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IAF Group C study materials
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IAF Group C practice questions

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Question 1General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a series of English capital letters, which letter comes exactly four places to the right of the letter that is two places to the left of K?

  1. I
  2. M Correct answer.
  3. O
  4. G

Explanation

Two places to the left of K is I, since J lies between them. Moving four places right from I gives M (J, K, L, M). Reading the instruction as a single net shift of two places right from K also yields M.

Question 2General Intelligence and Reasoning

A man walks 8 km north, turns right and walks 6 km, then turns right again and walks 8 km. How far is he from his starting point, and in which direction?

  1. 6 km west
  2. 10 km north-east
  3. 14 km east
  4. 6 km east Correct answer.

Explanation

The northward and southward legs are equal and cancel, leaving only the 6 km eastward leg. He therefore ends 6 km due east of the start. The displacement is a single straight eastward segment, not a diagonal.

Question 3General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six files are stacked one above another. Report R is above Notice N. N is above Memo M. Circular C is above R. Ordering O is below M. Which file is at the top of the stack?

  1. M
  2. C Correct answer.
  3. N
  4. R

Explanation

Linking the clues gives C above R above N above M above O. Since C has nothing above it in that chain, C is the topmost file. The remaining files all sit below C.

Question 4General Intelligence and Reasoning

Complete the analogy: Book is to Library as Painting is to ____.

  1. Artist
  2. Gallery Correct answer.
  3. Brush
  4. Canvas

Explanation

A library is the place where books are kept and displayed for the public. By the same relation, a gallery is the place where paintings are kept and displayed. The other options name materials, tools, or makers rather than a place of collection.

Question 5General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

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

Explanation

The differences between consecutive terms are 3, 5, 7, 9, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference should be 11, so 27 + 11 = 38. Checking the pattern confirms a consistent odd-number increment.

Question 6General Intelligence and Reasoning

If in a certain code the word DESK is written as EFTS, what is the code for the word LAMP?

  1. MBOQ
  2. MBNQ Correct answer.
  3. LBNQ
  4. MBNP

Explanation

Each letter of DESK is shifted one place forward in the alphabet: D to E, E to F, S to T, K to L. Applying the same +1 shift to LAMP gives M, B, N, Q, that is MBNQ. Every letter moves exactly one position forward.

Question 7General Intelligence and Reasoning

Pointing to a photograph, a woman says, 'He is the son of my mother's only daughter.' How is the man in the photograph related to the woman?

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

Explanation

The woman's mother's only daughter is the woman herself, assuming she has no sisters. The son of that person is therefore her own son. The phrase identifies the speaker, so the man is her child.

Question 8General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which of the following is a valid syllogistic conclusion? All inspectors are careful. All careful people are punctual.

  1. No inspectors are punctual.
  2. All inspectors are punctual. Correct answer.
  3. Some punctual people are inspectors.
  4. All punctual people are inspectors.

Explanation

From 'all A are B' and 'all B are C' the valid conclusion is 'all A are C'. Here that means all inspectors are punctual. The converse and the negative claims do not follow from the given premises.

Question 9General Intelligence and Reasoning

A team of 5 officers is to be chosen from 6 men and 4 women such that at least one woman is included. In how many ways can this be done?

  1. 246 Correct answer.
  2. 252
  3. 186
  4. 240

Explanation

Total ways to choose 5 from 10 is 252. The only forbidden selections are those with no women, which means choosing 5 from the 6 men, giving 6 ways. Subtracting gives 252 - 6 = 246 valid committees.

Question 10General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

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

Explanation

Q is in position 1 and R is in position 3. T is in position 5 and S is in position 4, leaving P in position 2. The middle seat is position 3, but since R occupies position 3, wait: the middle of five seats is position 3, occupied by R only if R is there; with Q at 1, R at 3, S at 4, T at 5, P fills position 2, so the middle is R. Rechecking, the arrangement is Q, P, R, S, T, so position 3 holds R.

Question 11General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, 'water is life' is written as 'ta pa la', 'life is beautiful' is written as 'la na pa', and 'beautiful day' is written as 'na ka'. Which word is coded as 'ta'?

  1. water Correct answer.
  2. life
  3. beautiful
  4. is

Explanation

Comparing the first two sentences, 'is' and 'life' appear in both, and 'pa' and 'la' are shared, so those two codes belong to 'is' and 'life'. The remaining code in the first sentence, 'ta', must stand for 'water'. The third sentence confirms 'na' is 'beautiful' and 'ka' is 'day'.

Question 12General Intelligence and Reasoning

Find the missing number: 4, 9, 19, 39, 79, ____.

  1. 158
  2. 160
  3. 157
  4. 159 Correct answer.

Explanation

Each term is obtained by doubling the previous term and adding 1: 4x2+1=9, 9x2+1=19, and so on. Applying the rule to 79 gives 79x2+1 = 159. The differences also double each time, confirming the pattern.

Question 13General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is given: 'All constables in this district are trained in crowd control.' Which of the following is a valid inference?

  1. Constables outside this district are not trained in crowd control.
  2. No one outside this district is trained in crowd control.
  3. Some people trained in crowd control are constables in this district. Correct answer.
  4. Everyone trained in crowd control is a constable in this district.

Explanation

If all district constables are trained in crowd control, then at least some trained people are constables, provided the group is non-empty. This existential inference is valid, whereas converting the universal or extending it beyond the district is not. The statement says nothing about people outside the district.

Question 14General Intelligence and Reasoning

If A + B means A is the father of B, and A - B means A is the sister of B, then in 'P - Q + R', how is P related to R?

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

Explanation

Q + R means Q is the father of R. P - Q means P is the sister of Q, so P is the sister of R's father. The sister of one's father is one's aunt, so P is R's aunt. The chain must be read left to right with each symbol linking adjacent names.

Question 15General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

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

Explanation

At 3:30 the minute hand points at 6, that is 180 degrees from 12. The hour hand has moved half of the way from 3 to 4, giving 3.5 x 30 = 105 degrees. The difference is 180 - 105 = 75 degrees.

Question 16General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a group of 60 trainees, 35 can drive and 25 can swim, while 10 can do neither. How many can both drive and swim?

  1. 20
  2. 5
  3. 15
  4. 10 Correct answer.

Explanation

The number who can do at least one activity is 60 - 10 = 50. Using inclusion-exclusion, both = 35 + 25 - 50 = 10. So 10 trainees can both drive and swim.

Question 17General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which number should replace the question mark in the analogy: 16 : 4 :: 81 : ?

  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 9 Correct answer.
  4. 11

Explanation

The relation is that the second number is the square root of the first: the square root of 16 is 4. Applying the same rule, the square root of 81 is 9. The pattern is consistent and unique.

Question 18General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six boxes are arranged in a circle. A is opposite D, B is opposite E, and C is opposite F. If A is adjacent to B and F, which box is adjacent to D on both sides?

  1. F and B
  2. E and C Correct answer.
  3. B and E
  4. C and B

Explanation

In a six-position circle, the neighbours of a box are the two boxes not opposite it and not itself. D's neighbours must be the pair adjacent to D; given the opposite pairs, the two boxes next to D are E and C. This follows from the fixed opposite arrangement.

Question 19General Intelligence and Reasoning

A cube painted red on all faces is cut into 27 equal smaller cubes. How many of the smaller cubes have exactly two faces painted?

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

Explanation

A 3x3x3 cut produces 27 cubes. Cubes with exactly two painted faces lie on the edges but not at corners, and a cube has 12 edges each contributing one such cube. That gives 12 cubes with two painted faces.

Question 20General Intelligence and Reasoning

A man is 4 times as old as his son. In 20 years he will be twice as old as his son. What is the son's present age?

  1. 15 years
  2. 12 years
  3. 8 years
  4. 10 years Correct answer.

Explanation

Let the son be x, so the father is 4x. In 20 years, 4x + 20 = 2(x + 20), giving 4x + 20 = 2x + 40, so 2x = 20 and x = 10. The son is 10 years old and the father is 40.

Question 21General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a row of 40 students facing north, Ravi is 11th from the left end and Meena is 15th from the right end. How many students are between them?

  1. 16
  2. 14 Correct answer.
  3. 13
  4. 15

Explanation

Ravi's position from the left is 11. Meena's position from the left is 40 - 15 + 1 = 26. The number of students between them is 26 - 11 - 1 = 14. So 14 students stand between Ravi and Meena.

Question 22General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement and two assumptions follow. Statement: The district administration has ordered all shops near the bus stand to close by 10 p.m. Assumption I: Late-night crowding near the bus stand may create safety or order problems. Assumption II: Shopkeepers will comply with the order. Which assumptions are implicit?

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

Explanation

An order restricting shop hours implies the administration believes late activity causes a problem, so assumption I is implicit. Any public order also presupposes that those addressed will generally comply, so assumption II is implicit. Both are necessary for the order to make sense.

Question 23General Intelligence and Reasoning

Seven officers A, B, C, D, E, F and G are ranked by seniority. A is senior to B but junior to C. D is junior to B but senior to E. F is senior to C. G is junior to E. Who is the most junior officer?

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

Explanation

The chain of seniority is F above C above A above B above D above E above G. Reading downward, G is below everyone else, so G is the most junior. Each clue slots into this single consistent order.

Question 24General Intelligence and Reasoning

A watch gains 5 seconds every hour. It is set right at 8 a.m. on Monday. What time will it show at 8 p.m. on the same day?

  1. 8:01:30 p.m.
  2. 8:01:00 p.m. Correct answer.
  3. 8:00:60 p.m.
  4. 8:00:30 p.m.

Explanation

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. is 12 real hours, during which the watch gains 12 x 5 = 60 seconds, that is one minute. So the watch will show 8:01:00 p.m. The gain accumulates over each real hour.

Question 25General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, each letter is replaced by its position in the alphabet, and the digits of each two-digit position are then added together. What is the code for the word BAD?

  1. 3, 1, 4
  2. 2, 1, 4 Correct answer.
  3. 2, 1, 5
  4. 2, 2, 4

Explanation

B is the 2nd letter giving 2, A is the 1st giving 1, and D is the 4th giving 4. Since all positions are single digits, no digit reduction changes them. The code is therefore 2, 1, 4.

Question 26General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a coding scheme used for field reports, each letter of a word is moved three places forward in the English alphabet. Using this scheme, what is the code for the word GUARD?

  1. JXDVG
  2. HXDUI
  3. JXDUI Correct answer.
  4. JXDUG

Explanation

Each letter is shifted three positions forward: G→J, U→X, A→D, R→U, D→G. Applying the shift to every letter in order gives JXDUI.

Question 27General Intelligence and Reasoning

A constable walks 8 m north, turns right and walks 6 m, then turns right again and walks 8 m. How far is he from his starting point, and in which direction?

  1. 6 m east Correct answer.
  2. 14 m north
  3. 10 m east
  4. 6 m west

Explanation

Walking 8 m north then 8 m south cancels the north-south displacement, leaving only the 6 m walked east after the first right turn. The final position is therefore 6 m due east of the start.

Question 28General Intelligence and Reasoning

Complete the series used in a reasoning drill: 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, ____.

  1. 84
  2. 96 Correct answer.
  3. 108
  4. 72

Explanation

Each term is double the previous term, so the pattern is multiplication by 2. Doubling 48 gives 96 as the next term.

Question 29General Intelligence and Reasoning

If the day after tomorrow is Sunday, what day was it yesterday?

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

Explanation

If the day after tomorrow is Sunday, then tomorrow is Saturday and today is Friday. Yesterday was therefore one day before Friday, which is Thursday.

Question 30General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which word does not belong with the others in a classification set: Rectangle, Square, Rhombus, Cube?

  1. Square
  2. Rhombus
  3. Cube Correct answer.
  4. Rectangle

Explanation

Rectangle, square and rhombus are all two-dimensional plane figures (quadrilaterals). A cube is a three-dimensional solid, so it is the odd one out.

Question 31General Intelligence and Reasoning

A man is facing south. He turns 90° clockwise, then 180° anticlockwise, then 90° clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?

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

Explanation

Starting south, a 90° clockwise turn faces west; a 180° anticlockwise turn faces east; a final 90° clockwise turn faces south-recheck: clockwise from south is west, 180° from west is east, clockwise from east is south. The net rotation is 0°, so he faces south.

Question 32General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a code, FINGER is written as EHMFDQ. Which rule produces this code?

  1. Each letter moves one place backward Correct answer.
  2. Odd-position letters move back one, even-position letters move forward one
  3. Each letter moves two places backward
  4. Each letter moves one place forward

Explanation

Comparing letter by letter, F→E, I→H, N→M, G→F, E→D, R→Q, each letter is exactly one place earlier in the alphabet. The rule is a uniform backward shift of one.

Question 33General Intelligence and Reasoning

Pointing to a man, a woman says, 'His mother is the only daughter of my grandfather.' How is the woman related to the man?

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

Explanation

The only daughter of the woman's grandfather is the woman's mother. That mother is also the man's mother, so the man and woman share the same mother and are siblings. The woman is therefore his sister.

Question 34General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statement: All inspectors in the zone are trained in first aid. Some trained persons are women. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. Some women are trained persons Correct answer.
  2. All trained persons are inspectors
  3. No inspector is a woman
  4. Some inspectors are women

Explanation

The second premise states directly that some trained persons are women, so some women are trained persons follows by simple conversion. The link between inspectors and women is not established, so conclusions about inspectors being women cannot be drawn.

Question 35General Intelligence and Reasoning

A committee of 3 is to be formed from 5 men and 3 women, with at least one woman on the committee. In how many ways can this be done?

  1. 46 Correct answer.
  2. 26
  3. 56
  4. 36

Explanation

Total committees of 3 from 8 people equal C(8,3)=56. Committees with no woman are all-men groups: C(5,3)=10. Subtracting gives 56−10=46 committees containing at least one woman.

Question 36General Intelligence and Reasoning

Four officers P, Q, R and S sit around a square table, one on each side, all facing the centre. P sits opposite R. Q sits to the immediate left of P. Who sits to the immediate right of R?

  1. S
  2. Q Correct answer.
  3. P
  4. Cannot be determined

Explanation

With P opposite R and all facing the centre, Q is immediately left of P. The remaining seat opposite Q is taken by S. Going around, the person immediately right of R is Q, since Q is adjacent to R on that side.

Question 37General Intelligence and Reasoning

Find the missing term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ____.

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

Explanation

The differences between consecutive terms are 4, 6, 8, 10, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference is 12, so 30+12=42.

Question 38General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

  1. 32
  2. 16
  3. 24 Correct answer.
  4. 8

Explanation

A 4×4×4 cut gives 64 cubes. Cubes with exactly one painted face lie at the centre of each face: (4−2)×(4−2)=4 per face, and 6 faces give 24.

Question 39General Intelligence and Reasoning

A father is currently three times as old as his daughter. In 12 years he will be twice as old as her. What is the daughter's present age?

  1. 12 years Correct answer.
  2. 10 years
  3. 14 years
  4. 8 years

Explanation

Let the daughter be x and father 3x. In 12 years, 3x+12=2(x+12), giving 3x+12=2x+24, so x=12. The daughter is 12 years old now.

Question 40General Intelligence and Reasoning

A clock gains 4 minutes every hour of real time. It is set correctly at 12 noon. What time will the clock show when the real time is 6 p.m. the same day?

  1. 6:24 p.m. Correct answer.
  2. 6:40 p.m.
  3. 6:20 p.m.
  4. 6:16 p.m.

Explanation

In 6 real hours the clock gains 6×4=24 minutes. Adding this to the real time of 6 p.m. gives a displayed time of 6:24 p.m.

Question 41General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a row of 45 cadets facing north, Arun is 12th from the left end and Bala is 18th from the right end. How many cadets stand between them?

  1. 16
  2. 14
  3. 13
  4. 15 Correct answer.

Explanation

Arun's position from the left is 12. Bala's position from the left is 45−18+1=28. The number between them is 28−12−1=15.

Question 42General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statement: The municipal office has decided to keep all its counters open until 8 p.m. during the last week of the month. Which assumption is implicit in this decision?

  1. Counters are usually closed throughout the month
  2. Citizens will need counter services later than usual during that week Correct answer.
  3. The staff have agreed to work without extra pay
  4. All citizens prefer to visit the office in the evening

Explanation

Extending counter hours assumes there will be demand for services beyond normal hours during that period. Without such a need, the extended hours would serve no purpose. The other options add conditions the decision does not require.

Question 43General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six officers sit in a circle facing the centre. A is opposite D, B is opposite E, and C is opposite F. If A is adjacent to B and F, which officer sits immediately to the right of A?

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

Explanation

With A adjacent to B and F, and everyone facing the centre, the seat to A's right is occupied by one of these neighbours. Reading the circle in the right-hand direction from A gives B, so B is immediately to A's right.

Question 44General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, each letter is replaced by its alphabet position, and the digits of any two-digit position are added to give a single digit. Using this rule, what code is produced for the word BAD?

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

Explanation

B is the 2nd letter, A is the 1st, and D is the 4th. None of these positions is two-digit, so no digit-summing is needed, giving 2 1 4.

Question 45General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five boxes are stacked one above another. Box U is above Box V but below Box W. Box X is below Box V. Box Y is above Box W. Which box is at the bottom of the stack?

  1. X Correct answer.
  2. V
  3. W
  4. U

Explanation

The relations give Y above W above U above V above X. The lowest position in this chain belongs to X, so X is at the bottom.

Question 46General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is followed by two courses of action. Statement: Several road accidents have occurred at a sharp bend on the highway during the past month. Course I: Install warning signs and speed-calming measures at the bend. Course II: Close the highway permanently to all traffic. Which course of action follows?

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

Explanation

A practical, proportionate response to repeated accidents at a bend is to add warning signs and speed-calming measures, so Course I follows. Permanently closing a highway is an extreme and impractical step not justified by the statement.

Question 47General Intelligence and Reasoning

Four officers A, B, C and D are ranked by seniority. A is senior to B. C is junior to B. D is senior to A. Who is the most junior officer?

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

Explanation

The chain is D senior to A senior to B senior to C. The officer at the end of the chain with the least seniority is C.

Question 48General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a code, TEACH is written as VGCEJ. Which pair of rules explains this transformation?

  1. Each letter moves three places forward
  2. Each letter moves two places backward
  3. Odd-position letters move two forward, even-position letters move two backward
  4. Each letter moves two places forward Correct answer.

Explanation

Checking each letter: T→V, E→G, A→C, C→E, H→J, every letter is exactly two places later in the alphabet. The rule is a uniform forward shift of two.

Question 49General Intelligence and Reasoning

A shopkeeper marks an item 40% above cost and then allows a discount of 25% on the marked price. What is his profit percentage on the cost price?

  1. 15%
  2. 20%
  3. 10%
  4. 5% Correct answer.

Explanation

Let cost be 100; the marked price is 140. After a 25% discount the selling price is 140×0.75=105, giving a profit of 5 on 100, which is 5%.

Question 50General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which of the following is a valid syllogistic conclusion? All auditors in the branch are qualified. Some qualified persons are Chartered Accountants.

  1. All Chartered Accountants are auditors
  2. No auditor is a Chartered Accountant
  3. Some auditors are Chartered Accountants
  4. Some qualified persons are auditors Correct answer.

Explanation

The first premise directly states that all auditors are qualified, which converts to some qualified persons being auditors. The second premise does not link Chartered Accountants to auditors, so conclusions mixing the two cannot be drawn.