ZS Associates – Aptitude Questions & Answers for Placement Tests
Reviewing Previous Year Questions is a good start. Prepare Aptitude thoroughly to Clear Placement Tests with 100% Confidence.
Q.1 Each face of a cube is painted with a distinct number from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6. The number 1 is adjacent to the number 2. The number 3 is opposite the number 4. Which of the following statements is necessarily true?
Check Solution
Ans: B
The number 3 is opposite 4. Since 1 is adjacent to 2, neither 1 nor 2 can be opposite 4. Therefore, 4 must be adjacent to 1, 2 and some other number which is not 3. Hence the numbers adjacent to 4 are 1, 2, and two more, one of which is 6, or 5.
Q.2 Five friends – Priya, Rahul, Sameer, Tina, and Varun – are sitting on a bench. Priya is to the immediate left of Rahul. Sameer is to the right of Varun. Tina is not at either end. Varun is not next to Priya or Rahul. Who is sitting in the middle?
Check Solution
Ans: D
Since Varun cannot be next to Priya and Rahul, and Tina is not at the ends, the order must be Rahul, Priya, Tina, Varun, Sameer, from left to right. Therefore, Tina is in the middle.
Q.3 In a certain code, 2#3=13 and 4#5=41. What will be the value of 6#2?
Check Solution
Ans: C
The pattern is (a*a) + (b*b). For example: 2#3= (2*2) + (3*3) = 4 + 9 =13 And, 4#5 = (4*4) + (5*5) = 16 + 25 = 41 So, 6#2 = (6*6) + (2*2) = 36+4=40
Q.4 Relationship between Sarah, John, and Emily based on given statements. I. Sarah is taller than John. II. Emily is shorter than Sarah. III. John weighs more than Emily. If the first two statements are true, the third statement is
Check Solution
Ans: C
We know Sarah > John (in height) and Sarah > Emily (in height). However, we have no information relating John and Emily’s weights.
Q.5 In a row of students, Maya is 18th from the left. Rohan is 12th from the right. Seema is 25th from the left and sits immediately to the left of Rohan. Anil is 3rd to the right of Maya. How many students are there in the row?
Check Solution
Ans: B
Since Seema is immediately to the left of Rohan, and Rohan is 12th from the right, Seema is 13th from the right. Seema is also 25th from the left. The total number of students is 25 + 13 – 1 = 37. Anil is 3rd to the right of Maya which means Anil is at position 18+3 = 21 from left. Now since we know the location of Seema and Rohan and the position of Maya, we just count each position and add the position of Rohan. So, positions from Maya to Rohan: Maya is at 18 and Anil is 21, so the position of Rohan from left is 25 + 1 = 26. Rohan is 12th from the right. Hence the number of students = 26 + 12 -1 = 37. However, we need to include Anil position also. Anil is 21st from left. Number of students from left to right: 25 + 12 = 37. 37. But we should not forget that Anil is to the right of Maya. Number of students in between Maya and Rohan is 7 (25-18=7). Hence number of students should be 18+7+12=37. Since Anil is not adjacent to anyone. Anil will be to the right of Maya, and hence the positions will increase. So, total students = 37 + (21-18) = 37 +3 = 40.
Q.6 A cyclist travels 10 km south, then turns west and cycles 5 km. Next, the cyclist turns north and cycles 8 km. Finally, the cyclist turns east and cycles 5 km. What is the shortest distance from the starting point and in which direction is the cyclist from the starting point?
Check Solution
Ans: A
The cyclist travels 10 km south and 8 km north, resulting in a net displacement of 2 km south. The eastward and westward travels cancel each other out.
Q.7 If ‘dog barks loudly’ is coded as ‘z’ ‘cats are cute’ is coded as ‘y’ ‘dogs are friendly’ is coded as ‘x’ and ‘cats bark’ is also coded as ‘z’ then ‘friendly cats’ is coded as:
Check Solution
Ans: D
Since ‘dog barks loudly’ and ‘cats bark’ are both coded as ‘z’, the individual words don’t have a consistent code.
Q.8 Six friends – Alice, Bob, Carol, David, Emily, and Frank – are standing in a line. Alice is to the left of Bob. Carol is between Bob and David. Emily is to the right of David. Frank is not at either end, and is immediately to the left of Alice. Which two people are standing next to each other at the extreme ends of the line?
Check Solution
Ans: B
Based on the statements, the order must be: Frank, Alice, Bob, Carol, David, Emily. Therefore, Frank and Emily are at the ends.
Q.9 In a survey of 50 people, 25 like coffee, 20 like tea, and 10 like both. If everyone likes at least one of the two beverages, how many people like only coffee?
Check Solution
Ans: A
Let C be the set of people who like coffee and T be the set of people who like tea. We are given: |C| = 25, |T| = 20, |C ∩ T| = 10. We want to find |C – T| which is the number of people who like only coffee. We know that |C ∪ T| = |C| + |T| – |C ∩ T|. Since everyone likes at least one beverage, |C ∪ T| = 50. Thus, 50 = 25 + 20 – 10. To find the number of people who like only coffee, we subtract the number who like both from the total who like coffee: |C – T| = |C| – |C ∩ T| = 25 – 10 = 15.
Q.10 A bus route has 7 stops. How many different types of tickets must be printed to allow travel between any two stops, considering both directions?
Check Solution
Ans: B
There are 7 stops. The number of ways to choose 2 stops out of 7 is 7C2 = 7! / (2!5!) = 21. Since travel is allowed in both directions, we multiply by 2, giving us 21 * 2 = 42.
Q.11 How many 6-letter words can be formed using the letters of the word “APPLE” if each letter can be used as many times as it appears in the original word?
Check Solution
Ans: A
The word “APPLE” has 5 letters, with ‘P’ appearing twice. However, the question states we can reuse letters as many times as they appear in the word. So, we effectively have 3 unique letters to choose from (A, P, L, E). Since we are making a 6-letter word and each place can be any of the 3 available characters, we have 3 choices for the first letter, 3 choices for the second letter, and so on. Therefore, there are 3^6 possible words. 3^6 = 729. But since ‘P’ can be repeated, we’re just finding total possible arrangements. The problem is similar in concept to the original. The total count of permutations, allowing reuse.
Q.12 In a class of 40 students, 25 students like Cricket, and 20 students like Football. If 10 students like both the sports, the number of students who like neither sport is:
Check Solution
Ans: A
Total students who like at least one sport = (25 + 20) – 10 = 35. Students who like neither sport = 40 – 35 = 5.
Q.13 If 12 typists can type 24 pages in 6 minutes, how many typists are needed to type 48 pages in 12 minutes, assuming all typists work at the same rate?
Check Solution
Ans: A
Let T be the number of typists, P be the number of pages, and M be the time in minutes. The work done is proportional to the number of typists and time, and inversely proportional to the number of pages. Thus, T * M / P = constant. In the first case, 12 * 6 / 24 = 3. In the second case, let x be the number of typists. Then, x * 12 / 48 = 3. So, x = (3 * 48) / 12 = 12. However, the work done is proportional to number of pages, so first we calculate work rate of one typist: (24/12/6) = 1/3 pages/typist/min. So the pages to be typed are 48, and time = 12. Total work required = 48 pages. Rate of work required is 48/12 = 4 pages/min. Each typist’s rate = 1/3 pages/min. Hence Number of typists required = (4/(1/3)) = 12. Since x * 12 / 48 = constant in second scenario which is (12 * 6 / 24) = 3. Then x = 3 * 48 / 12 = 12. If 12 typists type 24 pages in 6 minutes then each typist types 24/12 = 2 pages in 6 minutes, thus 1/3 pages/minute. For 48 pages in 12 minutes, a typist types 48/12 = 4 pages in 1 minute, (4/ (1/3)) = x = 12. So 12 typists. So, 12*6/24 = x*12/48 3 = x/4 x = 12
Q.14 The average weight of 25 students in a class is 60 kg. Five students leave the class, and the average weight of the remaining students increases by 2 kg. If the total weight of the five students who left is 300 kg, what is the average weight of the five students who left?
Check Solution
Ans: B
The total weight of the 25 students initially is 25 * 60 = 1500 kg. After 5 students leave, there are 20 students left. Their average weight is 60 + 2 = 62 kg. The total weight of the 20 students is 20 * 62 = 1240 kg. The total weight of the 5 students who left is 300 kg (given). Therefore, the average weight of the 5 students who left is 300/5 = 60 kg.
Q.15 A bag contains two types of coins: fair coins and biased coins. There are 4 fair coins and 6 biased coins. When a fair coin is tossed, the probability of getting heads is 1/2. When a biased coin is tossed, the probability of getting heads is 2/3. A coin is randomly selected from the bag and tossed. What is the probability that the toss results in heads?
Check Solution
Ans: C
P(Heads) = P(Heads|Fair) * P(Fair) + P(Heads|Biased) * P(Biased) = (1/2) * (4/10) + (2/3) * (6/10) = 2/10 + 12/30 = 6/30 + 12/30 = 18/30 = 3/5
Q.16 A bag contains 5 red balls, 4 blue balls, and 3 green balls. If two balls are drawn at random without replacement, what is the probability that both balls are of the same color?
Check Solution
Ans: C
Probability(both red) = (5/12) * (4/11) = 20/132 Probability(both blue) = (4/12) * (3/11) = 12/132 Probability(both green) = (3/12) * (2/11) = 6/132 Total Probability = (20 + 12 + 6)/132 = 38/132 = 19/66
Q.17 A recent advertisement stated: “Our new coffee blend, ‘Sunrise Brew,’ is now available in biodegradable packaging.”
Check Solution
Ans: D
The advertisement highlights a change in packaging. The statement implies the previous packaging was different, and the coffee blend’s availability is also new.
Q.18 A study found that people who eat breakfast regularly tend to have lower BMIs than those who skip breakfast. The study concludes that eating breakfast causes weight loss. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the study’s conclusion?
Check Solution
Ans: D
Option D weakens the argument because it suggests an alternative explanation for the weight difference: people who skip breakfast might overeat later, negating any potential weight loss benefit.
Q.19 Increased advertising expenditure leads to higher sales. Therefore, a company should always increase its advertising budget. Which of the following weakens the above statement?
Check Solution
Ans: C
Options A, B and C all weaken the conclusion that a company should *always* increase its advertising budget. Option D strengthens the statement.
Q.20 The government should increase funding for public transportation to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in urban areas.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The argument directly connects increased funding to a desirable outcome (reduced congestion and pollution). This connection assumes the government values those outcomes.
Q.21 A study found that individuals who regularly consumed a specific type of dark chocolate showed improved cognitive function compared to those who did not. The chocolate contained a high concentration of flavonoids, known antioxidants. The study controlled for age, education level, and other dietary factors. However, the study did not investigate other lifestyle habits of the participants. Which of the following can be properly concluded solely from the given information?
Check Solution
Ans: B
The study shows a correlation between consuming the dark chocolate and improved cognitive function. It doesn’t necessarily prove causation because other lifestyle habits were not controlled.
Q.22 A local bakery, “Sweet Surrender,” is struggling financially. The owner decides to reduce the price of their popular “Sunshine Cake” by 10% to attract more customers. Simultaneously, they announce a 5% reduction in the wages of their bakers. The bakers, surprisingly, reacted positively to this decision.
Check Solution
Ans: A
The core idea is that the employees welcome the decision.
Q.23 Select the option that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to the given word: TRANSIENT (OPPOSITE)
Check Solution
Ans: C
Transient means lasting only for a short time. Therefore, the opposite is permanent.
Q.24 Rearrange the below given sentences to form the meaningful and correct sentence: S1: The old book lay forgotten on the shelf. P: Dust motes danced in the sunbeams. Q: He opened it carefully, his fingers tracing the faded gilt lettering. R: A young boy, with a curious expression, reached out for it. S: Slowly, the cover creaked as he began to turn the yellowed pages. S6: The scent of aged paper filled the room.
Check Solution
Ans: D
The logical flow starts with the book being forgotten (S1). The boy’s reaction (R) comes next. Then, the action of opening the book (Q) follows. Then, turning pages (S) and finally, dust motes (P) and the final sentence.
Q.25 Select the word or phrase which best expresses the meaning of the given word. : TRANSIENT
Check Solution
Ans: B
Transient means lasting for a short time; temporary. Fleeting and temporary are synonyms.
Q.26 The old house ______ on the hill for over a century.
Check Solution
Ans: A
The sentence describes a state that began in the past and continues to the present. The correct tense to use is the present perfect.
Q.27 The company ………………………….. a new product line next year.
Check Solution
Ans: A
The sentence requires a future tense verb form. “Will launch” is the correct future tense form.
Q.28 The dog, along with the cats, ____ fed daily by the neighbor.
Check Solution
Ans: A
The subject of the sentence is “dog,” which is singular. The verb must agree in number.
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