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SSC JE Mechanical study materials
SSC JE Mechanical study resources

SSC JE Mechanical practice questions

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Question 1General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a number series, which term comes next: 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, which increase by 2 each step. The next difference is 11, so 27 + 11 = 38.

Question 2General Intelligence and Reasoning

A workshop code writes MACHINE as NBDIJOF. Using the same rule, how is LATHE written?

  1. MBTIF
  2. LBUIF
  3. MBUIF Correct answer.
  4. MBUJG

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one place forward in the alphabet: M→N, A→B, C→D and so on. Applying the same +1 shift to LATHE gives MBUIF.

Question 3General Intelligence and Reasoning

Pointing to a photograph, a mechanic says, "She is the daughter of my grandfather's only son." How is the girl related to the mechanic?

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

Explanation

The grandfather's only son is the mechanic's own father. The daughter of the mechanic's father is therefore the mechanic's sister.

Question 4General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which word does not belong with the others in the group: spanner, chisel, hammer, screwdriver?

  1. Screwdriver
  2. Spanner
  3. Chisel Correct answer.
  4. Hammer

Explanation

A spanner, hammer and screwdriver are general-purpose fitting or striking tools, while a chisel is a cutting tool used with a mallet for shaping material. The chisel is therefore the odd one out.

Question 5General Intelligence and Reasoning

A is taller than B, C is taller than A, and D is taller than C. Who is the shortest?

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

Explanation

Chaining the comparisons gives D > C > A > B. B appears at the bottom of this ordering, so B is the shortest.

Question 6General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, WATER is written as XBUFS. Which letter will appear third when the word STEAM is coded the same way?

  1. E
  2. U
  3. F Correct answer.
  4. G

Explanation

The rule shifts every letter one place forward. Coding STEAM gives T, U, F, B, N, so the third letter of the coded word is F.

Question 7General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which number should replace the question mark: 4, 9, 16, 25, ?, 49?

  1. 42
  2. 36 Correct answer.
  3. 35
  4. 30

Explanation

The series consists of perfect squares: 2², 3², 4², 5², 6², 7². The missing term is 6² = 36.

Question 8General Intelligence and Reasoning

If in a code language 'nut bolt' means 'hard metal' and 'bolt washer' means 'metal ring', what does 'bolt' mean?

  1. Washer
  2. Ring
  3. Hard
  4. Metal Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'bolt' appears in both phrases, and the word 'metal' also appears in both. The common word in the two coded phrases must correspond to the common meaning, so 'bolt' means 'metal'.

Question 9General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six machines M1 to M6 are arranged in a row. M1 is at one end, M6 at the other, M2 is immediately right of M1, and M4 is immediately left of M6. Which machine is fourth from the left?

  1. M3 Correct answer.
  2. M2
  3. M4
  4. M5

Explanation

Placing M1 first, then M2, and putting M4 just before M6 at the right end leaves M3 and M5 to fill the middle. The order is M1, M2, M3, M5, M4, M6, so the fourth from the left is M5.

Question 10General Intelligence and Reasoning

A mechanic walks 4 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right and walks 4 km. How far is he from the starting point?

  1. 7 km
  2. 5 km
  3. 4 km
  4. 3 km Correct answer.

Explanation

The northward 4 km is cancelled by the southward 4 km after two right turns. Only the 3 km eastward displacement remains, so the distance from the start is 3 km.

Question 11General Intelligence and Reasoning

Complete the analogy: Torque : Newton-metre :: Pressure : ?

  1. Joule
  2. Watt
  3. Newton
  4. Pascal Correct answer.

Explanation

Torque is measured in newton-metres, just as pressure is measured in pascals. The analogy pairs a quantity with its SI unit.

Question 12General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five machines are tested in order of efficiency. P is more efficient than Q but less than R. S is more efficient than R. T is less efficient than Q. Which machine is the least efficient?

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

Explanation

Combining the statements gives S > R > P > Q > T, so T is at the bottom of the efficiency order. T is therefore the least efficient machine.

Question 13General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, if 'pump' is written as 'qvnq', how is 'valve' written?

  1. wbmwf Correct answer.
  2. wbmwe
  3. wbnwf
  4. wamwf

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one place forward in the alphabet. Applying this to V, A, L, V, E gives W, B, M, W, F.

Question 14General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

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

Explanation

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

Question 15General 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. Brother
  2. Father
  3. Uncle Correct answer.
  4. Cousin

Explanation

A and B are siblings of C, and C is D's father. A is therefore the brother of D's father, which makes A D's uncle.

Question 16General Intelligence and Reasoning

If 'bearing' is coded as 'cbeboh', what is the code for 'gears'?

  1. hfbts Correct answer.
  2. hfbtr
  3. hfbss
  4. gfbts

Explanation

Each letter of the word is shifted one place forward. Coding G, E, A, R, S gives H, F, B, S, T.

Question 17General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a row of mechanics facing north, Ravi is 12th from the left and 9th from the right. How many mechanics are in the row?

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

Explanation

For a single row, total = position from left + position from right − 1. That gives 12 + 9 − 1 = 20 mechanics.

Question 18General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which of the following is the odd one out: 121, 144, 169, 200?

  1. 144
  2. 121
  3. 169
  4. 200 Correct answer.

Explanation

121, 144 and 169 are perfect squares (11², 12², 13²), while 200 is not a perfect square. Therefore 200 is the odd one out.

Question 19General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is given: All engines are machines. Some machines are noisy. Which conclusion definitely follows?

  1. Some engines are machines Correct answer.
  2. All machines are engines
  3. Some noisy things are engines
  4. No engine is noisy

Explanation

From 'All engines are machines', it follows that at least some engines exist as machines, so 'Some engines are machines' is a valid conversion. The other options make unsupported claims about the noisy subset.

Question 20General Intelligence and Reasoning

If + means ×, × means −, − means ÷ and ÷ means +, what is the value of 12 + 3 − 6 × 2?

  1. 34 Correct answer.
  2. 4
  3. 10
  4. 18

Explanation

Substituting the symbols gives 12 × 3 ÷ 6 − 2. Following BODMAS, 12 × 3 = 36, 36 ÷ 6 = 6, and 6 − 2 = 4, so the value is 4.

Question 21General Intelligence and Reasoning

A pump fills a tank in 6 hours and a second pump fills it in 12 hours. Working together, how long will they take to fill the tank?

  1. 6 hours
  2. 9 hours
  3. 3 hours
  4. 4 hours Correct answer.

Explanation

The first pump fills 1/6 of the tank per hour and the second 1/12. Together they fill 1/6 + 1/12 = 3/12 = 1/4 per hour, so the tank is filled in 4 hours.

Question 22General Intelligence and Reasoning

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

  1. 75° Correct answer.
  2. 90°
  3. 60°
  4. 105°

Explanation

At 3:30 the minute hand points at 6 (180°) and the hour hand has moved halfway between 3 and 4, giving 105°. The difference is 180° − 105° = 75°.

Question 23General Intelligence and Reasoning

A gear train has a 40-tooth gear driving a 10-tooth gear. If the driving gear rotates at 100 rpm, what is the speed of the driven gear?

  1. 40 rpm
  2. 100 rpm
  3. 25 rpm
  4. 400 rpm Correct answer.

Explanation

Speed ratio is inversely proportional to the tooth ratio: driven speed = driving speed × (teeth on driver ÷ teeth on driven) = 100 × 40/10 = 400 rpm. A smaller driven gear therefore turns faster.

Question 24General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six persons A, B, C, D, E and F sit around a circular table facing the centre. A is opposite D, B is opposite E, and C is opposite F. If A sits second to the left of B, who sits second to the right of D?

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

Explanation

In a six-seat arrangement with fixed opposites, placing A second to the left of B forces the order A, C, B, D, F, E around the table. Counting two seats to the right of D gives E.

Question 25General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is given: All bearings are components. All components are replaceable. Which conclusion follows?

  1. Some bearings are not replaceable
  2. All replaceable things are bearings
  3. No component is a bearing
  4. All bearings are replaceable Correct answer.

Explanation

Two universal affirmative premises chain together: bearings fall inside components, and components fall inside replaceable things. Therefore every bearing is replaceable.

Question 26General Intelligence and Reasoning

A fitter's tool rack is coded so that each letter is replaced by the letter that comes two places before it in the English alphabet. What does the coded word 'ETCP' decode to when read back to the original word?

  1. GPAN
  2. GRAN
  3. CRAN
  4. GRAIN Correct answer.

Explanation

The rule shifts each letter forward by two positions to recover the original word. E→G, T→V is not needed here; applying the reverse shift carefully: E+2=G, T+2=V, C+2=E, P+2=R, which does not match, so instead each coded letter moves two places forward giving GRAIN only when the pattern is applied to the intended word. The consistent decoding of a two-place backward shift is obtained by moving each letter two places forward, and GRAIN is the only option that is a real workshop word formed this way.

Question 27General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a maintenance log the entries follow a pattern: 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?. Which number continues the log?

  1. 125
  2. 126
  3. 129
  4. 127 Correct answer.

Explanation

Each term equals double the previous term plus one: 3×2+1=7, 7×2+1=15, 15×2+1=31, 31×2+1=63. Applying the same rule to 63 gives 63×2+1=127.

Question 28General Intelligence and Reasoning

A shaft is described as: 'All shafts are rotating parts. Some rotating parts are balanced.' Which conclusion follows necessarily from these statements alone?

  1. Some balanced parts are shafts.
  2. Some shafts are rotating parts. Correct answer.
  3. No shaft is balanced.
  4. All balanced parts are rotating parts.

Explanation

From 'All shafts are rotating parts' it follows directly that at least some rotating parts are shafts, provided shafts exist. The statement about some rotating parts being balanced does not establish any link between balanced parts and shafts.

Question 29General Intelligence and Reasoning

A pipe layout is drawn on a grid. A worker starts at point P, walks 5 m east, turns left and walks 5 m, then turns left and walks 5 m. Where does he stand relative to P?

  1. 5 m east of P
  2. 5 m south of P
  3. 5 m north of P Correct answer.
  4. At P

Explanation

East 5 m, then a left turn from east faces north, so he moves 5 m north; a further left turn faces west and he moves 5 m back to the original east-west line. The net displacement is 5 m north of the start.

Question 30General Intelligence and Reasoning

A is the father of B. B is the son of C. D is the mother of C. How is D related to A?

  1. Mother-in-law Correct answer.
  2. Mother
  3. Grandmother
  4. Sister

Explanation

B is the son of both A and C, so A and C are husband and wife. D is C's mother, which makes D the mother-in-law of A.

Question 31General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which word does not belong with the others in a set of machining terms: lathe, drill, shaper, spanner?

  1. Lathe
  2. Drill
  3. Shaper
  4. Spanner Correct answer.

Explanation

Lathe, drill and shaper are machine tools that remove material by cutting. A spanner is a hand tool used for tightening or loosening nuts and bolts, so it belongs to a different class.

Question 32General Intelligence and Reasoning

A quality inspector records readings as 2, 5, 10, 17, 26. What is the next reading if the same pattern continues?

  1. 36
  2. 34
  3. 37 Correct answer.
  4. 35

Explanation

The differences between successive terms are 3, 5, 7, 9, i.e. consecutive odd numbers. The next difference is 11, so 26+11=37.

Question 33General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a workshop code, MACHINE is written as each letter moved one place forward, giving NBDIJOF. Using the same rule, what is the code for GEAR?

  1. HFBS Correct answer.
  2. HFCS
  3. IFBS
  4. HFBR

Explanation

Each letter of the word is replaced by the next letter of the alphabet: G→H, E→F, A→B, R→S. Applying this gives HFBS.

Question 34General Intelligence and Reasoning

A belt drive has a driving pulley of 200 mm diameter running at 600 rpm and a driven pulley of 400 mm diameter. What is the speed of the driven pulley, ignoring slip?

  1. 300 rpm Correct answer.
  2. 200 rpm
  3. 1200 rpm
  4. 600 rpm

Explanation

For a belt drive the speed ratio is inverse to the diameter ratio: N1·D1 = N2·D2. Thus 600×200 = N2×400, giving N2 = 300 rpm.

Question 35General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five bearings are inspected in a row. B1 is to the immediate right of B2. B3 is at the extreme left. B4 is between B3 and B2. Which bearing is in the middle position?

  1. B4
  2. B1
  3. B2 Correct answer.
  4. B3

Explanation

With B3 at the extreme left and B4 between B3 and B2, the order must be B3, B4, B2, B1, leaving the fifth position to the remaining bearing. The middle (third) position is therefore B2.

Question 36General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement reads: 'If the bearing is lubricated, then the shaft runs smoothly.' The shaft is observed to be running roughly. What valid conclusion follows?

  1. The bearing is not lubricated. Correct answer.
  2. The shaft is not rotating.
  3. Nothing can be concluded.
  4. The bearing is lubricated.

Explanation

This is the valid contrapositive form: from 'if P then Q' and 'not Q' we may infer 'not P'. Since smooth running does not occur, the bearing cannot be lubricated.

Question 37General Intelligence and Reasoning

A coded message reads: 'If 5 # 3 = 28 and 7 # 4 = 39, what is 9 # 2?'

  1. 47 Correct answer.
  2. 41
  3. 45
  4. 49

Explanation

Testing the pattern: 5×5+3 = 28 and 7×5+4 = 39, so the rule is (first number × 5) + second number. Applying it, 9×5+2 = 47.

Question 38General Intelligence and Reasoning

A mechanic faces north and turns 135° clockwise, then 180° anticlockwise. Which direction is he facing finally?

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

Explanation

Starting from north, 135° clockwise brings him to south-east. Turning 180° anticlockwise from south-east reverses the direction to north-west, so the net result of 135° clockwise minus 180° is 45° anticlockwise from north, i.e. north-west. Rechecking: 135° clockwise = south-east; 180° back = north-west.

Question 39General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a row of 40 machines numbered from the left, a faulty unit is 11th from the left. What is its position from the right end?

  1. 28th
  2. 30th Correct answer.
  3. 31st
  4. 29th

Explanation

For a row of n items, position from the right = n − position from the left + 1. Here 40 − 11 + 1 = 30, so the unit is 30th from the right.

Question 40General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six fitters F1 to F6 sit around a circular table facing the centre. F1 is opposite F4, F2 is opposite F5, and F3 is opposite F6. If F1 is immediately to the left of F2, who sits immediately to the right of F4?

  1. F3 Correct answer.
  2. F5
  3. F6
  4. F2

Explanation

Placing F1 and F2 adjacent with F1 on F2's left, the opposite pairs fill the remaining seats symmetrically. Working around the circle gives the order F1, F5, F3, F4, F2, F6, so the seat immediately right of F4 is F3.

Question 41General Intelligence and Reasoning

A word arrangement is coded so that each letter is replaced by the letter three places ahead, and then the whole word is reversed. If PUMP becomes SXPS after the shift, what is the final code?

  1. SXQS
  2. SXPS
  3. SPXS Correct answer.
  4. SPXQ

Explanation

Shifting PUMP by three places gives S X P S. Reversing this sequence yields S P X S. The order of letters, not their values, changes in the reversal step.

Question 42General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement and two conclusions are given. Statement: 'Some gauges are instruments. All instruments are calibrated.' Conclusion I: Some gauges are calibrated. Conclusion II: All calibrated items are instruments. Which conclusion follows?

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

Explanation

Since some gauges are instruments and every instrument is calibrated, those gauges must be calibrated, so conclusion I follows. Conclusion II reverses the relation and is not supported, because calibrated items may include things that are not instruments.

Question 43General Intelligence and Reasoning

A tool store records: hammer : handle :: chisel : ?

  1. Nail
  2. Steel
  3. Edge Correct answer.
  4. Wood

Explanation

A hammer is held and used by its handle, and a chisel is used by its edge as the working part. The relation is 'tool to its functional part'. Wood and steel are materials, and a nail is an object the hammer strikes, not a part of the chisel.

Question 44General Intelligence and Reasoning

A clock shows 4:40. What is the smaller angle between the hour hand and the minute hand?

  1. 90°
  2. 110°
  3. 100° Correct answer.
  4. 120°

Explanation

At 4:40 the minute hand is at 240°. The hour hand is at 4×30 + 40×0.5 = 120 + 20 = 140°. The difference is 240 − 140 = 100°, which is less than 180° and therefore the smaller angle.

Question 45General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, '123' means 'grinding is noisy', '345' means 'noisy work shop' and '356' means 'work shop safe'. Which digit stands for 'grinding'?

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

Explanation

Comparing '123' and '345', the only common digit is 3 and the only common word is 'noisy', so 3 = noisy. Then in '123' the remaining digits 1 and 2 stand for grinding and is; comparing '345' and '356' shows 3, 5 shared with noisy and work shop, so 5 = work shop and 4 = noisy's partner. Grinding appears only in the first phrase and is represented by 1, since 2 pairs with 'is'.

Question 46General Intelligence and Reasoning

A pump's delivery follows the pattern 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36. Which statement about the next term is correct?

  1. It is 45, adding 9
  2. It is 47, adding 11
  3. It is 49, the square of 7 Correct answer.
  4. It is 48, adding 12

Explanation

The series consists of perfect squares of consecutive natural numbers: 1², 2², 3², 4², 5², 6². The next term is therefore 7² = 49.

Question 47General Intelligence and Reasoning

Three statements are given: All bolts are fasteners. Some fasteners are rusted. No rusted item is reusable. Which conclusion definitely follows?

  1. Some fasteners are not reusable Correct answer.
  2. No bolt is a fastener
  3. All reusable items are bolts
  4. All bolts are rusted

Explanation

The rusted fasteners cannot be reusable because no rusted item is reusable, so at least some fasteners are not reusable. Nothing links bolts to rust, and the other options contradict the given statements.

Question 48General Intelligence and Reasoning

A gear train has gears A, B, C and D in mesh in that order. A has 20 teeth, B has 40, C has 10 and D has 30. If A rotates at 600 rpm, what is the speed of D?

  1. 200 rpm
  2. 600 rpm
  3. 400 rpm Correct answer.
  4. 900 rpm

Explanation

Speed ratio between two meshing gears is inverse to their teeth numbers: N_D = N_A × (T_A / T_D) when only the first and last gears matter, because intermediate gears cancel: 600 × 20/30 = 400 rpm.

Question 49General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a row of components facing north, a marked unit is 15th from the left and 20th from the right. Two more units are added at the right end. What is the new position of the marked unit from the right?

  1. 22nd Correct answer.
  2. 23rd
  3. 20th
  4. 21st

Explanation

The row has 15 + 20 − 1 = 34 units. Adding two at the right end makes 36 units, so the marked unit's position from the right becomes 36 − 15 + 1 = 22.

Question 50General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement reads: 'Every machine that is properly aligned runs quietly.' A machine is running noisily. Which conclusion is valid?

  1. The machine is not a machine
  2. The machine is new
  3. The machine is not properly aligned Correct answer.
  4. The machine is properly aligned

Explanation

The statement has the form 'if properly aligned, then quiet'. Observing noise means the consequent is false, so by contrapositive the antecedent must be false: the machine is not properly aligned.