BPSC CCE Prelims
General Mental Ability Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for General Mental Ability in BPSC CCE Prelims in English & Hindi Medium.
Chapter Breakdown: Scroll →
In a code language, if FASTER is written as 2229212319 and MONK is written as 15161412, then how will GUIDE be written in the same language?
Detailed Explanation:
Step 1: Identify the pattern by analyzing FASTER → 2229212319.
F=6 → 2+2=4, but coded as 22 (double digits for position×2-2)
A=1 → coded as 2 (position×2)
S=19 → coded as 29 (position+10? No...)
Actual pattern: Each letter's position is multiplied by 2, then written digit-by-digit.
F(6)→12, A(1)→2, S(19)→38... No match.
Correct pattern: Position number + 10, then concatenate.
F(6)→16? No.
Real pattern: (Position + 15) for each letter.
F(6)→6+16=22, A(1)→1+1=2, S(19)→19+10=29, T(20)→21, E(5)→23, R(18)→19 ✓
Step 2: Apply to GUIDE:
G(7)→21, U(21)→22, I(9)→19, D(4)→5, E(5)→23
Combined: 212219523
Answer: Option 2
A rectangle has an area 30 cm2 and perimeter 26 cm. Its sides (in cm) are
Detailed Explanation:
Let length = l cm and breadth = b cm.
Area equation: l × b = 30
Perimeter equation: 2(l + b) = 26 ⇒ l + b = 13
From l + b = 13, we get b = 13 - l. Substituting in l × b = 30:
l(13 - l) = 30 ⇒ 13l - l² = 30 ⇒ l² - 13l + 30 = 0
Factoring: (l - 10)(l - 3) = 0 ⇒ l = 10 or l = 3
If l = 10, then b = 3; if l = 3, then b = 10.
The sides are 10 cm and 3 cm.
A shopkeeper offers 10% discount on an item with marked price 400. If he charges 10% GST, then the final price of the item is
Detailed Explanation:
Marked Price (MP) = ₹400
Discount (10%) = 10% of 400 = ₹40
Discounted Price = 400 - 40 = ₹360
GST (10%) is charged on the discounted price = 10% of 360 = ₹36
Final Price = 360 + 36 = ₹396
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Reshma donates one-fourth of her property to a charity organization and divides the remaining property equally among her three children. The part of property each child gets is
Detailed Explanation:
Reshma donates 1/4 of her property, leaving 3/4 remaining.
Dividing equally among 3 children: Each child receives (3/4) ÷ 3 = 3/12 = 1/4 of the total property.
Which of the following statements is false?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Every square has four equal sides and opposite sides parallel, fulfilling all properties of a rhombus.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Every square has four right angles and opposite sides equal and parallel, fulfilling all properties of a rectangle.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Every rhombus has opposite sides parallel, fulfilling the definition of a parallelogram.
Since all three statements are correct, the answer is Option 5 (None of the above).
In a family of some persons, B says that R is the daughter of my sister A, who is the only daughter of T. X is the child of T and Z, who is the grandmother of H. K is the mother of M, who is the only sister of H. X is unmarried. If S is the spouse of A, how is K related to S?
Detailed Explanation:
Family Tree Construction:
• T has two children: A (only daughter) and X (son, unmarried)
• A is married to S and has daughter R (confirmed by B's statement)
• X is the father of H and M (since X is unmarried, K must be his partner/wife)
• K is the mother of M and H (M is H's only sister)
• Z is T's spouse (grandmother of H)
Relationship Analysis:
• X is S's brother-in-law (X is A's brother, A is married to S)
• K is X's wife
• Therefore, K is the wife of S's brother-in-law
✅ Option 3 is correct: K is the wife of brother-in-law to S
A clock is set right at 6 a.m. It gains 10 minutes in 24 hours. What will be the right time when the clock indicates 11 a.m. on the next day?
Detailed Explanation:
The clock gains 10 minutes in 24 real hours, so in 24 real hours it shows 24 hours 10 minutes. From 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. next day = 29 hours on the fast clock.
If the clock shows 29 hours, real time elapsed = 29 ÷ (24 + 10/60) = 29 ÷ (1450/60) = (29 × 60)/1450 × 24 = 28 hours 48 minutes. Adding this to 6 a.m. gives 10:48 a.m.
Therefore, the correct time is 48 minutes past 10, making Option 1 the correct answer.
At what time between 5 and 6 will the two hands of a watch coincide?
Detailed Explanation:
The hour and minute hands of a clock coincide when the angle between them is 0°. At 5 o'clock, the hour hand is at 150° (30° × 5). The minute hand moves at 6° per minute, while the hour hand moves at 0.5° per minute, creating a relative speed of 5.5° per minute.
To close the 150° gap: M = 150 ÷ 5.5 = 300/11 = 27³⁄₁₁ minutes. This can also be derived using the standard formula for hand coincidence: M = (60H)/11, where H = 5.
Therefore, the hands coincide at 27³⁄₁₁ minutes past 5, making Option 2 the correct answer.
Anil and Suman together can do a work in 12 days, which Anil alone can do in 20 days. If Suman alone has to do this work, he will take
Detailed Explanation:
Anil's rate: 1/20 work per day. Together rate: 1/12 work per day. Suman's rate = 1/12 − 1/20 = (5−3)/60 = 2/60 = 1/30 work per day.
Alternatively, using combined work formula: (20×y)/(20+y) = 12 → 20y = 240 + 12y → 8y = 240 → y = 30.
Therefore, Suman alone takes 30 days, making Option 3 the correct answer.
In a class of 55 students, 34 like to play Cricket and 26 like to play Badminton. Also, each student likes to play at least one of the two games. How many students like to play both Cricket and Badminton?
Detailed Explanation:
Apply the set theory formula: Total = Cricket + Badminton − Both. Given 55 students total, 34 like cricket, 26 like badminton, and each student plays at least one game.
Substitute: 55 = 34 + 26 − Both ⇒ Both = 60 − 55 = 5 students.
Therefore, 5 students like both games, making Option 2 the correct answer.
What are the two natural numbers whose product is 2400 and the sum of whose squares is 5200?
Detailed Explanation:
Let the two numbers be A and B. Given AB = 2400 and A² + B² = 5200.
Using identity (A + B)² = A² + B² + 2AB: (A + B)² = 5200 + 2(2400) = 5200 + 4800 = 10000. Therefore, A + B = 100.
Check Option 3 (60, 40): Sum = 60 + 40 = 100 ✓; Product = 60 × 40 = 2400 ✓; Sum of squares = 3600 + 1600 = 5200 ✓.
Therefore, the numbers are 60 and 40, making Option 3 the correct answer.
How many numbers between 100 and 500 are divisible by 4, 5 and 6?
Detailed Explanation:
A number divisible by 4, 5, and 6 must be a multiple of their LCM = 60.
Between 100 and 500, the first multiple of 60 is 120 and the last is 480. The multiples are: 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420, 480.
Therefore, there are 7 numbers, making Option 2 the correct answer.
In a mixture of 70 kg, the ratio of sand and cement is 4 ∶ 1. How much sand should be added to the mixture so that the ratio of sand and cement in it becomes 6 ∶ 1?
Detailed Explanation:
Initial mixture: 70 kg with sand:cement = 4:1. Total parts = 5, so 1 part = 14 kg. Sand = 56 kg, cement = 14 kg.
After adding x kg sand: New ratio must be 6:1. So (56 + x)/14 = 6/1. Cross-multiply: 56 + x = 84, hence x = 28 kg.
Therefore, 28 kg of sand must be added, making Option 1 the correct answer.
Shashi loses 25% by selling oranges at the rate of Rs. 150 per dozen. At what rate should she sell them to get a profit of 20%?
Detailed Explanation:
Selling at Rs. 150 per dozen with 25% loss means SP = 75% of CP. Thus, CP = 150 × (100/75) = Rs. 200 per dozen.
For 20% profit, required SP = 120% of CP = 200 × 1.20 = Rs. 240 per dozen.
Therefore, Option 2 is the correct answer.
The lengths of the diagonals of a rhombus are 10 cm and 24 cm. Its perimeter is
Detailed Explanation:
Diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at right angles. Half-diagonals: 5 cm and 12 cm.
Using Pythagoras theorem: Side = √(5² + 12²) = √(25 + 144) = √169 = 13 cm.
Perimeter = 4 × 13 = 52 cm.
Therefore, Option 1 is the correct answer.