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Karnataka Bank Clerk practice questions

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Question 1Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, BANK is written as CBO L. Using the same rule, how is CLERK written?

  1. DMFSL Correct answer.
  2. DMFSK
  3. CMFSL
  4. DNF SL

Explanation

The rule shifts each letter one place forward in the alphabet: B→C, A→B, N→O, K→L. Applying the identical +1 shift to CLERK gives C→D, L→M, E→F, R→S, K→L, producing DMFSL. The shift must be applied uniformly to every letter.

Question 2Reasoning Ability

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

Explanation

The grandfather's only son must be Ravi's own father, since an only son has no brothers. The daughter of Ravi's father is therefore Ravi's sister. The word 'only' is the key that rules out a cousin or uncle.

Question 3Reasoning Ability

If in a certain code MOUSE is written as NPT TF, which word would be coded as TJSF?

  1. SIR D
  2. TIRE
  3. SIRD
  4. SIRE Correct answer.

Explanation

MOUSE→NPTTF shows each letter moves one place forward. To decode TJSF, reverse the rule by shifting each letter one place backward: T→S, J→I, S→R, F→E. The decoded word is SIRE.

Question 4Reasoning Ability

Arrange the given words in the order in which they appear in a dictionary and pick the word that comes third. Words: Nation, Native, Nature, Narrate.

  1. Native
  2. Nation Correct answer.
  3. Narrate
  4. Nature

Explanation

Comparing letter by letter, Narrate (Nar…) comes first, then Nation (Nat-i), then Native (Nat-i-v) and finally Nature (Nat-u). The third word in this sequence is Native's neighbour, Nation, because Nation precedes Native at the fourth letter.

Question 5Reasoning Ability

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

  1. 8 km east
  2. 3 km west
  3. 5 km north
  4. 3 km east Correct answer.

Explanation

Walking 5 km north then 5 km south (after two right turns) cancels the vertical displacement. The only remaining displacement is the 3 km walked east after the first right turn, so he ends 3 km east of the start.

Question 6Reasoning Ability

Complete the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

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

Explanation

The differences between successive terms are 4, 6, 8, 10, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference is 12, so 30 + 12 = 42. Equivalently, each term is n(n+1) for n = 1, 2, 3, …, giving 6×7 = 42.

Question 7Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

Position from the right equals total number minus position from the left plus one: 40 − 12 + 1 = 29. The '+1' is needed because Kiran himself is counted once in each direction.

Question 8Reasoning Ability

Which of the following is the odd one out?

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

Explanation

Rectangle, square and rhombus are all quadrilaterals with four straight sides and four vertices. A circle has no straight sides and no vertices, so it alone does not belong to the quadrilateral family.

Question 9Reasoning Ability

Statements: All clerks are bankers. Some bankers are managers. Conclusions: I. Some clerks are managers. II. Some managers are bankers. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

Conclusion II simply converts the statement 'Some bankers are managers' and is therefore valid. Conclusion I is not guaranteed, because the managers who are bankers may lie entirely outside the clerk group.

Question 10Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

Since R occupies the leftmost seat and T must sit between S and U, the block S-T-U or U-T-S fills three consecutive seats. P and Q must then occupy the remaining adjacent pair with Q immediately right of P, placing Q at the rightmost seat.

Question 11Reasoning Ability

Five people A, B, C, D and E are of different heights. A is taller than B but shorter than C. D is taller than C. E is shorter than B. Who is the shortest?

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

Explanation

Combining the clues gives the order D > C > A > B > E. Since E is shorter than B and B is already shorter than A and C, E is the shortest of all five.

Question 12Reasoning Ability

If A + B means A is the father of B, A − B means A is the sister of B, and A × B means A is the son of B, then in M × N + O, how is M related to O?

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

Explanation

M × N means M is the son of N, so N is M's parent. N + O means N is the father of O, making O another child of N. M and O are therefore siblings, and since M is male, M is O's brother.

Question 13Reasoning Ability

In a code language, 'pen is red' is written as 'ta pa la', 'red is bright' as 'la pa ma', and 'bright star shines' as 'ma na sa'. What is the code for 'star'?

  1. ma
  2. na or sa Correct answer.
  3. la
  4. pa

Explanation

'red is' appears in the first two sentences and so corresponds to 'la pa' in some order. 'bright' is the remaining word in the second sentence, giving 'ma'. In the third sentence 'ma' is bright, leaving 'na' and 'sa' for 'star' and 'shines' without further information, so star is either na or sa.

Question 14Reasoning Ability

Find the missing term: 3, 10, 29, 66, ?

  1. 125
  2. 131
  3. 120
  4. 127 Correct answer.

Explanation

Each term follows n³ + 2 for n = 1, 2, 3, 4: 1+2=3, 8+2=10, 27+2=29, 64+2=66. For n = 5 the value is 125 + 2 = 127. The differences 7, 19, 37 also grow consistently with this cube pattern.

Question 15Reasoning Ability

A statement is followed by two assumptions. Statement: "Karnataka Bank invites applications from graduates for the post of Probationary Officer." Assumption I: Graduates may be interested in the post. Assumption II: The bank wants to recruit suitable candidates. Which assumption is implicit?

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

Explanation

Any public advertisement presupposes that suitable people exist and may respond, which supports Assumption I. It also presupposes that the organisation intends to fill the post with qualified candidates, which supports Assumption II. Hence both are implicit in the statement.

Question 16Reasoning Ability

Six persons are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. If P sits opposite R, and Q sits immediately to the right of P, who sits immediately to the left of R?

  1. Q Correct answer.
  2. P
  3. The person to the right of Q
  4. The person opposite Q

Explanation

With everyone facing the centre, the person immediately to the left of R is directly opposite the person immediately to the right of P. Since Q is to the right of P, Q is also to the left of R.

Question 17Reasoning Ability

If 'water' is called 'air', 'air' is called 'fire', 'fire' is called 'earth' and 'earth' is called 'water', then what do we breathe?

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

Explanation

We breathe air, and in this code 'air' has been renamed 'fire'. The question asks for the coded word, so the answer is 'fire'. One must substitute the label, not the real substance.

Question 18Reasoning Ability

Statements: No teller is a guard. All guards are cashiers. Conclusions: I. No teller is a cashier. II. Some cashiers are guards. 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

'All guards are cashiers' directly guarantees that some cashiers are guards, so II follows. Conclusion I is too strong: guards are cashiers, but tellers could still share the cashier category without being guards.

Question 19Reasoning Ability

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

  1. 65 degrees
  2. 80 degrees
  3. 90 degrees
  4. 75 degrees Correct answer.

Explanation

At 3:30 the minute hand points at 6 (180° from 12). The hour hand has moved half an hour past 3, reaching 105° from 12. The difference is 180 − 105 = 75 degrees.

Question 20Reasoning Ability

Which number should replace the question mark? 7 : 50 :: 9 : ?

  1. 82 Correct answer.
  2. 80
  3. 90
  4. 81

Explanation

The pattern is n : n² + 1, since 7² + 1 = 50. Applying the same rule, 9² + 1 = 82. The relation must be consistent across both pairs.

Question 21Reasoning Ability

Five boxes are stacked one above another. Box A is above C. Box B is below D. Box E is at the bottom. Box C is immediately above E. Which box is at the top?

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

Explanation

C is immediately above E at the bottom, so C is fourth from the top. A is above C, and B is below D, so D must occupy the top position with B somewhere beneath it. The only consistent top box is D.

Question 22Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, if 'ROSE' is written as 'ESOR' and 'LILY' is written as 'YLIL', how is 'JASMINE' written?

  1. ENIMSAK
  2. ENIMSAJ Correct answer.
  3. ENIMSAI
  4. ENIMSJA

Explanation

The rule reverses the order of the letters. Reversing J-A-S-M-I-N-E gives E-N-I-M-S-A-J. Every letter is retained, only the sequence is flipped.

Question 23Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

The mapping rotates every direction 135° anticlockwise: South-East→North, North-East→West, and West→North-East. Applying the same rotation consistently to West yields North-East.

Question 24Reasoning Ability

Seven students are ranked by marks. P is ranked higher than Q but lower than R. S is ranked higher than R. T is ranked lower than Q. Who is ranked lowest among P, Q, R, S and T?

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

Explanation

The clues give S > R > P > Q > T. Since T is below Q and Q is already below P, R and S, T occupies the lowest rank among the five.

Question 25Reasoning Ability

Statements: Some loans are defaults. All defaults are risks. No risk is safe. Conclusions: I. Some loans are risks. II. No default is safe. III. Some risks are loans. Which conclusions follow?

  1. I, II and III follow Correct answer.
  2. Only II and III follow
  3. Only I and III follow
  4. Only I and II follow

Explanation

Some loans are defaults and all defaults are risks, so those loans are risks, making I and III valid (III is just a conversion of I). Since no risk is safe and every default is a risk, no default can be safe, so II also follows.

Question 26Reasoning Ability

A bank passbook code uses letters shifted by a fixed rule. If 'LEDGER' is written as 'OHGJHU', how is 'BALANCE' written in the same code?

  1. EDODQFG
  2. EDODQFH Correct answer.
  3. EDOCQFH
  4. FDODQFH

Explanation

Each letter of LEDGER moves three places forward: L→O, E→H, D→G, G→J, E→H, R→U. Applying the same +3 shift to BALANCE gives B→E, A→D, L→O, A→D, N→Q, C→F, E→H, which spells EDODQFH.

Question 27Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, the word 'INTEREST' is written by reversing the letters and then replacing each vowel with the next vowel in the order A, E, I, O, U. Which of the following is the resulting code?

  1. TSERITNI
  2. TSIRITNI Correct answer.
  3. TSIRETNE
  4. TSERETNI

Explanation

Reversing INTEREST gives TSERETNI. The vowels in this string are E, E and I; each moves to the next vowel, so E becomes I and I becomes O. The coded word is therefore TSIRITNI.

Question 28Reasoning Ability

A series of branch codes follows the pattern 4, 9, 25, 49, 121, ?. Which number continues the series?

  1. 144
  2. 169 Correct answer.
  3. 225
  4. 196

Explanation

The terms are squares of consecutive prime numbers: 2²=4, 3²=9, 5²=25, 7²=49, 11²=121. The next prime is 13, whose square is 169.

Question 29Reasoning Ability

Study the series 5, 11, 23, 47, 95, ? and choose the term that comes next.

  1. 189
  2. 191 Correct answer.
  3. 190
  4. 193

Explanation

Each term is obtained by doubling the previous term and adding one: 5×2+1=11, 11×2+1=23, and so on up to 95×2+1=191. The required next term is therefore 191.

Question 30Reasoning Ability

A customer queue is numbered from the front. Ravi is 9th from the front and 16th from the back. How many customers are in the queue?

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

Explanation

When a person's rank from both ends is known, the total is (rank from front + rank from back) − 1 because the person is counted twice. Here 9 + 16 − 1 = 24.

Question 31Reasoning Ability

In a row of clerks facing north, Anil is 14th from the left and Sunil is 18th from the right. If they interchange positions, Anil becomes 26th from the left. How many clerks are in the row?

  1. 43 Correct answer.
  2. 40
  3. 41
  4. 42

Explanation

After interchange, Anil occupies Sunil's original place, which is 26th from the left and also 18th from the right. Total = 26 + 18 − 1 = 43.

Question 32Reasoning Ability

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

  1. Maternal uncle Correct answer.
  2. Cousin
  3. Father
  4. Brother

Explanation

Meena's mother's mother is her maternal grandmother. The only son of the maternal grandmother is Meena's mother's brother, that is, her maternal uncle.

Question 33Reasoning Ability

If P is the brother of Q, Q is the daughter of R, and R is the son of S, then how is P related to S?

  1. Son
  2. Nephew
  3. Grandfather
  4. Grandson Correct answer.

Explanation

R is S's son, so R's children Q and P are S's grandchildren. Since P is R's child, P is the grandson of S.

Question 34Reasoning Ability

A is to the north of B. C is to the east of B. D is to the south of C. In which direction is A from D?

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

Explanation

Taking B as origin, A lies north, C lies east and D lies south of C. So D is to the south-east of B while A is to the north of B, placing A to the north-west of D.

Question 35Reasoning Ability

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

  1. 8 km north
  2. 8 km east Correct answer.
  3. 10 km east
  4. 14 km east

Explanation

The northward 6 km and the southward 6 km cancel out, leaving only the 8 km eastward displacement. He is therefore 8 km east of the starting point.

Question 36Reasoning Ability

Statements: All auditors are officers. Some officers are trainees. Conclusions: I. Some auditors are trainees. II. Some trainees are officers. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

The 'some officers are trainees' statement converts to 'some trainees are officers', so conclusion II is valid. Nothing guarantees overlap between auditors and trainees, so conclusion I is not certain.

Question 37Reasoning Ability

Statements: All ledgers are records. No record is temporary. Conclusions: I. No ledger is temporary. II. Some records are ledgers. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

Since every ledger is a record and no record is temporary, no ledger can be temporary, so I follows. The statement 'all ledgers are records' also converts to 'some records are ledgers', so II follows.

Question 38Reasoning Ability

Six employees P, Q, R, S, T and U sit around a circular table facing the centre. P sits opposite S. Q sits second to the right of P. T sits immediately to the left of S. Who sits opposite Q?

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

Explanation

With P opposite S and Q second to the right of P, Q lands two places right of P. T sits immediately left of S, which places T directly opposite Q. The remaining seats are filled by R and U.

Question 39Reasoning Ability

Five files A, B, C, D and E are kept in a stack. A is above C but below E. B is below D. E is at the bottom of the stack. Which file is at the top?

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

Explanation

E is at the bottom, and A is above C but below E, so the order from bottom is E, A, C. B is below D, so D must be above B, placing D at the top of the stack.

Question 40Reasoning Ability

A clock shows 4:20. What is the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand?

  1. 10° Correct answer.
  2. 30°
  3. 0°
  4. 20°

Explanation

At 4:20 the minute hand points at 4 (120° from 12). The hour hand has moved 4×30 + 20×0.5 = 130°. The difference is 10°.

Question 41Reasoning Ability

Today is Wednesday. What day will it be after 100 days?

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

Explanation

100 divided by 7 leaves a remainder of 2. Moving two days forward from Wednesday gives Friday.

Question 42Reasoning Ability

A statement is followed by two courses of action. Statement: Many customers at a bank branch complain that token counters close before the advertised time. Courses of action: I. The branch should display the exact closing time at the token counter and monitor adherence. II. The branch should stop issuing tokens altogether. Which course of action logically follows?

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

Explanation

A practical action that addresses the stated complaint is to make the closing time clear and enforce it. Stopping token issuance entirely would harm service and does not solve the timing problem.

Question 43Reasoning Ability

Which of the following is the odd one out among the given terms?

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

Explanation

Rectangle, square and rhombus are all quadrilaterals with four sides, while a triangle has only three sides. The triangle is therefore the odd term.

Question 44Reasoning Ability

Find the missing term: 2, 5, 11, 23, 47, ?

  1. 95 Correct answer.
  2. 93
  3. 94
  4. 96

Explanation

Each term follows the rule 'multiply by 2 and add 1': 2×2+1=5, 5×2+1=11, and so on. Applying it to 47 gives 47×2+1=95.

Question 45Reasoning Ability

In a code, 'bank' is written as 'ybna' and 'loan' is written as 'naol'. How is 'cash' written in the same code?

  1. hsab
  2. gsac
  3. hsad
  4. hsac Correct answer.

Explanation

In both examples the letters of the word are simply reversed: bank becomes ybna and loan becomes naol. Reversing cash gives hsac.

Question 46Reasoning Ability

If 'blue' is called 'green', 'green' is called 'red', 'red' is called 'yellow' and 'yellow' is called 'white', what is the colour of a leaf called?

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

Explanation

A leaf is naturally green, and green is called red in the given code. So the colour of a leaf would be called red.

Question 47Reasoning Ability

In a family, A is the father of B. B is the sister of C. C is the son of D. E is the mother of D. How is A related to D?

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

Explanation

A is the father of B and C, and D is the parent of C. Since A and D are the parents of the same children, A is the husband of D.

Question 48Reasoning Ability

A person starts facing north, turns 135° clockwise, then turns 90° anticlockwise. Which direction is the person facing now?

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

Explanation

Starting from north, a 135° clockwise turn points south-east. A further 90° anticlockwise from south-east points south-east to south, then south to south-west... wait, rechecking: south-east minus 90° gives north-east. Actually 135° clockwise from north is south-east; turning 90° anticlockwise from south-east gives south-west. Let me correct: the net turn is 135° − 90° = 45° clockwise from north, which points north-east.

Question 49Reasoning Ability

Eight persons sit in a straight row facing north. R sits fourth from the left end. S sits third from the right end. If exactly two persons sit between R and S, how many persons sit between R and the left end?

  1. 3 Correct answer.
  2. 5
  3. Cannot be determined
  4. 4

Explanation

R is fourth from the left, so three persons sit between R and the left end. This is fixed by R's stated position and does not depend on S.

Question 50Reasoning Ability

Statements: Some branches are urban. All urban branches have ATMs. Conclusions: I. Some branches have ATMs. II. All branches have ATMs. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

The branches that are urban must have ATMs, so some branches definitely have ATMs. The premises say nothing about non-urban branches, so 'all branches have ATMs' is not guaranteed.