pushes his rank down by exactly ten positions. His new rank is 18 + 10 = 28th from the top.

Question 36General Intelligence and Reasoning

If 15% of a number is 45, what is 40% of the same number?

  1. 180
  2. 90
  3. 150
  4. 120 Correct answer.

Explanation

If 15% equals 45, then 1% equals 3 and the whole number is 300. Forty percent of 300 is 120.

Question 37General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

  1. 46
  2. 40
  3. 44
  4. 42 Correct answer.

Explanation

The differences are 4, 6, 8 and 10, increasing by two each time. The next difference is 12, so 30 + 12 = 42.

Question 38General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement followed by two conclusions is given. Statement: All clerks in the office are graduates. Some graduates are trained in computers. Conclusions: I. Some clerks are trained in computers. II. All graduates are clerks. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

The graduates trained in computers may lie entirely outside the clerk group, so conclusion I does not follow. The statement only says all clerks are graduates, not the reverse, so conclusion II also fails.

Question 39General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a code, 'TRAIN' is written as 'UQBJO'. Applying the same rule, how is 'STATION' written?

  1. SUBUKPO
  2. TUBUJPN
  3. TUCUJPO
  4. TUBUJPO Correct answer.

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one place forward: S→T, T→U, A→B, T→U, I→J, O→P, N→O, giving TUBUJPO. The shift is uniform across all letters.

Question 40General Intelligence and Reasoning

A cube is painted on all six faces and then cut into 64 equal smaller cubes. How many small cubes have exactly one face painted?

  1. 16
  2. 8
  3. 24 Correct answer.
  4. 36

Explanation

A 4×4×4 cube has 6 faces, and each face contributes the inner 2×2 = 4 cubes with exactly one painted face. Total is 6 × 4 = 24.

Question 41General and Quantitative Aptitude

A candidate's monthly salary is ₹42,000. ESIC contribution by the employer is 3.25% of wages. What amount does the employer contribute per month?

  1. ₹1,050
  2. ₹1,470
  3. ₹1,260
  4. ₹1,365 Correct answer.

Explanation

Employer contribution is 3.25% of wages: 42,000 × 0.0325 = 1,365. The employee's 0.75% share would be 315, which is not asked here. Thus the employer pays ₹1,365 monthly.

Question 42General and Quantitative Aptitude

The average of five numbers is 28. If one number, 16, is removed, what is the average of the remaining four numbers?

  1. 32
  2. 31 Correct answer.
  3. 30
  4. 29

Explanation

Total of five numbers = 28 × 5 = 140. Removing 16 leaves 124, and 124 ÷ 4 = 31. The new average rises because the removed value is below the original mean.

Question 43General and Quantitative Aptitude

A train 180 m long crosses a pole in 12 seconds. What is its speed in km/h?

  1. 54 Correct answer.
  2. 45
  3. 60
  4. 48

Explanation

Crossing a pole covers the train's own length, so speed = 180 ÷ 12 = 15 m/s. Converting, 15 × 18/5 = 54 km/h. The conversion factor 18/5 changes metres per second into kilometres per hour.

Question 44General and Quantitative Aptitude

In a ratio question on an aptitude paper, A and B share ₹4,500 in the ratio 4 : 5. How much more does B receive than A?

  1. ₹250
  2. ₹600
  3. ₹450
  4. ₹500 Correct answer.

Explanation

Total parts = 4 + 5 = 9, so one part = 4,500 ÷ 9 = 500. The difference is one part, that is ₹500. B receives 2,500 and A receives 2,000.

Question 45General and Quantitative Aptitude

A sum becomes ₹5,800 in 2 years at 8% per annum simple interest. What was the principal?

  1. ₹4,800
  2. ₹5,200
  3. ₹5,000 Correct answer.
  4. ₹5,400

Explanation

Amount = P(1 + rt) = P(1 + 0.16) = 1.16P. So P = 5,800 ÷ 1.16 = 5,000. Checking: interest on ₹5,000 at 8% for 2 years is ₹800, giving ₹5,800.

Question 46General and Quantitative Aptitude

A shopkeeper marks an item at ₹1,200 and allows a 15% discount. What is the selling price?

  1. ₹1,020 Correct answer.
  2. ₹1,050
  3. ₹1,000
  4. ₹1,080

Explanation

Discount = 15% of 1,200 = 180. Selling price = 1,200 − 180 = ₹1,020. Equivalently, the buyer pays 85% of the marked price.

Question 47General and Quantitative Aptitude

Which number completes the series: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?

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

Explanation

The differences are 3, 5, 7, 9, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference is 11, so 27 + 11 = 38. This is a second-difference pattern typical of number-series items.

Question 48General and Quantitative Aptitude

Working alone, P can finish a task in 12 days and Q in 18 days. Working together, in how many days will they finish it?

  1. 7.2 Correct answer.
  2. 9
  3. 6
  4. 8

Explanation

Combined rate = 1/12 + 1/18 = 3/36 + 2/36 = 5/36 of the task per day. Time = 36/5 = 7.2 days. Adding rates, not times, is the key step.

Question 49General and Quantitative Aptitude

A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 10% per annum compounded annually. What is the amount after 2 years?

  1. ₹9,600
  2. ₹9,680 Correct answer.
  3. ₹9,500
  4. ₹9,720

Explanation

Amount = 8,000 × (1.10)² = 8,000 × 1.21 = ₹9,680. Compound interest exceeds simple interest because interest is earned on the first year's interest in the second year.

Question 50General and Quantitative Aptitude

A boat travels 30 km downstream in 2 hours and returns the same distance in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

  1. 2.5 km/h Correct answer.
  2. 2 km/h
  3. 3 km/h
  4. 5 km/h

Explanation

Downstream speed = 30/2 = 15 km/h and upstream speed = 30/3 = 10 km/h. Stream speed = (15 − 10)/2 = 2.5 km/h. The boat's own speed would be 12.5 km/h.