LIC AAO Reasoning Ability Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Reasoning Ability deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. In symbol/number coding ('substitution coding'), how do you decode a sentence?

   Each word maps to a code symbol/number; compare sentences with common words to deduce the code for each word, then identify the unknown by elimination.

2. In mathematical inequalities, what is the result of combining A > B and B > C?

   A > C (transitivity). The combined symbol takes the common direction; '>' and '>' give a definite '>'.

3. In coded inequalities, what happens when you combine A > B and B = C?

   A > C. An equality preserves the strict inequality; the result is the stronger relation (>).

4. In inequalities, when does NO definite conclusion follow between two end terms?

   When the connecting signs point in opposite directions (e.g., A > B < C) — the relation between A and C cannot be determined.

5. In inequalities, when do the conclusions A ≥ C and A < C form an 'Either-Or' pair?

   When neither is individually true but they are complementary (together cover all possibilities, ≥ and <) for the same pair — then 'Either A ≥ C or A < C' is true.

6. In blood relations, who is your 'father's brother's son' to you?

   Your cousin (paternal cousin).

7. In blood relations, what relation is 'mother's brother' called?

   Maternal uncle.

8. In coded blood relations using +, −, ×, ÷, how should each symbol be read in a chain like 'A + B − C'?

   Resolve symbols pairwise from the defined meanings, identifying gender and generation at each step; build the relationship outward from one person to the next.

9. In direction and distance, if you face North and turn 90° clockwise, which direction do you face?

   East. (Clockwise from North: North → East → South → West.)

10. What formula gives the shortest (straight-line) distance between start and end points in a direction puzzle forming a right angle?

    Pythagoras theorem: shortest distance = √(horizontal displacement² + vertical displacement²).

11. In direction sense, what are the four ordinal directions and their positions?

    NE (between N and E), SE (between S and E), SW (between S and W), NW (between N and W) — each 45° between two main directions.

12. In alphanumeric series, how do you handle a question asking which element is 'third to the left of the seventh from the left'?

    Find the 7th from left, then count 3 positions further left → net the (7−3)=4th element from the left.

13. In a symbol/number/letter series, what is the typical task in 'how many letters are immediately followed by a number'?

    Scan the series and count each letter whose very next element is a digit; only the immediate right neighbor counts.

14. In Order and Ranking, what is the formula relating positions from top and bottom in a row of n people?

    Position from top + Position from bottom = Total (n) + 1. So Total = (rank from top) + (rank from bottom) − 1.

15. In Order/Ranking, if A is 7th from top and 11th from bottom, how many people are there in total?

    7 + 11 − 1 = 17 people.

16. In Machine Input-Output, what defines the 'arrangement' a machine performs each step?

    A fixed logical rule applied per step (e.g., shifting the smallest/largest word or number to one end), repeated until the final arrangement is reached; each step processes one element.

17. In Machine Input-Output, how do you find an intermediate step without knowing the original input?

    You cannot work backward to the input from a later step, but you can move forward by applying the deduced rule from the given step onward to reach subsequent steps.

18. In Data Sufficiency, what does it mean if 'Statement I alone is sufficient but II alone is not'?

    The question can be answered using only Statement I's information, while Statement II alone does not provide enough to answer.

19. In Data Sufficiency, what is the correct response when each statement alone is sufficient?

    'Either statement alone is sufficient' — both I and II independently answer the question.

20. In Data Sufficiency, when do you choose 'both statements together are sufficient (but neither alone)'?

    When neither statement individually answers the question, but combining the information from both yields a definite answer.

21. In Analogy, how do you solve 'A : B :: C : ?'?

    Identify the relationship between A and B (e.g., synonym, cause-effect, part-whole, quantity), then apply the same relationship to C to find the missing term.

22. What is the basic approach to 'Classification / Odd One Out' problems?

    Find the common property shared by most items; the one item that does NOT share that property (different category, type, or pattern) is the odd one out.

23. In Strengthening/Weakening arguments, what is the difference between strengthening and weakening evidence?

    Strengthening evidence supports the conclusion or makes it more likely true; weakening evidence undermines, contradicts, or provides an alternative explanation to the conclusion.

24. In Inference vs Assumption identification, what distinguishes an inference from an assumption?

    An inference is a conclusion DERIVED from (follows after) the stated facts; an assumption is a precondition taken for granted BEFORE/within the statement that the argument depends on.

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