CSAT Reasoning questions from IAS 2026.
A cut on a solid object divides the object into two parts where the new surfaces thus produced are plane. On the other hand, one single cut can be used to cut more than one object at a time. In an experiment, the total number of pieces produced by applying n cuts is denoted by \(x_n\). The experiment is performed on a solid cube where pieces remain unmoved after each cut. In this experiment, if after the third cut, the pieces are identical, then which of the following is not a possible value for \(x_4\)?
A pattern formed by two characters a and b is repeated more than once in the following string: \(\times b \times a \times a \times \times a \times a \times bab\) What is \(\times \times\) in the 7th and 8th positions from the left in the above string?
A person facing the East travels 4 km straight and then turns right and travels 3 km, then further turns left and travels 2 km and finally turns left and travels 3 km. The minimum distance between the final point and the initial point, and the direction in which the person is facing at the final point are, respectively
Consider the following statements: 1. Every red is blue. 2. Every blue is green. 3. Every green is yellow. Which of the following statements denoted by P, Q and R are correct? 1. P. Every blue is yellow. 2. Q. Every red is green. 3. R. Every red is yellow. Select the answer using the code given below.
Consider the following three statements, namely S1, S2 and S3: 1. S1. Protecting the environment is an existential exigency for humans, given the impact of environmental degradation on climate change. 2. S2. Scientific consensus has not been achieved with regard to the extent of the contribution of human intervention to climate change. 3. S3. Environmental activism includes climate alarmism and other extremist points of view that often become the focus of climate change deniers. Which of the following relationships based on the statements given above is/are correct? 1. S3 is a counterpoint to S1 2. S3 is unconnected to S1 and S2 3. S2 could be the reason for S3 Select the answer using the code given below.
Directions: Each item in this section contains a question followed by two statements. Answer each item using the following instructions and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Question: If x, y and z are integers, each greater than 1, then is x a prime number? 1. Statement I: \(xy^2 = 116\) 2. Statement II: \(xz = 261\)
Directions: Each item in this section contains a question followed by two statements. Answer each item using the following instructions and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. (a) Select this option if the question can be answered using one of these statements alone, but cannot be answered using other statement (b) Select this option if the question can be answered using either statement alone (c) Select this option if the question can be answered using both the statements together, but cannot be answered using either statement alone (d) Select this option if the question cannot be answered even using any of the statements Question: If x and y are integers, then is x even? 1. Statement I: \(x^2 y^2\) is even. 2. Statement II: \(1 + x^2 + y^2\) is odd.
Directions: Each item in this section contains a question followed by two statements. Answer each item using the following instructions and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. (a) Select this option if the question can be answered using one of these statements alone, but cannot be answered using other statement (b) Select this option if the question can be answered using either statement alone (c) Select this option if the question can be answered using both the statements together, but cannot be answered using either statement alone (d) Select this option if the question cannot be answered even using any of the statements Question: X is a collection of certain odd numbers whereas Y is a collection of certain even numbers. T consists of the numbers all of which are either from X or from Y. Is every number of T from Y? 1. Statement I: The sum of any two numbers belonging to T is even. 2. Statement II: If both p and q are picked from T, then \((p - 1)q\) is even.
Directions: Each item in this section contains a question followed by two statements. Answer each item using the following instructions and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. (a) Select this option if the question can be answered using one of these statements alone, but cannot be answered using other statement (b) Select this option if the question can be answered using either statement alone (c) Select this option if the question can be answered using both the statements together, but cannot be answered using either statement alone (d) Select this option if the question cannot be answered even using any of the statements Question: X receives three coins of different denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20. If the total amount received by X is m, does X receive a coin of denomination 5? 1. Statement I: m is not a prime number. 2. Statement II: The sum of the digits of m is greater than 5.
Directions: Each item in this section contains a question followed by two statements. Answer each item using the following instructions and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. (a) Select this option if the question can be answered using one of these statements alone, but cannot be answered using other statement (b) Select this option if the question can be answered using either statement alone (c) Select this option if the question can be answered using both the statements together, but cannot be answered using either statement alone (d) Select this option if the question cannot be answered even using any of the statements Question: For two distinct real numbers x and y, which of them is bigger? 1. Statement I: \(x^2 < y < 1\) 2. Statement II: \(y < \sqrt{x} < 1\)
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers should be based solely on the passage. Passage: The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, or the JJ Act, 2015 allows for the possibility of trying adolescents above 16 as adults if they are accused of committing a heinous offence. A heinous offence is one with a minimum punishment of seven years. Offences such as culpable homicide and causing death by negligence, which are common in drunken driving cases, are not heinous offences because they do not have a prescribed minimum punishment. The JJ Act, amended in 2021, now categorises an offence that has no minimum sentence, but has a maximum sentence of seven years or more as a serious offence which nonetheless, in the opinion of activists, does not merit the transfer of a case to the adult criminal justice system. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. If an offence has no minimum prescribed punishment, it cannot be considered heinous as per the JJ Act, 2015. 2. As per the JJ Act, 2021, an offence for which there is a provision for a maximum sentence of seven years or more, but no minimum sentence, is to be considered a serious offence. Select the answer using the code given below.
Eight persons P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W sit around a round table in eight different seats placed with equal distance between any two consecutive seats. Both P and R are adjacent to Q. Both T and R are adjacent to S. Both U and W are adjacent to V. S and W are on opposite chairs. If while going in the clockwise direction around the table from P, one meets R before T, then how many persons shall Q cross while moving in the clockwise direction around the table before meeting W?
If ZERO is encoded as ADSN, then how do you encode STOP?
In a sequence of numbers, each number other than the first two is the sum of the two immediately preceding numbers from it. If the first two numbers in the sequence are 4 and 7, then the sixth number is
P has a son and a daughter. S is the mother of T. S is R's spouse. Q and R are children of P. Then how is Q related to S?
P, Q, R, S and T are ranked 1 to 5 (not necessarily in that order). The rank of P is 4, the rank of Q is not 5, the rank of R is 1, the rank of S is not 2, the rank of T is not 3. Then which of the following is/are correct? 1. If the rank of S is 3, then that of T is 2. 2. If the rank of Q is 3, then that of T is 5. Select the answer using the code given below.
Seven cubes are identical in shape. Out of these, the weight of each of the six cubes is equal and the weight of the remaining cube is less than the weight of any other cube. A balance is used to identify the lightest cube. What is the minimum number of attempts required to distinguish the odd cube with certainty?
Seven persons A, B, C, D, E, F and G travel by three cars X, Y, Z. A and another two of them travel by X. Only E travels with G. C travels by Z, but B does not travel by Y. Besides, A and B do not travel by the same car. Then which of the following are correct? 1. No one travels alone. 2. Only D travels with F. 3. Only C travels with B. Select the answer using the code given below.
The weight of X, in kg, is denoted by X. The weights of A, B, C, D, P, Q, R and S are measured. Given: 1. A + B + C + D = 17 2. A + C = 6 3. P + Q + S + D = 15 4. P + Q + R + B = 17 5. P = R and Q = S Which one of the following statements is correct?
There are four statements X, Y, Z and W. Their relations are as follows: If X is incorrect, then so is Z; if Y is incorrect, then W is correct; if W is correct, then X is incorrect. Which of the following is/are correct? 1. If X is correct, then so is Y. 2. If Z is correct, then it is not necessary that Y is correct. Select the answer using the code given below.
Two identical straight rods are painted in five distinct colours so that each of them gets divided into five equal parts along the length. In one of them, the portions are marked P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 (not necessarily in that order) whereas in the other, they are marked Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 (not necessarily in that order). When the rods are kept parallel to each other side by side, P1 and Q3 match, P4 matches Q1 or Q2, and Q4 matches P3 or P5. If Q3 and Q5 are adjacent, which of the following is/are possible? 1. Q3 is marked at the middle portion of the straight rod. 2. P2 is marked at one of the extreme portions of the straight rod. Select the answer using the code given below.
Which among the following actions would constitute the most appropriate directive(s) in resolving interpersonal conflict in an office with culturally diverse personnel? 1. Direct personnel to practise activities that are the cultural markers of diverse groups 2. Allow conflicts to resolve naturally over time to set an appropriate precedent of leadership 3. Encourage personnel to seek each other's perspectives Select the answer using the code given below.
You are required to design a 'questionnaire' to be filled on-location by visitors, based on the following objective while writing a report: "To determine the feasibility of setting up a family-oriented vacation resort in the vicinity of a lake destination in the mountains" Which of the following heads would you include in the questionnaire to make it most appropriate for your purpose? 1. Size of family 2. Budget 3. Number of earners in the family 4. Food allergies and dietary restrictions Select the answer using the code given below.