I85PREP
⌘ K
UIIC Assistant study materials
UIIC Assistant study resources

UIIC Assistant practice questions

One question at a time. Build your UIIC Assistant understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Reasoning Ability

What should come in place of the question mark in the series 7, 12, 19, 28, 39, ?

  1. 51
  2. 50
  3. 52 Correct answer.
  4. 54

Explanation

The gaps between consecutive terms are 5, 7, 9 and 11, so the gap increases by 2 each time. The next gap must be 13, and 39 + 13 = 52.

Question 2Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, MOUSE is written as NPVTF. Using the same code, how will TIGER be written?

  1. UJHFR
  2. SJHFS
  3. UJHFS Correct answer.
  4. UIGFS

Explanation

Each letter of MOUSE is moved one place forward in the English alphabet to get NPVTF. Applying the same shift to TIGER gives UJHFS.

Question 3Reasoning Ability

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. Aunt
  2. Mother
  3. Sister Correct answer.
  4. Daughter

Explanation

The grandfather's only son is Ravi's father. The daughter of Ravi's father is Ravi's sister, so the girl in the photograph is his sister.

Question 4Reasoning Ability

A man starts from point P, walks 5 km towards north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right again and walks 5 km. At what distance and in which direction is he from P?

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

Explanation

The northward and southward walks of 5 km cancel each other. The only remaining displacement is the 3 km walk towards the east, so he is 3 km east of P.

Question 5Reasoning Ability

Five friends A, B, C, D and E sit in a straight row facing north. C sits exactly in the middle. B sits immediately to the left of C. A sits at the extreme left end. Who sits between A and C?

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

Explanation

With five seats, C occupies the third seat. B is immediately left of C, so B is second, and A is at the extreme left, first. Therefore B is the person between A and C.

Question 6Reasoning Ability

In a row of 35 children, Meena is 9th from the left end and Kavita is 12th from the right end. How many children sit between Meena and Kavita?

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

Explanation

Kavita's position from the left is 35 - 12 + 1 = 24. Meena is 9th from the left, so the number of children between them is 24 - 9 - 1 = 14.

Question 7Reasoning Ability

Statements: All tables are chairs. No chair is a bench. Conclusions: I. No table is a bench. II. Some chairs are tables. Which conclusion(s) follow?

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

Explanation

Since all tables are chairs and no chair is a bench, no table can be a bench. Also, all tables being chairs means some chairs are tables, so both conclusions follow.

Question 8Reasoning Ability

The letters of the word INSURANCE are arranged in alphabetical order. Which letter will be fourth from the left after rearrangement?

  1. N
  2. C
  3. E
  4. I Correct answer.

Explanation

Arranging INSURANCE alphabetically gives A, C, E, I, N, N, R, S, U. Counting from the left, the fourth letter is I.

Question 9Reasoning Ability

Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F sit around a circular table facing the centre. A sits opposite D. B sits second to the left of A. C sits immediate left of D. E sits adjacent to B. Who sits opposite B?

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

Explanation

With A at seat 1, D is opposite at seat 4, B is second to the left of A at seat 3, and C is immediate left of D at seat 5. E then takes seat 2, leaving F at seat 6, which is opposite B.

Question 10Reasoning Ability

In a row of students, A is 12th from the left and B is 15th from the right. After A and B interchange their positions, A becomes 20th from the left. How many students are there in the row?

  1. 35
  2. 34 Correct answer.
  3. 36
  4. 33

Explanation

After the interchange, A occupies B's original seat and is 20th from the left. B's original rank from the right is 15, so total students = 20 + 15 - 1 = 34.

Question 11Reasoning Ability

In the letter series AZ, BY, CX, DW, ?, which term comes next?

  1. EV Correct answer.
  2. FV
  3. DV
  4. EU

Explanation

The first letters increase by one alphabet step: A, B, C, D, so the next first letter is E. The second letters decrease by one step: Z, Y, X, W, so the next second letter is V. Combining them gives EV.

Question 12Reasoning Ability

If 15 August 2024 falls on a Thursday, on which day will 15 August 2025 fall?

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

Explanation

From 15 August 2024 to 15 August 2025 there are 365 days because February 2025 has 28 days. A period of 365 days contains 52 weeks and one odd day, so the weekday moves forward by one from Thursday to Friday.

Question 13Reasoning Ability

P is the son of Q. Q is the sister of R. R is the father of S. How is P related to S?

  1. Nephew
  2. Cousin Correct answer.
  3. Uncle
  4. Grandson

Explanation

Q and R are siblings because Q is R's sister. P is Q's son, while S is R's child, so P and S belong to the same generation as cousins. Therefore P is S's cousin.

Question 14Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, PEN is written as 35 by replacing each letter with its position in the English alphabet and adding the values. What is the code for INK under the same rule?

  1. 34 Correct answer.
  2. 36
  3. 33
  4. 35

Explanation

Using alphabetical positions, I = 9, N = 14 and K = 11. Adding these values gives 9 + 14 + 11 = 34, so INK is coded as 34.

Question 15Reasoning Ability

A man starts from point X, walks 8 m towards south. He then turns left and walks 6 m, and finally turns right and walks 8 m. In which direction is he now from X?

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

Explanation

Starting south, the left turn points him east, and the later right turn points him south again. His net displacement is 6 m east and 16 m south of X, which places him in the south-east direction.

Question 16Reasoning Ability

Statements: All roses are flowers. Some flowers are lilies. Conclusions: I. Some roses are lilies. II. Some lilies are flowers. 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

Conclusion II follows by converting 'Some flowers are lilies' into 'Some lilies are flowers'. Conclusion I is not definite because the lilies that are flowers need not include any roses; the two groups may be separate within flowers.

Question 17Reasoning Ability

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

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

Explanation

With R at the extreme right seat 5, Q is second to its left at seat 3. The remaining seats 1, 2 and 4 must place S and P as a consecutive pair with P immediately right of S, so S is at 1 and P at 2. Seat 4 is T, leaving Q in the middle seat 3.

Question 18Reasoning Ability

M is heavier than N but lighter than O. P is heavier than O. Q is lighter than N. Who is the heaviest?

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

Explanation

The comparisons give P > O > M > N > Q. Since P is heavier than O and O is heavier than M, P is heavier than every other person. Hence P is the heaviest.

Question 19Reasoning Ability

How many such pairs of letters are there in the word CALENDAR, each of which has as many letters between its two letters in the word as there are between them in the English alphabet, considering both forward and backward directions?

  1. One Correct answer.
  2. None
  3. Two
  4. Three

Explanation

In CALENDAR, the pair L-N has exactly one letter between L and N in the word (E) and also one letter between them in the alphabet (M). Checking all other letter pairs gives no further match, so exactly one such pair exists.

Question 20Reasoning Ability

Six people P, Q, R, S, T and U live on six different floors of a building numbered 1 to 6, with floor 1 at the bottom. P lives on floor 3. T lives on the top floor. R lives on an even-numbered floor and Q lives immediately above R. S does not live on floor 1. Who lives on floor 5?

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

Explanation

T is on floor 6 and P on floor 3. R must be even with Q immediately above; R cannot be 2 because Q would take floor 3, and R cannot be 6, so R is on 4 and Q on 5. The remaining floors 1 and 2 go to S and U, and since S cannot be on 1, S is on 2 and U on 1.

Question 21Reasoning Ability

In the English alphabet, which letter is fourth to the right of the tenth letter from the left?

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

Explanation

The tenth letter from the left is J. Counting four letters to the right of J gives K, L, M and N, so the required letter is N.

Question 22Reasoning Ability

Among five friends, Aman is taller than Bala but shorter than Chetan. Dinesh is taller than Chetan. Esha is shorter than Bala. Who is the tallest?

  1. Dinesh Correct answer.
  2. Chetan
  3. Esha
  4. Aman

Explanation

Dinesh is taller than Chetan, and Chetan is taller than Aman. Aman is taller than Bala, who in turn is taller than Esha. Therefore Dinesh is the tallest of the five.

Question 23Reasoning Ability

One morning after sunrise, Ravi stood facing a pole. The shadow of the pole fell exactly to his right. Which direction was Ravi facing?

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

Explanation

After sunrise, the sun is in the east, so shadows are cast towards the west. If the shadow is to Ravi's right, his right side points west, which means he is facing south.

Question 24Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, letters at odd positions of a word are moved one step forward and letters at even positions one step backward in the English alphabet. How is the word TRAIN coded?

  1. UQBIP
  2. TQBHO
  3. URBHO
  4. UQBHO Correct answer.

Explanation

T is first (odd) and moves forward to U; R is second (even) and moves backward to Q; A is third (odd) and moves forward to B; I is fourth (even) and moves backward to H; N is fifth (odd) and moves forward to O. The code is UQBHO.

Question 25Reasoning Ability

If 'P + Q' means P is the mother of Q, 'P × Q' means P is the father of Q, and 'P - Q' means P is the brother of Q, then in 'P + Q × R - S', how is P related to S?

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

Explanation

P + Q makes P the mother of Q. Q × R makes Q the father of R, so P is R's grandmother. R - S makes R the brother of S, so P is also the grandmother of S.

Question 26Reasoning Ability

Statements: All pens are books. Some books are copies. No copy is a pencil. Conclusions: I. Some pens are copies. II. Some books are not pencils. Which conclusion(s) follow(s)?

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

Explanation

The pens are entirely within books, but no link is given between pens and copies, so conclusion I is not definite. The books that are copies cannot be pencils because no copy is a pencil, so some books are not pencils and conclusion II follows.

Question 27Reasoning Ability

What should come in place of the question mark in the series A, C, F, J, O, ?

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

Explanation

The gaps between consecutive letters increase by one: A to C is +2, C to F is +3, F to J is +4, and J to O is +5. The next gap is +6, so O moves to U.

Question 28Reasoning Ability

Five lectures on Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English are scheduled from Monday to Friday, one per day. Maths is on Wednesday. Physics is immediately after Chemistry. Biology is not on Friday. English is on Monday. Which subject is scheduled on Friday?

  1. Chemistry
  2. Biology
  3. Maths
  4. Physics Correct answer.

Explanation

English is on Monday and Maths is on Wednesday, leaving Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Since Physics must immediately follow Chemistry, the only available consecutive slots are Thursday and Friday. Thus Chemistry is on Thursday and Physics is on Friday.

Question 29Reasoning Ability

Six boxes P, Q, R, S, T and U are stacked one above another. T is at the top and R is at the bottom. S is immediately above R. U is immediately above P. P is above Q but not immediately above Q. Which box is third from the top?

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

Explanation

With T at the top and R at the bottom, S must be fifth from the top. The remaining three slots (second, third and fourth) are for U, P and Q. U is immediately above P, and P is above Q but not immediately. The only arrangement that satisfies all conditions is T, Q, U, P, S, R from top to bottom, so U is third from the top.

Question 30Reasoning Ability

In a certain code language, 'cricket bat ball' is written as 'ma ta pa', 'bat ball wicket' is written as 'pa na ma', and 'ball wicket stumps' is written as 'na ka ma'. What is the code for 'cricket'?

  1. ta Correct answer.
  2. ma
  3. pa
  4. na

Explanation

The word 'ball' appears in all three phrases and so does the code 'ma', so ball = ma. Comparing the first two phrases, 'bat' is the only common word besides ball, and 'pa' is the only common code besides ma, so bat = pa. Then in the first phrase, cricket must be ta.

Question 31Reasoning Ability

In a certain code language, MOTHER is written as NPUIFS. Using the same rule, how is FATHER written?

  1. GBUIFR
  2. GBUIFS Correct answer.
  3. EZSGDQ
  4. GBVJGT

Explanation

The code shifts every letter of the word one place forward in the English alphabet: M→N, O→P, T→U and so on. Applying the same rule to FATHER gives F→G, A→B, T→U, H→I, E→F, R→S, which is GBUIFS.

Question 32Reasoning Ability

In a class of 40 students, Ravi ranks 12th from the top. What is his rank from the bottom?

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

Explanation

Rank from the bottom is calculated as total students minus rank from the top plus one. Here it is 40 − 12 + 1 = 29, so Ravi is 29th from the bottom.

Question 33Reasoning Ability

What should come in place of the question mark in the series 3, 8, 15, 24, 35, ?

  1. 48 Correct answer.
  2. 46
  3. 47
  4. 49

Explanation

The terms follow n² − 1 for n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, so the next is 7² − 1 = 48. Alternatively, the differences are 5, 7, 9, 11, and the next difference is 13, giving 35 + 13 = 48.

Question 34Reasoning Ability

Statements: Some doctors are engineers. All engineers are teachers. Conclusions: I. Some doctors are teachers. II. All teachers are engineers.

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

Explanation

From 'Some doctors are engineers' and 'All engineers are teachers', the doctors who are engineers must also be teachers, so conclusion I follows. Conclusion II reverses 'All engineers are teachers' into 'All teachers are engineers', which is not a valid inference.

Question 35Reasoning Ability

Mohan is the father of Riya. Riya is the sister of Karan. Karan is the son of Sunita. How is Mohan related to Sunita?

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

Explanation

Riya and Karan are siblings, so Mohan, Riya's father, is also Karan's father. Since Karan is the son of Sunita, Sunita is Karan's mother, making Mohan her husband.

Question 36Reasoning Ability

Five friends A, B, C, D and E sit around a circular table facing the centre. A sits second to the left of B. C sits immediate right of A. D sits second to the right of C. Who sits immediate left of B?

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

Explanation

Fix B and place A two seats to B's left, which is clockwise for centre-facing persons. C is immediately right of A, and D is second to the right of C; this leaves E in the remaining seat. The seat immediately left of B is then occupied by C.

Question 37Reasoning Ability

Statements: P > Q ≥ R = S < T. Which of the following is definitely true?

  1. P > R Correct answer.
  2. S > P
  3. Q < T
  4. R > T

Explanation

Because P > Q and Q ≥ R, combining the inequalities gives P > R directly. The other options are not forced: Q may be greater than T, R is definitely less than T, and S is less than P.

Question 38Reasoning Ability

A man walks 5 km towards north. He turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right again and walks 5 km. In which direction is he from his starting point?

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

Explanation

Starting north, the first right turn points east and covers 3 km. The second right turn points south and covers 5 km, cancelling the original northward 5 km. The final displacement is therefore 3 km east of the starting point.

Question 39Reasoning Ability

Six friends A, B, C, D, E and F sit in a straight row facing north. A sits third to the left of D. B sits at one of the extreme ends. E sits immediately to the right of C. F is not adjacent to D. Who sits second to the right of A?

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

Explanation

The clues allow two valid rows: F A C E D B and B F A C E D. In both arrangements, the seat second to the right of A is occupied by E, so the answer is E.

Question 40Reasoning Ability

Among five friends A, B, C, D and E, who is the tallest? Statement I: A is taller than B but shorter than C. D is taller than E. Statement II: E is taller than C. D is taller than B.

  1. Both statements I and II together are sufficient, though neither alone is sufficient. Correct answer.
  2. Statement II alone is sufficient, while statement I alone is not sufficient.
  3. Statement I alone is sufficient, while statement II alone is not sufficient.
  4. Neither statement I alone nor statement II alone is sufficient, and even together they are not sufficient.

Explanation

Statement I gives C > A > B and D > E, with no link between D/E and C/A. Statement II gives E > C and D > B, but still no link between D and E. Together they form D > E > C > A > B, so D is the tallest.

Question 41Reasoning Ability

The first fifteen letters of the English alphabet are written in reverse order, and the remaining eleven letters are written in their normal order. Which letter is seventh from the left in this arrangement?

  1. I Correct answer.
  2. J
  3. H
  4. K

Explanation

The first fifteen letters reversed are O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A, followed by P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. Counting from the left, the seventh letter is I.

Question 42Reasoning Ability

What should come in place of the question mark in the series 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

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

Explanation

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

Question 43Reasoning Ability

In a certain code, each vowel is replaced by the next letter of the English alphabet and each consonant by the previous letter. How is PLANT coded?

  1. OKBNS
  2. OKBMS Correct answer.
  3. OKCMS
  4. NKBMS

Explanation

Apply the rule letter by letter: P becomes O, L becomes K, A becomes B, N becomes M and T becomes S. Therefore PLANT is coded as OKBMS.

Question 44Reasoning Ability

In a row of 35 children, A is 11th from the left and B is 15th from the right. How many children sit between A and B?

  1. 11
  2. 10
  3. 9 Correct answer.
  4. 8

Explanation

B's position from the left is 35 - 15 + 1 = 21. A is at position 11, so the number of children between them is 21 - 11 - 1 = 9.

Question 45Reasoning Ability

A person starts from point X, walks 8 m south, turns left and walks 6 m, then turns left again and walks 8 m. He then turns right and walks 3 m. How far and in which direction is he from X?

  1. 9 m east Correct answer.
  2. 3 m north
  3. 6 m east
  4. 9 m west

Explanation

After walking 8 m south, 6 m east and 8 m north, he is 6 m east of X. Turning right from north means walking 3 m east, making the final displacement 9 m east.

Question 46Reasoning Ability

Statements: All chairs are tables. No table is a fan. Some fans are lights. Conclusions: I. Some lights are not tables. II. No chair is a fan.

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

Explanation

Since no table is a fan, every fan is outside the table group. Some fans are lights, so those lights are not tables, making conclusion I true. All chairs are tables and no table is a fan, so no chair can be a fan, making conclusion II true.

Question 47Reasoning Ability

Study the arrangement: 7 R # 2 M $ A 9 L @ 5 K % 8 E 3 ! N 6. Which element is fourth to the left of the ninth element from the left?

  1. $
  2. A
  3. M Correct answer.
  4. 9

Explanation

Counting from the left, the ninth element is L. Moving four places to the left from L gives M, which is the fifth element from the left.

Question 48Reasoning Ability

Among five employees P, Q, R, S and T, who earns the least? Statement I: P earns less than Q but more than R. S earns more than T. Statement II: T earns more than only R.

  1. Statement II alone is sufficient, while statement I alone is not Correct answer.
  2. Both statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is sufficient
  3. Statements I and II together are not sufficient
  4. Statement I alone is sufficient, while statement II alone is not

Explanation

Statement II says T earns more than only R, which directly makes R the lowest earner among the five. Statement I gives Q > P > R and S > T, but it does not establish where T stands relative to R, so I alone is not sufficient.

Question 49Reasoning Ability

Six books A, B, C, D, E and F are arranged in a row. A is third to the left of D. B is adjacent to neither A nor D. C is second to the right of F. E is immediately to the left of D. If F is at one of the ends, which book is at the extreme right?

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

Explanation

F must be at the left end because C is second to its right, placing C third. E immediately left of D and A third left of D force D into fifth place, E into fourth and A into second. The only remaining position, sixth, is occupied by B.

Question 50Reasoning Ability

In the word REGIONAL, how many pairs of letters are there that have as many letters between them in the word as they do in the English alphabet, counting pairs in either direction?

  1. Five
  2. Two
  3. Three
  4. Four Correct answer.

Explanation

The valid pairs are G–L, O–N, O–L and N–L. In each case, the number of letters between the two letters inside REGIONAL equals the number of letters between them in alphabetical order; for example, G and L have four letters between them in both arrangements. Pairs such as R–E or A–L fail because the two gaps are not equal.