Ernst & Young – Aptitude Questions & Answers for Placement Tests

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Q.1 The number 567Y21 is divisible by 9. What is the sum of the maximum and minimum possible value of Y?

Check Solution

Ans: C

For a number to be divisible by 9, the sum of its digits must be divisible by 9. 5 + 6 + 7 + Y + 2 + 1 = 21 + Y. The minimum value for Y is 6 (21 + 6 = 27, which is divisible by 9). The maximum value for Y is 9 (21 + 9 = 30, but the next multiple of 9 is 36, which would require Y to be 15, but Y is a single digit). Hence Y is 6, and the sum of digits is 27 or 36 (if Y is 15 but as Y is a single digit this is impossible) and so Y=6 and Y=9. The maximum and minimum possible value of Y are 9 and 6. Their sum is 9 + 6 = 15.

Q.2 Rohan invested Rs. 150,000 at 12% per annum, compounded quarterly. What is the amount and interest collected after 9 months?

Check Solution

Ans: B

Principal (P) = Rs. 150,000; Rate (R) = 12% per annum = 3% per quarter; Time (T) = 9 months = 3 quarters. Amount = P(1 + R/100)^T = 150000(1 + 3/100)^3 = 150000 * (1.03)^3 = 150000 * 1.092727 = 163909.05. Amount would be Rs. 166,851

Q.3 Two trains start simultaneously from Delhi and Agra towards each other and reach in 8 hours and 12 hours respectively after their meeting. What is the ratio of their speeds?

Check Solution

Ans: B

Let the speeds of the two trains be x and y respectively. The ratio of their speeds is inversely proportional to the square root of their time taken. So x/y = sqrt(12)/sqrt(8) = sqrt(3)/sqrt(2) = sqrt(3/2). The ratio of speeds after meeting is y/x = sqrt(8)/sqrt(12) = sqrt(2/3) or, x/y = sqrt(12)/sqrt(8) = sqrt(3)/sqrt(2). The ratio of the speeds is sqrt(time taken by the second train) : sqrt(time taken by the first train).

Q.4 A machine is purchased for Rs. 50,000. Its value depreciates at 10% per annum. After 3 years, it is sold for Rs. 30,000. What is the gain/loss?

Check Solution

Ans: C

Value after 3 years = 50000 * (1 – 0.1)^3 = 50000 * 0.729 = 36450. Loss = 36450 – 30000 = 6450.

Q.5 If P = 2.3 and Q = 0.7, then find the value of: a) P^2 – 2PQ + Q^2 b) P^3 – 3P^2Q + 3PQ^2 – Q^3

Check Solution

Ans: A

a) P^2 – 2PQ + Q^2 = (P – Q)^2 = (2.3 – 0.7)^2 = 1.6^2 = 2.56 b) P^3 – 3P^2Q + 3PQ^2 – Q^3 = (P – Q)^3 = (2.3 – 0.7)^3 = 1.6^3 = 4.096

Q.6 A fruit vendor offers a deal: “Buy 3 mangoes, get 1 mango at half price”. What is the effective discount percentage on each mango?

Check Solution

Ans: A

Let the price of each mango be ‘x’. When buying 3 mangoes, the customer gets 1 mango at half price (x/2). Total cost for 4 mangoes is 3x + x/2 = 3.5x. If there were no discount the cost would be 4x. Discount = (4x – 3.5x)/4x = 0.5x/4x = 1/8 = 0.125 = 12.5%.

Q.7 How many zeros are there at the end of the expression: 1 x 2 x 3 x…………… x 1000?

Check Solution

Ans: B

To find the number of trailing zeros, we need to determine the number of times 5 appears as a factor in the prime factorization of the product. Number of multiples of 5: 1000/5 = 200 Number of multiples of 25: 1000/25 = 40 Number of multiples of 125: 1000/125 = 8 Number of multiples of 625: 1000/625 = 1 Total = 200 + 40 + 8 + 1 = 249

Q.8 ABC is a number, when divided by 48 leaves the remainder 5. What is the remainder when it is divided by 12?

Check Solution

Ans: A

Let the number be ABC. ABC = 48q + 5, where q is the quotient. ABC = 12(4q) + 5. Therefore, when ABC is divided by 12, the remainder is 5.

Q.9 What is the percentage increase in the price of a product if the original price was $50 and the new price is $60?

Check Solution

Ans: C

Percentage increase = ((New Price – Original Price) / Original Price) * 100 = (($60 – $50) / $50) * 100 = (10/50) * 100 = 20%

Q.10 Find the missing value? 11 + 11 = 4 22 + 22 = 8 33 + 33 = ?

Check Solution

Ans: D

The pattern is (sum of digits of first number) * (sum of digits of second number). Therefore, for 33 + 33, (3+3)*(3+3) = 6 * 6 = 36. Then, 36/2=18, and 18/2=9. Then, 9-1 = 8.

Q.11 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. ECOSYSTEMS An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (air, water, and mineral soil), interacting as a system. Ecosystems can be of any size. For example, a fallen log is an ecosystem, as is a pond or a whole forest. The interactions among the living and nonliving components of an ecosystem maintain the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients. The passage states that a fallen log is an ecosystem.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage explicitly states that a fallen log is an ecosystem.

Q.12 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. RECYCLING Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing energy usage, air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling). Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy. Recycling helps the environment.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage explicitly states that recycling reduces pollution and waste, thus helping the environment.

Q.13 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT) The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects—”things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet. These devices can range from ordinary household objects to sophisticated industrial tools. IoT allows objects to be sensed and/or controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit. For example, a smart thermostat can learn your heating preferences and automatically adjust the temperature. IoT devices primarily rely on wired connections.

Check Solution

Ans: B

The passage states IoT devices exchange data “over the Internet” implying reliance on a network, but not exclusively wired connections. It doesn’t specify connection types.

Q.14 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. DATA MINING Data mining is the process of discovering patterns in large data sets involving methods at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and database systems. The overall goal of the data mining process is to extract information from a data set and transform it into an understandable structure for further use. Data mining involves six common classes of tasks: anomaly detection, association rule learning, classification, regression, clustering, and summarization. These are the tasks that data mining models are designed to perform. Data mining can be used in fields such as banking to detect fraudulent transactions. The process of discovering patterns in large datasets is referred to as data mining.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage states that data mining is the process of discovering patterns in large data sets.

Q.15 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE BENEFITS OF REGULAR EXERCISE Regular exercise offers a multitude of benefits for both physical and mental health. Physically, it strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves muscle mass and bone density, and helps maintain a healthy weight. Mentally, exercise reduces stress, improves mood, boosts cognitive function, and can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Exercise can be incorporated into daily life through activities like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or engaging in sports. Exercise has no impact on mental health.

Check Solution

Ans: B

The passage explicitly states that exercise reduces stress, improves mood, boosts cognitive function, and can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, thereby having a positive impact on mental health.

Q.16 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING Recycling plays a vital role in environmental conservation. It reduces the need to extract and process raw materials, which significantly lowers pollution and conserves natural resources. Recycling initiatives also promote energy efficiency, as manufacturing with recycled materials often requires less energy than producing new products. Furthermore, recycling programs contribute to waste reduction, preventing landfills from overflowing and mitigating the release of harmful greenhouse gases. The benefits of recycling extend beyond environmental protection, contributing to job creation and economic growth within the recycling industry. Recycling does not contribute to waste reduction.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage clearly states that recycling contributes to waste reduction.

Q.17 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE IMPORTANCE OF CYCLING Cycling is a healthy, low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults. It’s also a good way to get around, as it can be used for commuting or running errands. Regular cycling can help improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and boost mental well-being. In addition, cycling is an environmentally friendly mode of transport, as it produces no emissions. Cycling is an unhealthy form of exercise.

Check Solution

Ans: B

The passage explicitly states that cycling is a healthy exercise.

Q.18 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. A digital clock displays the time in hours and minutes. It shows the current time. A digital clock does not have hands. Analogue clocks use hands to show the time. Both are used to tell time. The passage discusses digital clocks.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage directly discusses and describes digital clocks.

Q.19 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE BOOK CLUB Alice, Ben, and Carol are members of a book club. Alice prefers mystery novels and her second choice is science fiction. Ben enjoys historical fiction, followed by biographies. Carol’s favorite is romance, but she also likes fantasy novels. They are deciding on the next book to read. Alice votes for a mystery novel. Ben votes for a biography. Carol votes for a romance novel. Who will the book club choose based on the information given, assuming they choose one book per member’s preference?

Check Solution

Ans: A

The book club will choose books based on each member’s first preference. Alice chooses mystery, Ben chooses biography, and Carol chooses romance.

Q.20 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. PETS David has three pets: a dog named Max, a cat named Whiskers, and a hamster named Nibbles. David loves his pets very much. He takes Max for walks in the park every day. Whiskers enjoys napping in sunny spots. Nibbles runs on his wheel most nights. David recently bought a new toy for Nibbles. How many pets does David have?

Check Solution

Ans: C

The passage states David has three pets: Max, Whiskers, and Nibbles.

Q.21 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. BOOK CLUB SELECTION David, Emily, and Mark are in a book club. David prefers science fiction. Emily enjoys historical fiction, and Mark likes thrillers. Their book club rules state that each member must pick a book for the month, and the group votes to choose the selection. David’s first choice for this month is a new science fiction novel. His second choice is a historical fiction book, and his third choice is a thriller. Emily’s first choice is a historical fiction novel, her second is a thriller, and her third is a science fiction book. Mark’s first choice is a thriller, his second is a science fiction novel, and his third is a historical fiction book. They cannot choose the same book twice. The members must select books based on their preference, no member can pick same preference if the top pick is not selected. If the group chooses the historical fiction book as the first selection, which book would Mark choose next?

Check Solution

Ans: A

Mark’s first choice is a Thriller but since it’s not chosen, his next preference will be the next best available.

Q.22 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. PET SHOW Alice, Ben, and Carol are entering their pets in a local pet show. Alice has a cat, Ben has a dog, and Carol has a hamster. The judges will award prizes for “Best in Show”, “Most Unusual”, and “Best Trained”. Alice’s cat is very fluffy and is expected to win a prize. Ben’s dog has learned many tricks and is a good performer. Carol’s hamster is a very rare breed. Alice hopes her cat will win “Best in Show”. Ben thinks his dog is most likely to win “Best Trained”. Carol believes her hamster has a good chance to win “Most Unusual”. Ben’s dog will not win “Most Unusual”.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage states that Ben’s dog is a good performer, and Carol’s hamster is a rare breed, indicating that Ben’s dog is not the most unusual pet.

Q.23 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE NEW JOB David and Mary have been married for fifteen years. They have a son named Peter who is twelve years old. David has recently been offered a new job. His first choice is to work in the city centre, which will offer better career prospects. His second choice is to work in a smaller town closer to home, which will offer a better work-life balance. Mary’s first choice is for David to accept the job in the smaller town to minimize his commute. Her second choice would be the city centre job, provided he is happy. Peter’s first choice is for his father to take the city centre job because there is a theme park nearby. His second choice would be the job in the smaller town. David has been offered a new job.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage states that David has been offered a new job.

Q.24 The passage states that molecularly characterized genetic disorders are those for which:

Check Solution

Ans: B

According to the passage, molecularly characterized genetic disorders are those for which the underlying causal gene has been identified.

Q.25 According to the passage, what is the primary difference between a genetic disorder and a common disease like diabetes?

Check Solution

Ans: C

The passage states, “Although some causal links have been made between genomic sequence variants in particular genes and some of these diseases, often with much publicity in the general media, these are usually not considered to be genetic disorders per se as their causes are complex, involving many different genetic and environmental factors.”

Q.26 According to the passage, molecularly characterized genetic disorders are those for which:

Check Solution

Ans: B

The passage states: “Molecularly characterized genetic disorders are those for which the underlying causal gene has been identified…”

Q.27 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. WHY DO ORGANISATIONS USE CUSTOMER CHARTERS? A Customer Charter is a statement as to how a company will deliver a quality customer service. The main purpose of a Customer Charter is to inform customers of the standards of service to expect, what to do if something goes wrong and how to make a complaint. In addition to this a Customer Charter also helps employees by setting out clearly defined standards of how they should perform within the organisation in relation to customer service delivery. Whilst not a legal requirement, a Customer Charter is an ideal way of helping organisations define with their customers, and others, what that service should be and the standard that should be expected. Customer Charters help employees.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage states that a Customer Charter helps employees by setting out clearly defined standards of how they should perform.

Q.28 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE BENEFITS OF REGULAR EXERCISE Regular physical activity offers a multitude of health benefits. It helps control weight, reduces the risk of heart disease, strengthens bones and muscles, improves mood, and boosts energy levels. Exercise can also contribute to better sleep and may reduce the risk of certain cancers. Furthermore, it can enhance cognitive function and improve overall quality of life. The type of exercise needed depends on the individual’s goals and physical condition. This could include activities such as brisk walking, running, swimming, weight training, and team sports. Consistency is key to reaping the rewards of regular exercise. Regular exercise always leads to weight loss.

Check Solution

Ans: C

The passage mentions that exercise helps control weight but does not guarantee weight loss for everyone. Factors like diet are also relevant.

Q.29 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. WHAT IS A BUSINESS PLAN? A business plan is a formal written document containing business goals, the methods for attaining those goals, and the time-frame for the achievement of the goals. It also describes the nature of the business, background information, and the marketing and sales strategies. A business plan provides a road map for the business and serves several important functions: it helps to secure funding, defines business objectives and provides a way to measure progress, and it is often required by investors. It outlines the overall strategy and operations and helps to clarify the business’s purpose. A well-written business plan can also provide a clear understanding of the marketplace and the competition. A business plan is legally mandatory for starting any business.

Check Solution

Ans: B

The passage states that a business plan helps secure funding and is often required by investors but doesn’t explicitly state it is legally mandatory.

Q.30 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE ART OF TEA CEREMONY The Japanese tea ceremony, also known as “chanoyu”, is a ritualized way of preparing and serving green tea, known as matcha. The ceremony is a spiritual practice influenced by Zen Buddhism, emphasizing harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. The earliest forms of the tea ceremony can be traced back to 9th century China. It was introduced to Japan in the 12th century by Zen Buddhist monks who brought tea seeds and the practice to Japan. The tea ceremony’s popularity grew through the Muromachi period (1336-1573), eventually evolving into the refined and structured form it is today. The Japanese tea ceremony originated in Japan.

Check Solution

Ans: B

The passage states that the tea ceremony was introduced to Japan, implying it originated elsewhere.

Q.31 “Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP Sleep is essential for human health and well-being. During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, repairs cells, and releases hormones. Insufficient sleep can lead to various problems, including impaired cognitive function, weakened immune systems, and increased risk of chronic diseases. The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person, but most adults require around 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Getting enough sleep is just as important as a healthy diet and regular exercise. Sleep repairs the cells in the brain.

Check Solution

Ans: A

The passage clearly states “During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, repairs cells, and releases hormones.”

Q.32 Read the passage before answering the question that follows. THE HISTORY OF COFFEE Coffee drinking is believed to have originated in Ethiopia, with credible evidence of coffee cultivation and knowledge of the coffee plant dating back to the 15th century. Coffee spread to Egypt and Yemen, and by the 16th century, it was enjoyed throughout the Near East, Persia, Turkey, and North Africa. Coffee houses became centers of social activity, intellectual discussion, and artistic expression. European travelers brought coffee back to their home countries, with coffee houses opening in major cities like London, Paris, and Vienna in the 17th century. Coffee consumption rose quickly. Coffee was first consumed in Europe in the 18th century.

Check Solution

Ans: B

The passage states coffee houses opened in European cities in the 17th century.

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