- Test booklet
- प्रश्न पुस्तिका
- Booklet No.
- 1290650
- Series
- A
SSC Selection Post (Graduate level) Paper 9
- Questions
- 100
- Maximum marks
- 200
- Minutes allowed
- 60
Instructions निर्देश
- This booklet has 100 questions in 4 parts: A. General Intelligence (25), B. General Awareness (25), C. Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) (25), D. English Language (Basic Knowledge) (25).
- Each part has its own clock. When it runs out, that part closes and the next opens.
- Each question has 4 options and one right answer. A right answer earns 2 marks. A wrong answer costs 0.5. A question left blank scores nothing.
- Fill one bubble per question on the answer sheet. Unlike a real sheet, you can clear it and change your mind.
Scripting is off, so this page is a printed paper: answer on paper, then open each question’s working.
Part AGeneral Intelligence
-
Which one does not belong with the others?
Answer and working
Answer B
In the others the letters are 1 apart (PQR); in GHJ the last gap is 2. The odd one is GHJ.
-
Asha walks 9 km towards the north. She turns right and walks 10 km. She turns left and walks 8 km. She turns right and walks 6 km. Which direction is she facing now?
Answer and working
Answer C
Each right turn is a quarter turn clockwise, each left anticlockwise. The last leg runs East.
-
In the English alphabet, which letter is 5th to the left of the 17th letter from the left?
Answer and working
Answer C
The 17th letter from the left is Q (position 17). 5 places to the left: position 12, which is L.
-
At what time between 1 and 2 o’clock are the hands of a clock together?
Answer and working
Answer A
The minute hand gains 11/2° a minute and must gain 30°. Time = 30 ÷ 5.5 = 60 × 1/11 = 55⁄11 minutes past 1.
-
In a certain code, STONE is written as HGLMV. How is CARPET written in that code?
Answer and working
Answer C
From STONE → HGLMV: each letter is replaced by its opposite in the alphabet (A ↔ Z, B ↔ Y …). Applied to CARPET: XZIKVG.
-
Statements:
(1) All tables are rings.
(2) All birds are rings.Conclusions:
Take the statements to be true, however odd they sound. Which conclusion follows?
(I) Some rings are tables.
(II) Some tables are rings.Answer and working
Answer C
Conclusion I holds in every diagram the statements allow. Conclusion II holds in every diagram the statements allow. So: Both conclusions follow.
-
Pointing to a man in a photograph, Tarun said, ‘His father is the only son of my father.’ How is the man related to Tarun?
Answer and working
Answer C
The only son of my father is me, so I am the father. So the man is Tarun’s son.
-
Statements:
(1) All shirts are planes.
(2) All shirts are bells.Conclusions:
Take the statements to be true, however odd they sound. Which conclusion follows?
(I) No planes are shirts.
(II) Some shirts are bells.Answer and working
Answer B
Conclusion I need not hold: planes and shirts may overlap. Conclusion II holds in every diagram the statements allow. So: Only conclusion II follows.
-
Which number replaces the question mark? 7, 44, 9, 39, 11, 34, 13, ?
Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: two series alternate: 7, 9, 11 … rising by 2, and 44, 39, 34 … falling by 5. The missing term is 29.
-
A is the mother of C. H is the daughter of Y. Y is the sister of A. How is H related to C?
Answer and working
Answer A
Follow the links out from C: A is C’s mother; Y is A’s sister; H is Y’s daughter. So H is C’s cousin.
-
EF : DE :: QR : ?
Answer and working
Answer A
Each letter of EF moves 1 back to give DE. Doing the same to QR gives PQ.
-
Which number replaces the question mark? 11, 18, 27, ?, 51, 66
Answer and working
Answer B
The rule: the terms are 3², 4², 5² … plus 2. The missing term is 38.
-
Which pair comes next? BZ, DX, FV, HT, ?
Answer and working
Answer C
The first letters move forward 2 (B, D, F, H); the second move back 2 (Z, X, V, T). Next: JR.
-
What day of the week was 11 July 2018?
Answer and working
Answer C
1 January 2001 was a Monday. From then to 11 July 2018 is 6,400 days; 6,400 ÷ 7 leaves 2, so the day is 2 on from Monday: Wednesday.
-
In a certain code, PENCIL is written as KVMXRO. How is PAPER written in that code?
Answer and working
Answer B
From PENCIL → KVMXRO: each letter is replaced by its opposite in the alphabet (A ↔ Z, B ↔ Y …). Applied to PAPER: KZKVI.
-
9 : 729 :: 3 : ?
Answer and working
Answer A
729 = 9³, the rule n³. For 3: 3³ = 27.
-
Which one does not belong with the others?
Answer and working
Answer C
512, 125, 1000 are cubes; 49 is a square, not a cube. The odd one is 49.
-
Which letter comes next? A, D, G, J, M, ?
Answer and working
Answer C
Each letter moves 3 places forward in the alphabet: A → D → G → J → M → P.
Directions for questions 19 to 19
Seven friends, Arun, Bina, Chetan, Divya, Esha, Farhan and Gopal, sit in a row facing north. Exactly 3 people sit between Arun and Esha. Farhan sits immediately to the left of Divya. Exactly 2 people sit between Chetan and Esha. Gopal sits immediately to the left of Esha. Arun sits immediately to the left of Bina.-
What is Divya’s position from the left end?
Answer and working
Answer D
Only one order fits every clue, from the left: Gopal, Esha, Farhan, Divya, Chetan, Arun, Bina. 4th.
-
5 : 125 :: 11 : ?
Answer and working
Answer C
125 = 5³, the rule n³. For 11: 11³ = 1,331.
-
If ‘+’ means ‘−’, ‘−’ means ‘+’, ‘×’ means ‘÷’, ‘÷’ means ‘×’, what is the value of 11 − 12 + 8 ÷ 5 × 4?
Answer and working
Answer A
Replace the signs: 11 + 12 − 8 × 5 ÷ 4. Division and multiplication first, then addition and subtraction: 13.
-
If ‘+’ means ‘×’, ‘−’ means ‘+’, ‘×’ means ‘÷’, ‘÷’ means ‘−’, what is the value of 36 + 6 × 4 ÷ 16 − 6?
Answer and working
Answer A
Replace the signs: 36 × 6 ÷ 4 − 16 + 6. Division and multiplication first, then addition and subtraction: 44.
-
In a certain code, COAT is written as FRDW. How is TRAIN written in that code?
Answer and working
Answer D
From COAT → FRDW: each letter moves 3 places forward. Applied to TRAIN: WUDLQ.
-
In a row of 49 students, Lata is 39th from the left. What is Lata’s position from the right?
Answer and working
Answer D
Position from the right = total − position from the left + 1 = 49 − 39 + 1 = 11th.
-
Neha walks 3 km towards the west. She turns right and walks 5 km. She turns left and walks 3 km. She turns right and walks 13 km. She turns right and walks 8 km. In which direction is she from the starting point?
Answer and working
Answer A
Taking east and north as positive: she ends 2 km east and 18 km north of the start, which is to the North-east.
Part BGeneral Awareness
-
Chennai is the capital of which state or union territory?
Answer and working
-
Maithon Dam is built on which river?
Answer and working
-
Sumitranandan Pant received the Jnanpith Award in which year?
Answer and working
-
World Oceans Day is observed on which date?
Answer and working
-
What is the chemical symbol of rubidium?
Answer and working
-
Rohan Bopanna is associated with which sport?
Answer and working
-
Which element has the symbol Ag?
Answer and working
-
In which year was Jantar Mantar inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Answer and working
-
Consider the following pairs of rivers and where they flow:
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?River Flows into 1. Yamuna Ganges 2. Gomti River Gulf of Khambhat 3. Penna River Arabian Sea Answer and working
Answer A
1. correct; 2. wrong: Gomti River goes with Ganges; 3. wrong: Penna River goes with Bay of Bengal. So: Only one pair.
Source: Wikidata (CC0)
-
What is the capital of Mali?
Answer and working
-
The riel is the currency of which country?
Answer and working
-
In which year was the Battle of Wandiwash fought?
Answer and working
-
Who was the Chief Justice of India throughout 2003?
Answer and working
-
Who wrote ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’?
Answer and working
-
Where is the headquarters of the European Central Bank?
Answer and working
-
In which year was Jharkhand formed as a state or union territory in its present form?
Answer and working
-
Lata Mangeshkar received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for which year?
Answer and working
-
Rani ki vav, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is in which state?
Answer and working
-
In which year was Astrosat launched?
Answer and working
-
Which of these musicians is known for the shehnai?
Answer and working
-
In which year was Vinoba Bhave awarded the Bharat Ratna?
Answer and working
-
Dudhwa National Park is in which state?
Answer and working
-
Who was the President of India throughout 1993?
Answer and working
-
Which of these tiger reserves is in Arunachal Pradesh?
Answer and working
-
Which of these Ramsar sites is in Bihar?
Answer and working
Part CQuantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill)
-
How many diagonals does a polygon with 5 sides have?
Answer and working
Answer A
n(n − 3)/2 = 5 × 2 ÷ 2 = 5.
-
If A : B = 7 : 4 and B : C = 3 : 2, what is A : B : C?
Answer and working
Answer D
Make B the same in both: A : B = 21 : 12 and B : C = 12 : 8. So A : B : C = 21 : 12 : 8.
-
A boat covers 64 km downstream in 4 hours and 36 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?
Answer and working
Answer A
Downstream speed = 64 ÷ 4 = 16 km/h; upstream = 36 ÷ 3 = 12 km/h. Boat = (16 + 12) ÷ 2 = 14 km/h.
-
What is the average of the first 54 odd numbers?
Answer and working
Answer A
The first 54 odd numbers add up to 54² = 2916; the average is 54.
-
A shopkeeper marks his goods 20% above the cost price and allows a discount of 15%. What is his profit or loss percent?
Answer and working
Answer C
Take CP = 100. Marked price = 120. After 15% off: 120 × 85/100 = 102. So 2% profit.
-
What is the value of sin² 60° − sec² 45°?
Answer and working
Answer D
sin² 60° = 3⁄4 and sec² 45° = 2. So 3⁄4 − 2 = −5⁄4.
-
54 litres of a mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 5 : 4. How much water must be added to make the ratio 3 : 4?
Answer and working
Answer A
Milk = 30 l, water = 24 l. For 3 : 4, water must be 30 × 4/3 = 40 l. Add 40 − 24 = 16 litres.
-
How many numbers from 100 to 750 (both included) are divisible by 13?
Answer and working
Answer A
Multiples of 13 up to 750: 57. Up to 99: 7. Difference = 50.
-
Simplify: 47 + 3 × 9 − 36 ÷ 9
Answer and working
Answer B
Division and multiplication first: 3 × 9 = 27 and 36 ÷ 9 = 4. Then 47 + 27 − 4 = 70.
-
A train 110 m long crosses a platform 410 m long in 52 seconds. What is the speed of the train?
Answer and working
Answer A
It must cover its own length and the platform: 110 + 410 = 520 m in 52 s, so 10 m/s = 10 × 18/5 = 36 km/h.
-
What is the area of a circle of radius 7 cm? (Take π = 22/7.)
Answer and working
Answer C
Area = πr² = 22/7 × 7 × 7 = 154 cm².
-
A rectangular plot has a perimeter of 122 m and a length of 34 m. What is its area?
Answer and working
Answer C
Length + breadth = 122 ÷ 2 = 61, so breadth = 27 m. Area = 34 × 27 = 918 m².
-
What is the mean of these numbers: 48, 57, 12, 29, 36, 39, 44, 53, 33?
Answer and working
Answer C
Sum 351 ÷ 9 = 39.
-
840 is what percent of 2,240?
Answer and working
Answer B
840 ÷ 2,240 × 100 = 37.5%.
-
What is the largest 4-digit number exactly divisible by 43?
Answer and working
Answer C
9,999 ÷ 43 leaves remainder 23. 9,999 − 23 = 9,976.
-
Pipe A fills a tank in 10 hours; pipe B empties the full tank in 12 hours. If both are opened together on an empty tank, when will it be full?
Answer and working
Answer D
Net filling per hour = 1/10 − 1/12 = 1/60. Time = 60 hours.
-
A sum of money becomes three times itself in 10 years at simple interest. What is the rate of interest per annum?
Answer and working
Answer A
The interest earned is 2 times the principal in 10 years. Rate = 2 × 100 / 10 = 20%.
-
If a − b = 8 and ab = 20, what is a³ − b³?
Answer and working
Answer C
a³ − b³ = (a − b)³ + 3ab(a − b) = 512 + 480 = 992.
-
Simplify: 3⁄4 + 3⁄5 + 3⁄4
Answer and working
Answer C
Over the common denominator 40: the sum is 21⁄10. Adding tops and bottoms separately (12/17) is the trap.
-
What is the difference between the compound interest and the simple interest on ₹50,700 for 2 years at 10% per annum?
Answer and working
Answer B
For 2 years, CI − SI = P × (R/100)² = 50,700 × (10/100)² = ₹507.
-
A bus goes from Pune to Nashik at 16 km/h and returns by the same road at 48 km/h. What is its average speed for the whole journey?
Answer and working
Answer D
For equal distances, average speed = 2xy/(x + y) = 2 × 16 × 48 ÷ 64 = 24 km/h. The plain average, 32, ignores that the slower leg takes longer.
-
A school’s enrolment goes from 240 to 384. What is the percentage increase?
Answer and working
Answer A
Change = 144. On the original value: 144 ÷ 240 × 100 = 60%, a 60% increase. Dividing by the new value, 384, is the usual slip.
-
The sum of the present ages of a father and his son is 40 years. 2 years ago, the father was 3 times as old as the son. How old is the son now?
Answer and working
Answer A
Let the son be s. Then (40 − s − 2) = 3(s − 2), so 44 = 4s and s = 11 years.
-
Section A has 28 students with an average score of 79; section B has 28 students averaging 69. What is the average score of both sections together?
Answer and working
Answer B
(28 × 79 + 28 × 69) ÷ 56 = 4144 ÷ 56 = 74. The plain mean of 79 and 69 ignores the sizes of the sections.
-
Ramesh can finish a piece of work in 63 days and Suresh can finish it in 18 days. Working together, how long will they take?
Answer and working
Answer A
In one day they do 1/63 + 1/18 = 1/14 of the work. Time = 63 × 18 ÷ (63 + 18) = 14 days.
Part DEnglish Language (Basic Knowledge)
-
Select the incorrectly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer D
reputible is wrong; it is spelt reputable. The others are correct.
-
Select the word closest in meaning to the given word.
SubtletyAnswer and working
Answer C
Subtlety (noun) and Nuance share their main meaning. None of the other options does.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the word closest in meaning to the given word.
OdiousAnswer and working
Answer A
Odious (adjective) and Abominable share their main meaning. None of the other options does.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the word closest in meaning to the given word.
BonyAnswer and working
Answer B
Bony (adjective) and Skinny share their main meaning. None of the other options does.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the correctly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer A
The correct spelling is communication.
-
Select the word closest in meaning to the given word.
RenownAnswer and working
Answer B
Renown (noun) and Fame share their main meaning. None of the other options does.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
ClarityAnswer and working
Answer C
The opposite of clarity is Obscurity. Lucidity is the trap: it means the same, not the opposite.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the one word that can replace the given group of words.
Someone who creates new dancesAnswer and working
-
Select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
CourageAnswer and working
-
Select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
RuralAnswer and working
-
Select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
ElitistAnswer and working
-
Select the correctly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer A
The correct spelling is affectionate.
-
Select the correctly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer A
The correct spelling is vigilance.
-
Select the correctly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer C
The correct spelling is elliptical.
-
Select the one word that can replace the given group of words.
An imaginary being similar to a person but smaller and with hairy feetAnswer and working
Answer C
Hobbit: an imaginary being similar to a person but smaller and with hairy feet.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the correctly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer B
The correct spelling is resilient.
-
Select the word closest in meaning to the given word.
OverconfidentAnswer and working
Answer C
Overconfident (adjective) and Cocksure share their main meaning. None of the other options does.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the word closest in meaning to the given word.
VindictiveAnswer and working
Answer D
Vindictive (adjective) and Vengeful share their main meaning. None of the other options does.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the one word that can replace the given group of words.
A dissolute man in fashionable societyAnswer and working
-
Select the word closest in meaning to the given word.
RecklessAnswer and working
Answer C
Reckless (adjective) and Rash share their main meaning. None of the other options does.
Source: WordNet 3.1
-
Select the one word that can replace the given group of words.
One who lives in solitudeAnswer and working
-
Select the one word that can replace the given group of words.
Someone who dissipates resources self-indulgentlyAnswer and working
-
Select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
PostmortemAnswer and working
-
Select the correctly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer B
The correct spelling is carriage.
-
Select the correctly spelt word.
Answer and working
Answer B
The correct spelling is volleyball.