SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving Syllabus

In syllogism, can a definite conclusion be drawn from two negative (No/Not) premises?

No. Two negative premises yield no definite conclusion. At least one premise must be affirmative to draw a valid conclusion.

In syllogism, what is the rule about 'possibility' conclusions?

A possibility conclusion is true if the situation can exist without contradicting the statements. If something is not definite but is not impossible, the possibility holds.

What is the 'Statement and Argument' question type?

A statement is given with arguments (usually 'strong' or 'weak') for/against it. You must decide which argument is strong (relevant, logical, directly addresses the issue) versus weak (trivial, ambiguous, or unrelated).

What makes an argument 'strong' in Statement and Argument questions?

A strong argument is directly related to the statement, logically sound, addresses a real and important aspect of the issue, and is not based on individual perception or trivial reasoning.

What makes an argument 'weak' in Statement and Argument questions?

A weak argument is unrelated or only superficially related, ambiguous, based on personal opinion or assumption, restates the question, or addresses a minor/trivial aspect.

What is the basic concept tested in Blood Relations questions?

Determining the relationship between two people based on given clues, by tracing a family tree across generations (parent, child, sibling, spouse, in-laws, etc.).

In blood relations, who is your 'father's brother' and 'mother's brother' called respectively?

Father's brother = Paternal uncle; Mother's brother = Maternal uncle (mama).

In blood relations, what is the relationship of 'your father's sister's husband' to you?

He is your uncle (the husband of your paternal aunt/bua), i.e., your aunt's husband.

In a blood-relation puzzle, what does 'A is the son of B's father' make A to B?

A is B's brother (A and B share the same father), assuming A is not B himself.

How are symbols typically used to represent gender and relations in coded blood-relation questions?

Common conventions: '+' or a square for male, '−' or a circle for female; '×' for spouse/married, and a horizontal line for siblings, a vertical line for parent-child.

What are the four cardinal and four ordinal directions used in Direction and Distance problems?

Cardinal: North, South, East, West. Ordinal (intermediate): North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West.

In direction sense, if you face North and turn right, then right again, which direction do you now face?

South. North → (right) East → (right) South.

Which formula is used to find shortest distance between start and end points in direction problems?

The Pythagorean theorem: shortest distance = √(a² + b²), where a and b are the net horizontal and net vertical displacements.

In direction problems, if a person walks 6 km North then 8 km East, what is the shortest distance from start?

10 km. Using √(6² + 8²) = √(36+64) = √100 = 10.

During sunrise, a person faces the sun; their shadow falls in which direction?

Towards the West. At sunrise the sun is in the East, so shadows fall to the West (opposite the sun).

At sunset, in which direction does a person's shadow fall?

Towards the East. At sunset the sun is in the West, so shadows fall to the East.

What is a Mirror Image?

The image of an object as seen in a plane mirror, where the left and right sides are interchanged (laterally inverted) while top and bottom stay the same.

What is a Water Image?

The reflection of an object as seen in water, where the top and bottom are interchanged (vertically inverted) while left and right stay the same.

What is the key difference between a mirror image and a water image?

Mirror image reverses left↔right (lateral inversion); water image reverses top↔bottom (vertical inversion).

Which capital letters look the SAME in their mirror image (vertical mirror)?

Letters symmetric about a vertical axis: A, H, I, M, O, T, U, V, W, X, Y.

Which capital letters look the SAME in their water image (horizontal axis)?

Letters symmetric about a horizontal axis: B, C, D, E, H, I, K, O, X.

What is Paper Folding and Cutting in non-verbal reasoning?

A question type where a paper is folded one or more times and cuts/punches are made; you must determine how the unfolded paper will look (where the holes/cuts appear).

In paper folding, why do holes appear symmetrically when the paper is unfolded?

Each fold creates a mirror line. When unfolded, every cut is reflected across each fold line, producing symmetric holes about those axes.

If a square paper is folded once and one hole is punched through both layers, how many holes appear when unfolded?

Two holes — one for each layer, positioned symmetrically about the fold line.

In paper folding, if a paper is folded twice (into quarters) and one hole is punched, how many holes appear unfolded?

Four holes, since one punch passes through four layers and each becomes a hole symmetric about the two fold lines.

What is an Embedded (Hidden) Figure question?

A question where you must find a given simple figure that is concealed within a larger, more complex figure, keeping the same size, shape and orientation.

What is the key rule for identifying an embedded figure inside a complex figure?

The hidden figure must appear in the same orientation and proportion (not rotated or resized) and be fully traceable within the lines of the larger figure.

What is a Figure Series question in non-verbal reasoning?

A sequence of figures changing by a fixed rule (rotation, addition/removal of elements, movement, or shading change); you identify the next figure that continues the pattern.

What common changes should you check for in a figure series?

Rotation (clockwise/anticlockwise), shifting/movement of elements, increase or decrease in number of sides/dots/lines, and changes in shading or position of internal elements.

What is a Figure Matrix (matrix-type) question?

A grid (e.g., 3×3) of figures following a pattern across rows and columns, with one cell missing; you must select the figure that completes the matrix by following the row/column rule.

How do you approach a 3×3 figure matrix question?

Identify the transformation rule going across each row (and down each column), confirm it is consistent, then apply that same rule to the row/column with the blank to find the missing figure.