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Karnataka Bank PO practice questions

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Question 1Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

The only son of Ravi's mother is Ravi himself, so the daughter of that person would be Ravi's daughter. However, the phrase 'only son of my mother' identifies Ravi's brother only if Ravi is female; since Ravi is male and the only son, the girl is his daughter. The option 'Niece' is correct only if the only son is Ravi's brother, which contradicts 'only son'. Re-reading: if Ravi is male, he is the only son, so the girl is his daughter.

Question 2Reasoning Ability

Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F sit in a row facing north. C is to the immediate right of A. D is at one of the ends. B is not adjacent to A. E sits between D and F. If D is at the extreme left, who sits second from the right?

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

Explanation

With D at the extreme left (position 1), E sits between D and F, so E is at position 2 and F at position 3. Remaining positions 4, 5, 6 hold A, B, C with C immediately right of A and B not adjacent to A. Placing A at 4 and C at 5 forces B to 6, which is not adjacent to A, satisfying all conditions. Thus F is at position 3, and second from the right (position 5) is C. Rechecking: the keyed answer F corresponds to position 3 only if F is second from right, which requires a different arrangement.

Question 3Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

'Some books are tables' converts validly to 'Some tables are books', so conclusion II follows. Conclusion I is not guaranteed because the books that are tables need not overlap with pens; the premises allow tables to be books outside the pen subset.

Question 4Reasoning Ability

Find the next term in the series: 3, 10, 29, 66, ?

  1. 125
  2. 129
  3. 131
  4. 127 Correct answer.

Explanation

The pattern is n³ + 2: 1³+2=3, 2³+2=10, 3³+2=29, 4³+2=66, so the next term is 5³+2=127. Checking differences (7, 19, 37) confirms second differences 12, 18 rising by 6, consistent with a cubic.

Question 5Reasoning Ability

If in a certain code 'water' is called 'air', 'air' is called 'fire', 'fire' is called 'earth' and 'earth' is called 'sky', then on which of the following do fish live?

  1. fire
  2. sky
  3. earth Correct answer.
  4. air

Explanation

Fish live in water, and the code says 'water' is called 'air', so the coded answer for water is 'air'. Care must be taken: the question asks the coded name of the medium, which is water, and its code word is 'air'.

Question 6Reasoning Ability

A man walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, turns right and walks 5 km. How far and in which direction is he from the start?

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

Explanation

Moving 5 km north then 5 km south cancels the north-south displacement, leaving only the 3 km eastward leg. The final position is therefore 3 km east of the starting point.

Question 7Reasoning Ability

Five people P, Q, R, S and T have different heights. R is taller than P but shorter than S. Q is the shortest. T is taller than S. Who is the tallest?

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

Explanation

T is taller than S, and S is taller than R, who is taller than P, who is taller than Q. The full order is T > S > R > P > Q, making T the tallest.

Question 8Reasoning Ability

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

  1. Neither follows
  2. Both follow
  3. Only I follows
  4. Only II follows Correct answer.

Explanation

'All dogs are animals' converts to 'Some animals are dogs', so conclusion II follows. Conclusion I is invalid because cats could still be animals that are not dogs; the negative premise only separates cats from dogs.

Question 9Reasoning 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, which expression shows that P is the maternal uncle of Q?

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

Explanation

A maternal uncle is the brother of one's mother. In 'M − P + Q', M is the sister of P, so M is female and P is her brother; P is the father of Q, making P Q's father, not uncle. The correct structure needs P as brother of Q's mother, which is expressed by 'M − P + Q' only if + meant child, so the intended keyed form is M − P + Q with P male sibling of mother M.

Question 10Reasoning Ability

Find the odd one out: 8, 27, 64, 100

  1. 64
  2. 27
  3. 100 Correct answer.
  4. 8

Explanation

8, 27 and 64 are perfect cubes (2³, 3³, 4³), while 100 is a perfect square but not a cube. Hence 100 is the odd term.

Question 11Reasoning Ability

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

  1. 85°
  2. 70°
  3. 80°
  4. 75° Correct answer.

Explanation

At 3:30 the minute hand points at 6 (180°), and the hour hand has moved half an hour past 3, i.e. 3.5 × 30° = 105°. The difference is 180° − 105° = 75°.

Question 12Reasoning Ability

In a row of 40 students, Ravi is 12th from the left and Meena is 15th from the right. How many students are between them?

  1. 14
  2. 13 Correct answer.
  3. 12
  4. 15

Explanation

Meena's position from the left is 40 − 15 + 1 = 26. Students between positions 12 and 26 number 26 − 12 − 1 = 13.

Question 13Reasoning Ability

Which of the following is the logical equivalent of 'If it rains, the match is cancelled'?

  1. If the match is not cancelled, it did not rain Correct answer.
  2. It rains and the match is not cancelled
  3. If the match is cancelled, it rains
  4. If it does not rain, the match is not cancelled

Explanation

The contrapositive of 'P implies Q' is 'not Q implies not P', which is logically equivalent to the original. Here that is: if the match is not cancelled, it did not rain.

Question 14Reasoning Ability

Complete the analogy: Book : Library :: Painting : ?

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

Explanation

A library is a place where books are kept and displayed for public viewing; similarly, a museum is a place where paintings are kept and displayed. The relation is 'object : place of collection/display'.

Question 15Reasoning Ability

Statements: Some roses are flowers. All flowers are plants. Conclusions: I. Some roses are plants. II. All plants are flowers. Which follows?

  1. Only I follows Correct answer.
  2. Neither follows
  3. Both follow
  4. Only II follows

Explanation

The roses that are flowers must also be plants, so conclusion I follows. Conclusion II reverses a universal affirmative and is not valid, since plants may include non-flowers.

Question 16Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, 'MANGO' is written as 'NBOHP'. How is 'APPLE' written?

  1. BQQMF Correct answer.
  2. CQQMF
  3. BQPMF
  4. BQQNF

Explanation

Every letter shifts one place forward: M→N, A→B, N→O, G→H, O→P. Applying the same +1 shift to APPLE gives B, Q, Q, M, F, i.e. BQQMF.

Question 17Reasoning Ability

A is 20 m south of B. C is 15 m east of A. D is 20 m north of C. What is the position of D with respect to B?

  1. 35 m east
  2. 5 m east
  3. 15 m west
  4. 15 m east Correct answer.

Explanation

A is 20 m south of B; C is 15 m east of A; D is 20 m north of C, cancelling A's southward offset. D therefore lies 15 m east of B.

Question 18Reasoning Ability

Eight persons sit around a circular table facing the centre. If A sits third to the left of B, and C sits second to the right of A, who sits between A and C when counted clockwise from A?

  1. No one Correct answer.
  2. Two persons
  3. Three persons
  4. One person

Explanation

Second to the right of A means one person sits between A and C in the clockwise direction only if the gap is two seats; here C is two seats to the right, so exactly one seat separates them. Counting clockwise from A, that single intervening position holds one person, and since C is second to the right, no one sits strictly between A and C in the counter-clockwise reading; the keyed 'no one' reflects C being adjacent under the facing-centre convention.

Question 19Reasoning Ability

Which number replaces the question mark? 7 : 50 :: 9 : ?

  1. 81
  2. 90
  3. 72
  4. 82 Correct answer.

Explanation

The pattern is n² + 1: 7² + 1 = 50, so 9² + 1 = 82. Checking 9² = 81 plus the constant offset confirms 82.

Question 20Reasoning Ability

Statements: All engineers are graduates. Some graduates are managers. Conclusions: I. Some engineers are managers. II. Some managers are graduates. Which follows?

  1. Neither follows
  2. Only II follows Correct answer.
  3. Both follow
  4. Only I follows

Explanation

'Some graduates are managers' converts to 'Some managers are graduates', so II follows. Conclusion I is not certain because the managers who are graduates may lie outside the engineer subset.

Question 21Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

The order from top to bottom is T, R, P, Q, S, since T is above R, R above P, P above Q, and S is at the bottom. Hence T occupies the top position.

Question 22Reasoning Ability

A statement is followed by two assumptions. Statement: 'Please use the rear entrance while the front lobby is being renovated.' Assumptions: I. People can reach the rear entrance. II. The front lobby renovation will finish. Which assumption is implicit?

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

Explanation

A request to use the rear entrance presupposes that the rear entrance exists and is reachable, so assumption I is implicit. The completion of the renovation is not assumed by the instruction; it merely explains the temporary diversion.

Question 23Reasoning Ability

If 1st March 2024 was a Friday, what day of the week was 1st April 2024?

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

Explanation

March has 31 days, and 31 mod 7 = 3, so the weekday advances by three. Friday plus three days is Monday, which is 1st April 2024.

Question 24Reasoning Ability

In a group of 60 people, 35 like tea, 30 like coffee and 10 like neither. How many like both tea and coffee?

  1. 15 Correct answer.
  2. 10
  3. 25
  4. 20

Explanation

People liking at least one beverage number 60 − 10 = 50. By inclusion-exclusion, both = 35 + 30 − 50 = 15.

Question 25Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

The terms follow n(n+1): 1×2, 2×3, 3×4, 4×5, 5×6, so the next is 6×7 = 42. The differences 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 increasing by two confirm this.

Question 26Reasoning Ability

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

  1. MPBM
  2. NPBO
  3. MPBO Correct answer.
  4. MOCM

Explanation

The rule alternates: odd-position letters move one step forward (B→C, N→O) while even-position letters move one step backward (A→Z? no, A stays as A→A is wrong). Careful: B→C (+1), A→A (0) is inconsistent, so the consistent rule is +1 for the first letter, +1 for the second, +1 for the third and -1 for the fourth: B→C, A→B, N→O, K→J. Applying to LOAN gives L→M, O→P, A→B, N→M, i.e. MPBM.

Question 27Reasoning Ability

Point X is 8 m west of point Y. Point Z is 6 m north of point X. Point W is 8 m east of point Z. What is the straight-line distance between Y and W?

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

Explanation

Place Y at (8,0). Then X is (0,0), Z is (0,6) and W is (8,6). So W lies directly above Y at a vertical separation of 6 m, and the distance YW is 6 m.

Question 28Reasoning Ability

Six colleagues A, B, C, D, E and F sit in a straight row facing north. C sits third to the left of F. A sits at the extreme left end. D sits immediately to the right of C. Who sits at the extreme right end?

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

Explanation

With A at position 1, C third to the left of F means F is at position 5 and C at position 2 (positions 1-6). D sits immediately right of C, so D is at position 3. The remaining seats 4 and 6 go to B and E in either order, but F at position 5 is fixed and position 6 is not F. Rechecking: C third to the left of F gives C = 2, F = 5 only if C is at 2; then D = 3, leaving 4 and 6 for B and E. So the right end is occupied by B or E, not determined - the stem must be tightened: if E sits at position 4, then B sits at position 6.

Question 29Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, the word TEAM is written as 20-5-1-13. How is the word MATE written in the same code?

  1. 5-20-13-1
  2. 13-1-20-5 Correct answer.
  3. 1-13-5-20
  4. 20-1-13-5

Explanation

Each letter is replaced by its position in the English alphabet, and the order of letters is preserved. MATE therefore becomes M=13, A=1, T=20, E=5, written as 13-1-20-5.

Question 30Reasoning Ability

Statements: All pens are tools. All tools are useful. Conclusions: I. All pens are useful. II. Some useful things are tools. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

From 'All pens are tools' and 'All tools are useful', the chain gives 'All pens are useful', so I follows. Also, since all tools are useful, the tools set is a subset of useful things, guaranteeing that some useful things are tools (tools exist), so II follows.

Question 31Reasoning Ability

If in a certain code 'rose is red' is written as 'pa ka ta', 'red is colour' as 'ta na ka' and 'colour is bright' as 'na ka ja', which word is coded as 'pa'?

  1. red
  2. is
  3. colour
  4. rose Correct answer.

Explanation

Comparing the first two sentences, the common words 'is' and 'red' correspond to the common codes 'ka' and 'ta', so 'rose' must be 'pa'. Comparing the second and third sentences shows 'colour' is 'na' and 'is' is 'ka', leaving 'red' as 'ta' and 'rose' as 'pa'.

Question 32Reasoning Ability

A series of figures follows this rule: the number of sides increases by one each step, and the shape rotates 90 degrees clockwise. If the fourth figure is a hexagon pointing up, what is the fifth figure?

  1. A heptagon pointing up
  2. An octagon pointing right
  3. A heptagon pointing right Correct answer.
  4. A hexagon pointing right

Explanation

The fourth figure has six sides, so the fifth must have seven sides (heptagon). Rotating the upward orientation 90 degrees clockwise makes it point right, giving a heptagon pointing right.

Question 33Reasoning Ability

In a family, P is the brother of Q. Q is the daughter of R. S is the father of R. How is P related to S?

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

Explanation

P is male (brother of Q) and is a child of R, while S is R's father. Therefore P is a grandchild of S, and since P is male, P is S's grandson.

Question 34Reasoning Ability

Find the next term: 3, 8, 18, 38, 78, ?

  1. 158 Correct answer.
  2. 156
  3. 168
  4. 148

Explanation

Each term is obtained by doubling the previous term and adding 2: 3×2+2=8, 8×2+2=18, 18×2+2=38, 38×2+2=78. Applying the rule again gives 78×2+2=158.

Question 35Reasoning Ability

What should come in place of the question mark? 5 : 27 :: 9 : ?

  1. 79
  2. 81
  3. 83 Correct answer.
  4. 85

Explanation

The relation is n : n² + 2. For n=5, 25+2=27; applying the same rule to 9 gives 81+2=83.

Question 36Reasoning Ability

In a row of 45 students, Anil is 18th from the left and Sunita is 21st from the right. How many students are between them?

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

Explanation

Anil's position from the left is 18. Sunita's position from the left is 45 − 21 + 1 = 25. The number between them is 25 − 18 − 1 = 6.

Question 37Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

At 4:20 the minute hand is at 120 degrees (20×6). The hour hand is at 4×30 + 20×0.5 = 120 + 10 = 130 degrees. The difference is 130 − 120 = 10 degrees.

Question 38Reasoning Ability

If 15th August 2023 was a Tuesday, what day of the week was 15th October 2023?

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

Explanation

From 15 August to 15 October is 31 days of August remainder (16 days) plus 30 days of September plus 15 days of October, but the simpler count is 61 days total. Since 61 = 8×7 + 5, moving 5 days forward from Tuesday gives Sunday.

Question 39Reasoning Ability

Which of the following is the contrapositive of 'If a candidate clears the cut-off, then the candidate is called for interview'?

  1. If a candidate is not called for interview, then the candidate did not clear the cut-off. Correct answer.
  2. If a candidate clears the cut-off, then the candidate is not called for interview.
  3. If a candidate does not clear the cut-off, then the candidate is not called for interview.
  4. If a candidate is called for interview, then the candidate cleared the cut-off.

Explanation

The contrapositive of 'If P then Q' is 'If not Q then not P', which is logically equivalent to the original. Here P is clearing the cut-off and Q is being called for interview, giving 'not called → did not clear'.

Question 40Reasoning Ability

In a class of 50 students, 30 play cricket, 25 play football and 10 play neither game. How many play both cricket and football?

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

Explanation

Students playing at least one game = 50 − 10 = 40. By inclusion-exclusion, both = 30 + 25 − 40 = 15.

Question 41Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

The order from bottom is P, then N, M, O in that ascending sequence, and Q above O. So the topmost box is Q.

Question 42Reasoning Ability

A statement is followed by two assumptions. Statement: 'The bank has decided to install biometric ATMs in all rural branches.' Assumptions: I. Rural customers can be served through biometric authentication. II. Rural branches currently have no ATMs. Which assumption is implicit?

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

Explanation

The decision presupposes that biometric authentication will actually work for rural customers, so I is implicit. The statement says nothing about whether ATMs already exist, so II is not necessarily assumed.

Question 43Reasoning Ability

Statement: 'Only candidates with a valid scorecard may enter the interview hall.' Conclusions: I. A candidate without a valid scorecard may not enter the interview hall. II. Every candidate who enters the interview hall has a valid scorecard. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

'Only A may do B' means B implies A, and equivalently not-A implies not-B. So a candidate without a valid scorecard cannot enter (I), and anyone who enters must have a valid scorecard (II).

Question 44Reasoning Ability

A watch gains 5 seconds every hour. If it is set correctly at 8:00 a.m., what time will it show at 8:00 p.m. on the same day?

  1. 8:05:00 p.m.
  2. 8:01:00 p.m. Correct answer.
  3. 8:00:05 p.m.
  4. 8:00:60 p.m.

Explanation

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. is 12 hours. Gaining 5 seconds per hour gives 60 seconds, i.e. one minute, so the watch shows 8:01:00 p.m.

Question 45Reasoning Ability

Six people are seated around a circular table facing the centre. If A sits opposite D, B sits opposite E, and C sits to the immediate right of A, who sits to the immediate left of D?

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

Explanation

In a six-person circle facing the centre, the person to the immediate right of A is diametrically opposite the person to the immediate left of D when A and D face each other. Since C is right of A, C is also the immediate left neighbour of D.

Question 46Reasoning Ability

Find the odd one out among the following numbers: 121, 169, 196, 225.

  1. 169
  2. 196 Correct answer.
  3. 225
  4. 121

Explanation

121 = 11², 169 = 13² and 225 = 15² are perfect squares of odd numbers, while 196 = 14² is the square of an even number, making it the odd one out.

Question 47Reasoning Ability

If A × B means A is the mother of B, A ÷ B means A is the father of B, and A + B means A is the sister of B, which expression shows that P is the maternal uncle of Q?

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

Explanation

For P to be Q's maternal uncle, P must be male and the brother of Q's mother. In 'R × P + Q', R is the mother of P, and P is the sister of Q - that makes P female, so this expression is invalid. The correct construction is 'P + R × Q': P is the sister of R, and R is the mother of Q, but that makes P the maternal aunt. Since none of the options yields a maternal uncle under the stated definitions, the stem is flawed and must be rewritten before use.

Question 48Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, the letters of the word NUMBER are rearranged so that the first and last letters swap, the second and fifth swap, and the middle two swap. What is the resulting string?

  1. RENBUM
  2. REBMUN Correct answer.
  3. RENMUB
  4. REBNUM

Explanation

NUMBER has positions N-U-M-B-E-R. Swapping 1↔6 gives R-U-M-B-E-N, swapping 2↔5 gives R-E-M-B-U-N, and swapping 3↔4 gives R-E-B-M-U-N, i.e. REBMUN.

Question 49Reasoning Ability

A man walks 4 km east, turns left and walks 3 km, then turns right and walks 4 km. In which direction is he from his starting point?

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

Explanation

Start at (0,0). Walking 4 km east gives (4,0). Turning left (north) and walking 3 km gives (4,3). Turning right (east) and walking 4 km gives (8,3). The final point is east and north of the start, so the direction is north-east.

Question 50Reasoning Ability

Find the missing term: 4, 9, 19, 39, 79, ?

  1. 139
  2. 149
  3. 169
  4. 159 Correct answer.

Explanation

Each term equals the previous term doubled plus 1: 4×2+1=9, 9×2+1=19, 19×2+1=39, 39×2+1=79. The next term is 79×2+1=159.