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Seating Arrangement for CUET General Aptitude

About 10 min to learn · 65 questions

A seating arrangement question gives a few people and a few clues, then asks about the finished arrangement: who sits at an end, who is second to someone's left, who faces whom. Nearly every mistake is a left-right mistake, not a logic mistake. This lesson covers the position words, how facing changes left and right, linear rows, clues with two cases, round tables facing in and out, two facing rows, and counting the people between.

Syllabus area
Logical and Analytical Reasoning
On this page · 8 sections
  1. 01The core idea
  2. 02Position words
  3. 03Rows
  4. 04Round tables
  5. 05Exam shortcuts
  6. 06Common mistakes
  7. 07Quick revision
  8. 08Check your understanding

The core idea

Seating questions are won or lost on left and right. Fix what "left" means before you read the first clue: in a row, from the direction people face; at a round table, clockwise or anticlockwise. Then draw the seats and place people one clue at a time.

Start from a clue that fixes a seat outright, hang the other clues on it, and leave "not" clues for last, where they choose between the seats that remain. One clean sketch answers every question in the set.

Position words

What do "immediately to the left" and "second to the left" mean?

"Immediately to the left of X" is the seat right next to X on X's own left. "Second to the left of X" is two seats away on that side, with exactly one person between. Always count from X's point of view, never yours.

PhraseMeaning
X is immediately to the left of YX is Y's neighbour on Y's left
X is second to the right of YOne person between them, X on Y's right
X is to the left of Y, no "immediately"X is somewhere on Y's left
X and Y are neighboursSide by side, either way round
nn people sit between X and YStrictly between; X and Y are not counted
X faces YSame position in two facing rows

Watch out

"Second to the left of X" and "X is second to the left of Y" are opposite statements. Read which name is the reference point before you move anyone.

How do left and right change with the direction people face?

Your left is where your left hand points, so turning round turns your left round too. In a row facing north, left is west; facing south, left is east. At a round table seen from above, facing the centre, your left neighbour is the next seat clockwise; facing outward, it is the next seat anticlockwise.

FacingLeft isRight is
North, in a rowWestEast
South, in a rowEastWest
The centre of a round tableThe next seat clockwiseThe next seat anticlockwise
Outward from a round tableThe next seat anticlockwiseThe next seat clockwise

Example 1 · A row facing south

Gauri, Harsh, Indu and Jeevan sit in a row facing south. Gauri sits at the eastern end, and Harsh immediately to her right. Indu does not sit next to Harsh. Who sits second to the left of Indu?

  1. Facing south, east is on the left, so Gauri is at the left end and Harsh, on her right, second.

  2. Indu cannot be next to Harsh, so Indu is fourth, at the western end, and Jeevan third.

  3. Left to right: Gauri, Harsh, Jeevan, Indu. To Indu's left: Jeevan first, Harsh second.

Answer

Harsh

Key idea

If every clue and question uses only left and right, the facing does not change the answers; the whole row just flips. It matters as soon as a clue uses a compass direction, a seat number or "clockwise".

Rows

How do you solve a linear seating arrangement step by step?

Draw the seats as blanks with the facing written beside them, place the clue that fixes a seat outright, hang the clues that depend on that person, and fill the last seats by elimination. Check every clue against the finished row before answering.

Example 2 · Five in a row

Aisha, Bhuvan, Charvi, Darshan and Eklavya sit in a row facing north. Charvi sits at the right end. Bhuvan sits second to the left of Charvi. Aisha sits immediately to the right of Darshan. Eklavya does not sit at an end. Who sits at the left end?

  1. Charvi is in seat 5, so Bhuvan is in seat 3.

  2. Darshan and Aisha need two seats side by side, with Aisha on the right: only seats 1 and 2 are free together.

  3. Eklavya, not at an end, takes seat 4. The row is Darshan, Aisha, Bhuvan, Eklavya, Charvi.

Answer

Darshan

Exam shortcut

"X sits at one of the ends" is not an anchor; it opens two cases. Anchors are clues like "at the right end", "in the middle" or "third from the left end".

How do you handle a clue that allows two positions?

Split into cases, write each on its own line, and push both forward until one breaks a clue. Two or three cases are normal; more than four means you split on a weak clue.

Example 3 · Two cases

M, N, O, P, Q and R sit in a row facing north. O sits at one of the ends. Only one person sits between O and Q. R sits immediately to the right of Q. P sits second to the left of R. M sits at one of the ends. N sits immediately to the right of R. Find the order.

  1. Case 1, O at the left end: O, P, Q, R, _, M.

  2. Case 2, O at the right end: M, _, P, Q, R, O.

  3. N must sit immediately right of R. In case 2 that seat is O's, so case 2 fails.

Answer

O, P, Q, R, N, M

Exam shortcut

A set may not fix every seat. That is fine as long as the fact asked about is the same in every surviving case.

Round tables

How do you solve a circular seating arrangement?

Draw a circle of blank seats, put the person most clues mention at the top, and write the rest as a list going clockwise. With everyone facing the centre, translate each clue once: left means clockwise, right means anticlockwise. Opposite seats are half-way round; an odd table has no one directly opposite.

Example 4 · Six at a round table

Mohini, Nakul, Parveen, Rajat, Shalini and Vivek sit around a round table, equally spaced, facing the centre. Mohini sits opposite Rajat. Nakul sits second to the right of Mohini. Vivek sits immediately to the right of Rajat. Shalini sits next to Vivek. Who sits immediately to the left of Nakul?

  1. Clockwise from Mohini in seat 1: Rajat is opposite, in seat 4.

  2. Nakul is two seats anticlockwise of Mohini, seat 5. Vivek is one seat anticlockwise of Rajat, seat 3.

  3. Shalini, next to Vivek, takes seat 2, and Parveen seat 6. Clockwise: Mohini, Shalini, Vivek, Rajat, Nakul, Parveen.

Answer

Parveen

Left means clockwise, so it is the seat after Nakul.

Six people around a round table, all facing the centre. Clockwise from the top: M, S, V, R, N, P. An arrow inside the table shows the clockwise direction.
Example 4. Facing the centre, each person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise.

What changes when people at a round table face outward?

Left and right swap: facing outward, the left neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise and the right neighbour the next seat clockwise. Opposite seats, neighbours and counting between stay the same.

Example 5 · Facing outward

Anupam, Bindu, Chaya, Dilip and Farid sit around a round table, all facing outward. Bindu sits immediately to the left of Anupam. Chaya sits second to the right of Anupam. Dilip does not sit next to Bindu. Who sits immediately to the right of Chaya?

  1. Facing outward, left is anticlockwise and right is clockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Anupam: Anupam, _, Chaya, _, Bindu.

  3. Dilip is not next to Bindu, so Dilip takes seat 2 and Farid seat 4. Chaya's right is the next seat clockwise.

Answer

Farid

Watch out

With mixed facings, each person carries their own left. Write "in" or "out" next to each name as soon as you know it, and do not place a clue that depends on someone's facing until that facing is known.

How do you solve two rows facing each other?

Draw two rows, one above the other, write the facing beside each, and remember that the two rows have opposite lefts. A person faces the one in the same position in the other row; "diagonally opposite" means the far end of the other row.

Example 6 · Two facing rows

Gagan, Hina and Ila sit in a row facing north; Jai, Kajal and Lokesh sit opposite them facing south. Hina sits at the right end of her row. Kajal faces Hina. Jai sits immediately to the right of Kajal. Gagan faces Lokesh. Who faces Ila?

  1. The north row's right end is east, so Hina is at the east end, and Kajal faces her from the east end of the other row.

  2. Kajal faces south, so her right is west: Jai is in the middle and Lokesh at the west end.

  3. Gagan faces Lokesh, so Gagan is at the west end and Ila in the middle.

Answer

Jai

Two rows of three. The top row faces south: L, J, K from west to east. The bottom row faces north: G, I, H from west to east. Arrows show each row facing the other.
Example 6. The west end is the left end of the north-facing row but the right end of the south-facing row.

Watch out

Giving both rows the same left end is the standard error. And if no clue says which row faces north, the whole picture can be turned round, so only answers that do not depend on it are fixed.

How do you count the people sitting between two people?

In a row, the number strictly between two people is the difference of their seat numbers minus one. At a round table there are two ways round: if one way has kk people between X and Y, the other has n−2−kn - 2 - k.

  • Seats 2 and 7 of a row: 7−2−1=47 - 2 - 1 = 4 people between.
  • An 8-seat table with X and Y opposite: 3 people between on each side.

Exam shortcuts

  • Mark the facing first. Write "left = west" or "left = clockwise" before placing anyone.
  • Anchor, then hang. Fixed seats first, relative clues next, "not" clues last.
  • Use initials. One letter per person keeps the sketch clean.
  • Check every clue against the finished drawing.
  • Test every option in "which is true" questions.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting the facing. A south-facing row has its left end at the east.
  • Using the centre rule for people facing outward.
  • Counting the end people as "between".
  • Counting from the wrong person. The first person to X's left is not "second".
  • Reading a circle one way only.
  • "To the left" read as "immediately to the left".
  • Diagonal taken for opposite in two rows.

Quick revision

Left and right

  • Facing north: left west. Facing south: left east
  • Round table, facing centre: left = clockwise
  • Facing outward: left = anticlockwise

Method

  • Anchor clue, then dependent clues, then "not" clues
  • Split on a two-way clue, drop the case that breaks
  • Two facing rows have opposite lefts

Counting

  • Row: difference − 1 between
  • Circle: kk one way, n−2−kn - 2 - k the other
  • Opposite: half-way round, even tables only

Positions from each end are worked in ranking and ordering, which way is left in direction sense, and longer grids in puzzles.

Next · 07Quick revision

Check your understanding

65 questions, grouped by type, easy to hard. Pick an answer and check it. The worked solution opens when you ask for it.

Linear seatingQ1 of 65Q1

Linear seating

26 questions

Question 1

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Four students, Pooja, Qasim, Ravi and Sneha, sit in a row facing north. Ravi sits at the right end, and Pooja sits immediately to his left. Sneha does not sit at the left end. Who sits at the left end?

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AnswerB · Qasim

  1. Ravi is at the right end and Pooja is immediately to his left: _ _ Pooja Ravi.

  2. Sneha cannot take the left end, so she takes the second seat, and Qasim is left with the left end.

  3. Row, left to right: Qasim, Sneha, Pooja, Ravi.

Worth noting

Sneha is the answer only if the last clue is misread as 'Sneha sits at the left end'.

Question 2

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Five people A, B, C, D and E sit in a row facing north. C sits exactly in the middle. A sits at one of the ends with B immediately to A's right. D does not sit at an end. How many people sit between B and E?

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AnswerC · 2

  1. B is to A's right, so A must be at the left end (at the right end there is no seat to A's right). B is second.

  2. C is third. D is not at an end, so D is fourth and E is at the right end.

  3. Row: A, B, C, D, E. Between B (second) and E (fifth) sit C and D: 2 people.

Worth noting

3 counts one of B or E themselves. 'Between' means strictly between.

Question 3

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Six children, Farah, Gopal, Hamid, Ishita, Juhi and Kiran, sit in a row facing north for a class photograph. Gopal sits third from the left end, and Ishita sits second to the right of Gopal. Farah sits at the right end. Who sits immediately to the right of Ishita?

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AnswerA · Farah

  1. Gopal is third from the left; two places to his right is the fifth seat, which is Ishita's.

  2. The seat immediately to Ishita's right is the sixth seat, the right end, which is Farah's.

Worth noting

The other three children cannot all be placed, but the question does not need them. Answer what is asked and stop.

Question 4

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Lata, Manoj, Nisha and Oviya sit in a row facing north at a quiz table. Manoj sits immediately to the left of Nisha. Oviya sits at the right end. Lata does not sit at the left end. Who sits between Nisha and Oviya?

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AnswerD · Lata

  1. Oviya takes the fourth seat. Manoj and Nisha need two neighbouring seats with Manoj on the left: seats 1-2 or 2-3.

  2. If they took seats 2-3, Lata would be at the left end, which is not allowed. So Manoj is first and Nisha second.

  3. Lata takes the third seat, the only seat between Nisha and Oviya.

Worth noting

'No one' comes from putting Manoj and Nisha in seats 2-3 without checking Lata's clue; 'Manoj and Lata' comes from putting Nisha to the left of Manoj.

Question 5

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Five cousins, Amrit, Bhavna, Chirag, Dolly and Eshan, sit in a row facing north on a sofa. Chirag sits at the extreme right with Bhavna immediately to his left. Dolly sits in the middle, and Eshan does not sit at an end. Who sits immediately to the left of Dolly?

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AnswerA · Eshan

  1. Chirag is fifth, Bhavna fourth and Dolly third.

  2. Seats 1 and 2 remain. Eshan is not at an end, so Eshan is second and Amrit first.

  3. Immediately to Dolly's left is the second seat: Eshan.

Worth noting

Bhavna is on Dolly's right. Facing north, left is the west side, towards the first seat.

Question 6

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Six friends, Kavya, Rohit, Anjali, Deepak, Meera and Sameer, sit in a single row at a cinema, all facing north towards the screen.

1. Deepak sits third from the left end.

2. Meera sits second to the right of Deepak.

3. Kavya sits at one of the ends, but not next to Meera.

4. Sameer sits immediately to the right of Kavya.

5. Anjali does not sit at an end.

Who sits at the right end of the cinema row?

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AnswerB · Rohit

  1. Deepak is third; Meera, two places to his right, is fifth. Kavya takes an end, and the right end is next to Meera, so Kavya is at the left end.

  2. Sameer is immediately right of Kavya (second). Anjali is not at an end, so she is fourth and Rohit is at the right end.

  3. Row, left to right as they sit: Kavya, Sameer, Deepak, Anjali, Meera, Rohit.

  4. The right end is Rohit's seat.

Worth noting

Meera is fifth, one seat short of the end.

Question 7

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Six friends, Kavya, Rohit, Anjali, Deepak, Meera and Sameer, sit in a single row at a cinema, all facing north towards the screen.

1. Deepak sits third from the left end.

2. Meera sits second to the right of Deepak.

3. Kavya sits at one of the ends, but not next to Meera.

4. Sameer sits immediately to the right of Kavya.

5. Anjali does not sit at an end.

At the cinema, who is Deepak's immediate neighbour on his right?

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AnswerB · Anjali

  1. Deepak is third; Meera, two places to his right, is fifth. Kavya takes an end, and the right end is next to Meera, so Kavya is at the left end.

  2. Sameer is immediately right of Kavya (second). Anjali is not at an end, so she is fourth and Rohit is at the right end.

  3. Row, left to right as they sit: Kavya, Sameer, Deepak, Anjali, Meera, Rohit.

  4. Deepak is third; the fourth seat, on his right, is Anjali's.

Worth noting

Sameer is Deepak's neighbour on the left.

Question 8

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Seven candidates, Tenzin, Uma, Varun, Wahida, Yash, Zoya and Ishaan, sit in one row in an examination hall, all facing north.

1. Uma sits at the right end.

2. Exactly three candidates sit between Uma and Zoya.

3. Tenzin sits immediately to the left of Zoya.

4. Yash does not sit at an end, and does not sit next to Zoya.

5. Varun sits second to the left of Yash.

6. Ishaan sits next to Varun.

In the examination hall, which candidate has the left-end seat?

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AnswerC · Wahida

  1. Uma is seventh; three candidates between Uma and Zoya put Zoya third, and Tenzin second.

  2. Yash is not at an end and not next to Zoya: fifth or sixth. Varun is two seats to Yash's left; the third seat is taken, so Yash is sixth and Varun fourth.

  3. Ishaan is next to Varun: fifth. Wahida takes the left end.

  4. Row, left to right as they sit: Wahida, Tenzin, Zoya, Varun, Ishaan, Yash, Uma.

  5. The left end is Wahida's.

Worth noting

Uma is at the opposite end.

Question 9

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Seven candidates, Tenzin, Uma, Varun, Wahida, Yash, Zoya and Ishaan, sit in one row in an examination hall, all facing north.

1. Uma sits at the right end.

2. Exactly three candidates sit between Uma and Zoya.

3. Tenzin sits immediately to the left of Zoya.

4. Yash does not sit at an end, and does not sit next to Zoya.

5. Varun sits second to the left of Yash.

6. Ishaan sits next to Varun.

Who occupies the middle seat of the examination-hall row?

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AnswerB · Varun

  1. Uma is seventh; three candidates between Uma and Zoya put Zoya third, and Tenzin second.

  2. Yash is not at an end and not next to Zoya: fifth or sixth. Varun is two seats to Yash's left; the third seat is taken, so Yash is sixth and Varun fourth.

  3. Ishaan is next to Varun: fifth. Wahida takes the left end.

  4. Row, left to right as they sit: Wahida, Tenzin, Zoya, Varun, Ishaan, Yash, Uma.

  5. Of seven seats, the fourth is the middle one: Varun.

Worth noting

Zoya is third, one seat left of the middle.

Question 10

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Tanvi, Uday, Vikram and Wasim sit on a bench in a row, all facing south. Tanvi sits at the extreme left end, and Uday sits immediately to her right. Wasim does not sit next to Uday. Who sits at the western end of the bench?

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AnswerC · Wasim

  1. As they sit, left to right: Tanvi, Uday, then two seats; Wasim is not next to Uday, so Vikram is third and Wasim fourth.

  2. A person facing south has the west on the right hand side, so the sitters' right end is the western end.

  3. Wasim, at the right end, is at the western end.

Worth noting

Tanvi is the trap: 'left end = west' is true only for people facing north. Facing south, left points east.

Question 11

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Rekha, Sanjay, Tariq, Usha and Vinod sit in a row facing north in a waiting room. Only two people sit between Rekha and Sanjay, and Sanjay sits at the right end. Tariq sits immediately to the right of Rekha. Who sits second to the left of Sanjay?

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AnswerD · Tariq

  1. Sanjay is fifth. Two people between Rekha and Sanjay puts Rekha second.

  2. Tariq is immediately to Rekha's right, the third seat.

  3. Second to the left of Sanjay (fifth) is the third seat: Tariq. Usha and Vinod fill seats 1 and 4 in some order, which does not matter here.

Worth noting

Rekha is third to the left of Sanjay, not second. Count seats one at a time away from Sanjay.

Question 12

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Six friends, Kavya, Rohit, Anjali, Deepak, Meera and Sameer, sit in a single row at a cinema, all facing north towards the screen.

1. Deepak sits third from the left end.

2. Meera sits second to the right of Deepak.

3. Kavya sits at one of the ends, but not next to Meera.

4. Sameer sits immediately to the right of Kavya.

5. Anjali does not sit at an end.

How many of the six friends at the cinema are seated between Sameer and Rohit?

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AnswerB · 3

  1. Deepak is third; Meera, two places to his right, is fifth. Kavya takes an end, and the right end is next to Meera, so Kavya is at the left end.

  2. Sameer is immediately right of Kavya (second). Anjali is not at an end, so she is fourth and Rohit is at the right end.

  3. Row, left to right as they sit: Kavya, Sameer, Deepak, Anjali, Meera, Rohit.

  4. Sameer is second and Rohit sixth, so seats 3, 4 and 5 lie between them: 3 friends.

Worth noting

4 is the seat difference (6−2)(6 - 2) and 5 counts Sameer and Rohit themselves. Strictly between = difference − 1.

Question 13

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Six friends, Kavya, Rohit, Anjali, Deepak, Meera and Sameer, sit in a single row at a cinema, all facing north towards the screen.

1. Deepak sits third from the left end.

2. Meera sits second to the right of Deepak.

3. Kavya sits at one of the ends, but not next to Meera.

4. Sameer sits immediately to the right of Kavya.

5. Anjali does not sit at an end.

Which pair of friends sit next to each other in the cinema row?

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AnswerD · Anjali and Meera

  1. Deepak is third; Meera, two places to his right, is fifth. Kavya takes an end, and the right end is next to Meera, so Kavya is at the left end.

  2. Sameer is immediately right of Kavya (second). Anjali is not at an end, so she is fourth and Rohit is at the right end.

  3. Row, left to right as they sit: Kavya, Sameer, Deepak, Anjali, Meera, Rohit.

  4. Anjali (fourth) and Meera (fifth) are neighbours; each of the other pairs has one person between them.

Worth noting

Deepak and Meera are 'second to the right' of each other, so one seat separates them.

Question 14

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Seven people, A, B, C, D, E, F and G, sit on a long bench in a row, all facing north.

1. D sits exactly in the middle of the row.

2. Only one person sits between B and D.

3. G sits immediately to the right of B.

4. A sits at one of the ends, and exactly three people sit between A and G.

5. F does not sit next to D.

6. C sits immediately to the left of A.

Which of A to G has the seat at the left end of the bench?

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AnswerA · F

  1. D is fourth of seven. One person between B and D puts B second or sixth, with G immediately to B's right: B-G in seats 2-3 or 6-7.

  2. A is at an end with three people between A and G. If G were seventh, A would have to be third, not an end. So B is second, G third and A seventh.

  3. C is immediately left of A: sixth. F cannot be next to D, so F takes the first seat and E the fifth.

  4. Bench, left to right: F, B, G, D, E, C, A.

  5. The left end is F.

Worth noting

A is at the other end. Clue 4 says only 'one of the ends'; the case test decides which.

Question 15

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Seven people, A, B, C, D, E, F and G, sit on a long bench in a row, all facing north.

1. D sits exactly in the middle of the row.

2. Only one person sits between B and D.

3. G sits immediately to the right of B.

4. A sits at one of the ends, and exactly three people sit between A and G.

5. F does not sit next to D.

6. C sits immediately to the left of A.

On the bench, how many people sit between F and C?

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AnswerD · 4

  1. D is fourth of seven. One person between B and D puts B second or sixth, with G immediately to B's right: B-G in seats 2-3 or 6-7.

  2. A is at an end with three people between A and G. If G were seventh, A would have to be third, not an end. So B is second, G third and A seventh.

  3. C is immediately left of A: sixth. F cannot be next to D, so F takes the first seat and E the fifth.

  4. Bench, left to right: F, B, G, D, E, C, A.

  5. F is first and C sixth: B, G, D and E are between them, 4 people.

Worth noting

3 misses one of the four; write the row out and list them rather than counting in your head.

Question 16

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Six passengers, Harpreet, Imran, Jyoti, Kunal, Lavanya and Manav, sit in a row on a railway platform bench, all facing south towards the tracks.

1. Kunal sits at the western end of the bench.

2. Jyoti sits second to the left of Kunal.

3. Only one person sits between Jyoti and Manav.

4. Harpreet sits immediately to the left of Manav.

5. Imran does not sit next to Kunal.

On the platform bench, who is immediately to the right of Imran?

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AnswerB · Jyoti

  1. Facing south, a person's left hand points east and right hand points west. So the western end is the sitters' right end: Kunal is at the right end.

  2. Jyoti is second to Kunal's left: fourth from the left end. One person between Jyoti and Manav puts Manav second (the other choice is Kunal's seat).

  3. Harpreet is immediately left of Manav: the left end. Imran is not next to Kunal, so Imran is third and Lavanya fifth.

  4. As they sit, left to right (east to west): Harpreet, Manav, Imran, Jyoti, Lavanya, Kunal.

  5. Imran is third; the fourth seat, on his right, is Jyoti's.

Worth noting

Manav is on Imran's left. Work in the sitters' own left and right once the row is built.

Question 17

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Six passengers, Harpreet, Imran, Jyoti, Kunal, Lavanya and Manav, sit in a row on a railway platform bench, all facing south towards the tracks.

1. Kunal sits at the western end of the bench.

2. Jyoti sits second to the left of Kunal.

3. Only one person sits between Jyoti and Manav.

4. Harpreet sits immediately to the left of Manav.

5. Imran does not sit next to Kunal.

How many passengers sit between Harpreet and Lavanya on the platform bench?

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AnswerA · 3

  1. Facing south, a person's left hand points east and right hand points west. So the western end is the sitters' right end: Kunal is at the right end.

  2. Jyoti is second to Kunal's left: fourth from the left end. One person between Jyoti and Manav puts Manav second (the other choice is Kunal's seat).

  3. Harpreet is immediately left of Manav: the left end. Imran is not next to Kunal, so Imran is third and Lavanya fifth.

  4. As they sit, left to right (east to west): Harpreet, Manav, Imran, Jyoti, Lavanya, Kunal.

  5. Harpreet is first and Lavanya fifth; Manav, Imran and Jyoti are between them: 3.

Worth noting

4 is the difference of the seat numbers and 5 counts Harpreet and Lavanya themselves.

Question 18

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Seven candidates, Tenzin, Uma, Varun, Wahida, Yash, Zoya and Ishaan, sit in one row in an examination hall, all facing north.

1. Uma sits at the right end.

2. Exactly three candidates sit between Uma and Zoya.

3. Tenzin sits immediately to the left of Zoya.

4. Yash does not sit at an end, and does not sit next to Zoya.

5. Varun sits second to the left of Yash.

6. Ishaan sits next to Varun.

How many candidates are seated between Wahida and Yash in the hall?

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AnswerD · 4

  1. Uma is seventh; three candidates between Uma and Zoya put Zoya third, and Tenzin second.

  2. Yash is not at an end and not next to Zoya: fifth or sixth. Varun is two seats to Yash's left; the third seat is taken, so Yash is sixth and Varun fourth.

  3. Ishaan is next to Varun: fifth. Wahida takes the left end.

  4. Row, left to right as they sit: Wahida, Tenzin, Zoya, Varun, Ishaan, Yash, Uma.

  5. Wahida is first and Yash sixth; Tenzin, Zoya, Varun and Ishaan sit between them: 4.

Worth noting

3 leaves one of the four out, usually Tenzin, who sits right next to Wahida.

Question 19

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Seven candidates, Tenzin, Uma, Varun, Wahida, Yash, Zoya and Ishaan, sit in one row in an examination hall, all facing north.

1. Uma sits at the right end.

2. Exactly three candidates sit between Uma and Zoya.

3. Tenzin sits immediately to the left of Zoya.

4. Yash does not sit at an end, and does not sit next to Zoya.

5. Varun sits second to the left of Yash.

6. Ishaan sits next to Varun.

Counting to Zoya's right, who is the second candidate from her?

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AnswerA · Ishaan

  1. Uma is seventh; three candidates between Uma and Zoya put Zoya third, and Tenzin second.

  2. Yash is not at an end and not next to Zoya: fifth or sixth. Varun is two seats to Yash's left; the third seat is taken, so Yash is sixth and Varun fourth.

  3. Ishaan is next to Varun: fifth. Wahida takes the left end.

  4. Row, left to right as they sit: Wahida, Tenzin, Zoya, Varun, Ishaan, Yash, Uma.

  5. Zoya is third. To her right: Varun (1st), Ishaan (2nd).

Worth noting

Varun is immediately right of Zoya, not second to her right.

Question 20

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Eight people, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, sit on stools in a straight line at a lunch counter, all facing north.

1. S sits fourth from the right end.

2. Only two people sit between S and V, and V does not sit at an end.

3. Q sits immediately to the right of V.

4. T sits at one of the ends, and U sits second to the left of T.

5. P sits immediately to the left of T.

6. W does not sit at an end.

At the lunch counter, how many people sit between Q and U?

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AnswerB · 2

  1. S is fourth from the right: fifth from the left. V is two seats clear of S and not at an end, so V is second and Q, on V's right, third.

  2. T is at an end with U two places to T's left. At the left end there is no seat to T's left, so T is eighth, U sixth, and P (immediately left of T) seventh.

  3. Seats 1 and 4 remain. W is not at an end, so W is fourth and R first.

  4. Counter, left to right: R, V, Q, W, S, U, P, T.

  5. Q is third and U sixth; W and S sit between them: 2.

Worth noting

3 is the seat difference (6−3)(6 - 3).

Question 21

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Eight people, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, sit on stools in a straight line at a lunch counter, all facing north.

1. S sits fourth from the right end.

2. Only two people sit between S and V, and V does not sit at an end.

3. Q sits immediately to the right of V.

4. T sits at one of the ends, and U sits second to the left of T.

5. P sits immediately to the left of T.

6. W does not sit at an end.

Which person is third to the left of U at the lunch counter?

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AnswerC · Q

  1. S is fourth from the right: fifth from the left. V is two seats clear of S and not at an end, so V is second and Q, on V's right, third.

  2. T is at an end with U two places to T's left. At the left end there is no seat to T's left, so T is eighth, U sixth, and P (immediately left of T) seventh.

  3. Seats 1 and 4 remain. W is not at an end, so W is fourth and R first.

  4. Counter, left to right: R, V, Q, W, S, U, P, T.

  5. U is sixth. To the left: S (1st), W (2nd), Q (3rd).

Worth noting

W is only second to U's left.

Question 22

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Seven people, A, B, C, D, E, F and G, sit on a long bench in a row, all facing north.

1. D sits exactly in the middle of the row.

2. Only one person sits between B and D.

3. G sits immediately to the right of B.

4. A sits at one of the ends, and exactly three people sit between A and G.

5. F does not sit next to D.

6. C sits immediately to the left of A.

Of the seven on the bench, who sits third to the right of B?

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AnswerC · E

  1. D is fourth of seven. One person between B and D puts B second or sixth, with G immediately to B's right: B-G in seats 2-3 or 6-7.

  2. A is at an end with three people between A and G. If G were seventh, A would have to be third, not an end. So B is second, G third and A seventh.

  3. C is immediately left of A: sixth. F cannot be next to D, so F takes the first seat and E the fifth.

  4. Bench, left to right: F, B, G, D, E, C, A.

  5. B is second. Moving right: G (1st), D (2nd), E (3rd).

Worth noting

D is second to the right of B; C is fourth. Count the people one by one, starting next to B.

Question 23

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Seven people, A, B, C, D, E, F and G, sit on a long bench in a row, all facing north.

1. D sits exactly in the middle of the row.

2. Only one person sits between B and D.

3. G sits immediately to the right of B.

4. A sits at one of the ends, and exactly three people sit between A and G.

5. F does not sit next to D.

6. C sits immediately to the left of A.

Which of the following statements about the seven people on the bench is true?

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AnswerA · G sits immediately to the left of D.

  1. D is fourth of seven. One person between B and D puts B second or sixth, with G immediately to B's right: B-G in seats 2-3 or 6-7.

  2. A is at an end with three people between A and G. If G were seventh, A would have to be third, not an end. So B is second, G third and A seventh.

  3. C is immediately left of A: sixth. F cannot be next to D, so F takes the first seat and E the fifth.

  4. Bench, left to right: F, B, G, D, E, C, A.

  5. G is third and D fourth, so G is immediately to D's left. E is fifth (not an end), only G and D sit between B and E, and F is to the left of B, not to the right of G.

Worth noting

Test every statement against the final row; do not stop at the first one that 'sounds' right.

Question 24

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Six passengers, Harpreet, Imran, Jyoti, Kunal, Lavanya and Manav, sit in a row on a railway platform bench, all facing south towards the tracks.

1. Kunal sits at the western end of the bench.

2. Jyoti sits second to the left of Kunal.

3. Only one person sits between Jyoti and Manav.

4. Harpreet sits immediately to the left of Manav.

5. Imran does not sit next to Kunal.

Which passenger has the seat at the eastern end of the platform bench?

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AnswerC · Harpreet

  1. Facing south, a person's left hand points east and right hand points west. So the western end is the sitters' right end: Kunal is at the right end.

  2. Jyoti is second to Kunal's left: fourth from the left end. One person between Jyoti and Manav puts Manav second (the other choice is Kunal's seat).

  3. Harpreet is immediately left of Manav: the left end. Imran is not next to Kunal, so Imran is third and Lavanya fifth.

  4. As they sit, left to right (east to west): Harpreet, Manav, Imran, Jyoti, Lavanya, Kunal.

  5. The sitters' left end is the eastern end: Harpreet.

Worth noting

Anyone who takes 'left = west' out of habit puts Kunal at the left end and cannot place Jyoti second to his left at all; that dead end is the signal that the facing was ignored.

Question 25

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Six passengers, Harpreet, Imran, Jyoti, Kunal, Lavanya and Manav, sit in a row on a railway platform bench, all facing south towards the tracks.

1. Kunal sits at the western end of the bench.

2. Jyoti sits second to the left of Kunal.

3. Only one person sits between Jyoti and Manav.

4. Harpreet sits immediately to the left of Manav.

5. Imran does not sit next to Kunal.

Whose seat is immediately to the west of Manav's on the platform bench?

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AnswerD · Imran

  1. Facing south, a person's left hand points east and right hand points west. So the western end is the sitters' right end: Kunal is at the right end.

  2. Jyoti is second to Kunal's left: fourth from the left end. One person between Jyoti and Manav puts Manav second (the other choice is Kunal's seat).

  3. Harpreet is immediately left of Manav: the left end. Imran is not next to Kunal, so Imran is third and Lavanya fifth.

  4. As they sit, left to right (east to west): Harpreet, Manav, Imran, Jyoti, Lavanya, Kunal.

  5. West is on each sitter's right, so the seat immediately west of Manav is the one on his right: Imran.

Worth noting

Harpreet is the neighbour on the EAST side of Manav. For a south-facing row, east is on the left.

Question 26

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Eight people, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W, sit on stools in a straight line at a lunch counter, all facing north.

1. S sits fourth from the right end.

2. Only two people sit between S and V, and V does not sit at an end.

3. Q sits immediately to the right of V.

4. T sits at one of the ends, and U sits second to the left of T.

5. P sits immediately to the left of T.

6. W does not sit at an end.

Which one of these statements about the lunch counter is correct?

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AnswerC · W sits exactly between Q and S.

  1. S is fourth from the right: fifth from the left. V is two seats clear of S and not at an end, so V is second and Q, on V's right, third.

  2. T is at an end with U two places to T's left. At the left end there is no seat to T's left, so T is eighth, U sixth, and P (immediately left of T) seventh.

  3. Seats 1 and 4 remain. W is not at an end, so W is fourth and R first.

  4. Counter, left to right: R, V, Q, W, S, U, P, T.

  5. W (fourth) is the only person between Q (third) and S (fifth). P is second from the right, T is on P's right, and two people (Q, W) sit between V and S.

Worth noting

'U sits immediately to the right of P' reverses the true order: U is to P's left.

Circular seating

24 questions

Question 27

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Aditi, Bilal, Charu and Dev sit around a square table, one on each side, all facing the centre. Aditi sits opposite Charu, and Bilal sits immediately to the left of Aditi. Who sits immediately to the right of Aditi?

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AnswerD · Dev

  1. Aditi's two neighbours are the two people who are not opposite her: Bilal and Dev.

  2. Bilal is on her left, so Dev is on her right.

Worth noting

Charu is opposite Aditi, so Charu cannot be her neighbour on either side.

Question 28

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Five friends, Ritu, Pavan, Kusum, Sahil and Tara, sit around a circular table, equally spaced and facing the centre. Pavan sits second to the right of Ritu. Kusum sits immediately to the left of Ritu. Sahil does not sit next to Kusum. Who sits immediately to the right of Ritu?

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AnswerA · Sahil

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Ritu: Ritu, Kusum (her left), _, Pavan (second to her right = two seats anticlockwise), _.

  3. Sahil cannot be next to Kusum, so he takes the seat between Pavan and Ritu, and Tara sits between Kusum and Pavan.

  4. Ritu's right-hand neighbour is Sahil.

Worth noting

Pavan is second to Ritu's right, not first.

Question 29

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Six colleagues, Gita, Hari, Isha, Jatin, Kamal and Lakshmi, sit around a round table, equally spaced and facing the centre. Gita sits opposite Hari. Isha sits immediately to the right of Gita, and Jatin sits immediately to the left of Hari. Kamal sits next to Gita. Who sits opposite Isha?

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AnswerC · Lakshmi

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Gita: Gita, _, _, Hari, _, _. Isha (Gita's right) is the last seat; Jatin (Hari's left) is the seat after Hari.

  3. Kamal is next to Gita: the free seat beside her. Lakshmi takes the last seat: Gita, Kamal, Lakshmi, Hari, Jatin, Isha.

  4. Opposite Isha (sixth) is the third seat: Lakshmi.

Worth noting

Jatin sits next to Isha, not opposite her. With six seats, opposite is three seats away.

Question 30

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Ajay, Bela, Chitra, Dinesh and Esha sit around a circular table, equally spaced and facing the centre. Ajay sits second to the left of Bela, and Chitra sits immediately to the right of Bela. Dinesh does not sit next to Chitra. Who is Ajay's immediate neighbour on his left?

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AnswerD · Esha

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Bela: Bela, _, Ajay, _, Chitra (Bela's right is the last seat going clockwise).

  3. Dinesh is not next to Chitra, so Dinesh sits between Bela and Ajay, and Esha between Ajay and Chitra.

  4. Ajay's left is the next seat clockwise from him: Esha.

Worth noting

Dinesh is Ajay's right-hand neighbour.

Question 31

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Six friends, Arun, Bhavya, Chaitra, Dhruv, Elango and Farzana, sit around a circular dinner table. The seats are equally spaced and everyone faces the centre.

1. Arun sits opposite Dhruv.

2. Farzana sits second to the left of Arun.

3. Bhavya sits next to Dhruv.

4. Elango sits immediately to the right of Arun.

At the dinner table, who sits opposite Chaitra?

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AnswerA · Bhavya

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, _, Farzana (second to his left), Dhruv (opposite), _, _.

  3. Bhavya must be next to Dhruv; the seat before Dhruv is Farzana's, so Bhavya is the seat after him. Elango, on Arun's right, is the last seat. Chaitra takes the second seat.

  4. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, Chaitra, Farzana, Dhruv, Bhavya, Elango.

  5. Chaitra is second in the clockwise list; three seats on is Bhavya.

Worth noting

Dhruv is opposite Arun, not Chaitra.

Question 32

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Eight people, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, sit around a round table. The seats are equally spaced and all eight face the centre.

1. A sits opposite E.

2. C sits third to the right of A.

3. B sits next to C and sits opposite D.

4. G does not sit next to D.

5. H sits immediately to the left of A.

Around the eight-seat table, who sits opposite G?

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AnswerA · F

  1. Put A first; E is opposite (four seats away). C is three seats anticlockwise from A, which is five seats clockwise: A, _, _, _, E, C, _, _.

  2. B is next to C; E is on C's other side, so B follows C, and D (opposite B) is third. H, on A's left, is second.

  3. Two seats remain, next to D and next to A. G cannot sit next to D, so G takes the last seat and F sits between D and E.

  4. Clockwise from A: A, H, D, F, E, C, B, G.

  5. G is eighth; four seats on is the fourth seat, F.

Worth noting

D is opposite B.

Question 33

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Seven neighbours, Mehul, Nirmala, Oinam, Pallavi, Rakesh, Saira and Tushar, sit around a circular table with seven equally spaced seats, all facing the centre.

1. Pallavi sits second to the left of Mehul.

2. Rakesh sits third to the left of Pallavi.

3. Oinam sits next to both Mehul and Rakesh.

4. Saira sits immediately to the right of Pallavi.

5. Nirmala sits immediately to the right of Rakesh.

At the seven-seat table, who sits between Mehul and Pallavi on the shorter side?

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AnswerA · Saira

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, _, Pallavi (second to his left). Rakesh is three seats clockwise from Pallavi: the sixth seat. Oinam, next to both Mehul and Rakesh, is the seventh.

  3. Saira, on Pallavi's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Pallavi: second. Nirmala, on Rakesh's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Rakesh: fifth. Tushar is fourth.

  4. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, Saira, Pallavi, Tushar, Nirmala, Rakesh, Oinam.

  5. Mehul is first and Pallavi third; on the shorter side the only seat between them is the second, Saira's.

Worth noting

Oinam is on Mehul's other side.

Question 34

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Seven neighbours, Mehul, Nirmala, Oinam, Pallavi, Rakesh, Saira and Tushar, sit around a circular table with seven equally spaced seats, all facing the centre.

1. Pallavi sits second to the left of Mehul.

2. Rakesh sits third to the left of Pallavi.

3. Oinam sits next to both Mehul and Rakesh.

4. Saira sits immediately to the right of Pallavi.

5. Nirmala sits immediately to the right of Rakesh.

Among the seven neighbours, who is second to the right of Nirmala?

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AnswerD · Pallavi

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, _, Pallavi (second to his left). Rakesh is three seats clockwise from Pallavi: the sixth seat. Oinam, next to both Mehul and Rakesh, is the seventh.

  3. Saira, on Pallavi's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Pallavi: second. Nirmala, on Rakesh's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Rakesh: fifth. Tushar is fourth.

  4. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, Saira, Pallavi, Tushar, Nirmala, Rakesh, Oinam.

  5. Right = anticlockwise. From Nirmala: Tushar (1st), Pallavi (2nd).

Worth noting

Oinam is second to Nirmala's LEFT (Rakesh, then Oinam).

Question 35

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Leela, Manish, Naveen and Omana sit around a square table, one on each side, all facing away from the centre. Leela sits immediately to the left of Manish, and Naveen sits opposite Manish. Looking down on the table from above, who is the next person clockwise from Manish?

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AnswerB · Omana

  1. Facing outward, a person's left hand points anticlockwise (seen from above), so Leela is the next person anticlockwise from Manish.

  2. Naveen is opposite Manish, so the next person clockwise from Manish is the one left over: Omana.

Worth noting

Leela is the answer only for people facing the centre, where left means clockwise. Facing outward reverses it.

Question 36

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Six friends, Arun, Bhavya, Chaitra, Dhruv, Elango and Farzana, sit around a circular dinner table. The seats are equally spaced and everyone faces the centre.

1. Arun sits opposite Dhruv.

2. Farzana sits second to the left of Arun.

3. Bhavya sits next to Dhruv.

4. Elango sits immediately to the right of Arun.

Who is seated immediately to the right of Dhruv at the dinner table?

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AnswerB · Farzana

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, _, Farzana (second to his left), Dhruv (opposite), _, _.

  3. Bhavya must be next to Dhruv; the seat before Dhruv is Farzana's, so Bhavya is the seat after him. Elango, on Arun's right, is the last seat. Chaitra takes the second seat.

  4. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, Chaitra, Farzana, Dhruv, Bhavya, Elango.

  5. Right = next seat anticlockwise. Going anticlockwise from Dhruv, the next person is Farzana.

Worth noting

Bhavya is Dhruv's LEFT-hand neighbour (the next seat clockwise).

Question 37

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Six friends, Arun, Bhavya, Chaitra, Dhruv, Elango and Farzana, sit around a circular dinner table. The seats are equally spaced and everyone faces the centre.

1. Arun sits opposite Dhruv.

2. Farzana sits second to the left of Arun.

3. Bhavya sits next to Dhruv.

4. Elango sits immediately to the right of Arun.

Counting towards Bhavya's left, who is the second person from her?

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AnswerC · Arun

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, _, Farzana (second to his left), Dhruv (opposite), _, _.

  3. Bhavya must be next to Dhruv; the seat before Dhruv is Farzana's, so Bhavya is the seat after him. Elango, on Arun's right, is the last seat. Chaitra takes the second seat.

  4. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, Chaitra, Farzana, Dhruv, Bhavya, Elango.

  5. Left = clockwise. Clockwise from Bhavya: Elango (1st), Arun (2nd).

Worth noting

Elango is only first to Bhavya's left.

Question 38

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Six friends, Arun, Bhavya, Chaitra, Dhruv, Elango and Farzana, sit around a circular dinner table. The seats are equally spaced and everyone faces the centre.

1. Arun sits opposite Dhruv.

2. Farzana sits second to the left of Arun.

3. Bhavya sits next to Dhruv.

4. Elango sits immediately to the right of Arun.

Which two of the six diners are immediate neighbours?

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AnswerD · Elango and Bhavya

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, _, Farzana (second to his left), Dhruv (opposite), _, _.

  3. Bhavya must be next to Dhruv; the seat before Dhruv is Farzana's, so Bhavya is the seat after him. Elango, on Arun's right, is the last seat. Chaitra takes the second seat.

  4. Clockwise from Arun: Arun, Chaitra, Farzana, Dhruv, Bhavya, Elango.

  5. Bhavya (fifth) and Elango (sixth) are neighbours. Each other pair has someone between them on the shorter side.

Worth noting

Elango and Chaitra both sit next to Arun, but not next to each other.

Question 39

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Eight people, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, sit around a round table. The seats are equally spaced and all eight face the centre.

1. A sits opposite E.

2. C sits third to the right of A.

3. B sits next to C and sits opposite D.

4. G does not sit next to D.

5. H sits immediately to the left of A.

Counting clockwise from H (as seen from above), how many people sit between H and E?

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AnswerA · 2

  1. Put A first; E is opposite (four seats away). C is three seats anticlockwise from A, which is five seats clockwise: A, _, _, _, E, C, _, _.

  2. B is next to C; E is on C's other side, so B follows C, and D (opposite B) is third. H, on A's left, is second.

  3. Two seats remain, next to D and next to A. G cannot sit next to D, so G takes the last seat and F sits between D and E.

  4. Clockwise from A: A, H, D, F, E, C, B, G.

  5. Clockwise from H: D, F, then E. Two people are passed.

Worth noting

3 counts E as well; 4 is the count the other way round (A, G, B, C). On a circle, say which way you count.

Question 40

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Six friends, Gurpreet, Hema, Irfan, Jasmine, Kiran and Lalit, sit around a circular table with equally spaced seats. Some of them face the centre and the others face outward, away from the centre.

1. Gurpreet faces the centre and sits opposite Jasmine.

2. Hema sits immediately to the left of Gurpreet.

3. Irfan faces outward and sits second to the right of Hema.

4. Both immediate neighbours of Jasmine face outward.

5. Lalit sits next to Hema.

6. Kiran sits immediately to the left of Jasmine.

Which friend sits opposite Irfan at the round table?

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AnswerC · Lalit

  1. Facing the centre, left = next seat clockwise; facing outward, left = next seat anticlockwise (seen from above). Gurpreet faces the centre, so Hema is the next seat clockwise from him; Jasmine is opposite him.

  2. Irfan is second to Hema's right. If Hema faced outward, her right would be clockwise and Irfan would land on Jasmine's seat. So Hema faces the centre and Irfan is two seats anticlockwise of her: the seat just anticlockwise of Gurpreet.

  3. Lalit sits next to Hema: the seat between Hema and Jasmine. Kiran takes the seat after Jasmine. Clockwise from Gurpreet: Gurpreet, Hema, Lalit, Jasmine, Kiran, Irfan.

  4. Irfan is sixth in the clockwise list; three seats away is the third seat, Lalit.

Worth noting

Opposite does not depend on facing; only left and right do.

Question 41

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Six friends, Gurpreet, Hema, Irfan, Jasmine, Kiran and Lalit, sit around a circular table with equally spaced seats. Some of them face the centre and the others face outward, away from the centre.

1. Gurpreet faces the centre and sits opposite Jasmine.

2. Hema sits immediately to the left of Gurpreet.

3. Irfan faces outward and sits second to the right of Hema.

4. Both immediate neighbours of Jasmine face outward.

5. Lalit sits next to Hema.

6. Kiran sits immediately to the left of Jasmine.

Which one of these four friends faces away from the centre?

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AnswerD · Lalit

  1. Facing the centre, left = next seat clockwise; facing outward, left = next seat anticlockwise (seen from above). Gurpreet faces the centre, so Hema is the next seat clockwise from him; Jasmine is opposite him.

  2. Irfan is second to Hema's right. If Hema faced outward, her right would be clockwise and Irfan would land on Jasmine's seat. So Hema faces the centre and Irfan is two seats anticlockwise of her: the seat just anticlockwise of Gurpreet.

  3. Lalit sits next to Hema: the seat between Hema and Jasmine. Kiran takes the seat after Jasmine. Clockwise from Gurpreet: Gurpreet, Hema, Lalit, Jasmine, Kiran, Irfan.

  4. Lalit and Kiran face outward (clue 4). Kiran is the next seat clockwise from Jasmine and is on her left, so Jasmine faces the centre.

  5. Of the four named, only Lalit faces outward.

Worth noting

Hema's direction is fixed by clue 3: facing outward would put Irfan on Jasmine's seat.

Question 42

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Seven neighbours, Mehul, Nirmala, Oinam, Pallavi, Rakesh, Saira and Tushar, sit around a circular table with seven equally spaced seats, all facing the centre.

1. Pallavi sits second to the left of Mehul.

2. Rakesh sits third to the left of Pallavi.

3. Oinam sits next to both Mehul and Rakesh.

4. Saira sits immediately to the right of Pallavi.

5. Nirmala sits immediately to the right of Rakesh.

Whose seat is immediately to the left of Tushar's?

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AnswerB · Nirmala

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, _, Pallavi (second to his left). Rakesh is three seats clockwise from Pallavi: the sixth seat. Oinam, next to both Mehul and Rakesh, is the seventh.

  3. Saira, on Pallavi's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Pallavi: second. Nirmala, on Rakesh's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Rakesh: fifth. Tushar is fourth.

  4. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, Saira, Pallavi, Tushar, Nirmala, Rakesh, Oinam.

  5. Left = clockwise. The next seat clockwise from Tushar (fourth) is the fifth: Nirmala.

Worth noting

Pallavi is Tushar's right-hand neighbour.

Question 43

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Seven neighbours, Mehul, Nirmala, Oinam, Pallavi, Rakesh, Saira and Tushar, sit around a circular table with seven equally spaced seats, all facing the centre.

1. Pallavi sits second to the left of Mehul.

2. Rakesh sits third to the left of Pallavi.

3. Oinam sits next to both Mehul and Rakesh.

4. Saira sits immediately to the right of Pallavi.

5. Nirmala sits immediately to the right of Rakesh.

Going clockwise from Oinam (seen from above), how many people are passed before reaching Tushar?

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AnswerC · 3

  1. Facing the centre, a person's left neighbour is the next seat clockwise (seen from above) and the right neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise.

  2. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, _, Pallavi (second to his left). Rakesh is three seats clockwise from Pallavi: the sixth seat. Oinam, next to both Mehul and Rakesh, is the seventh.

  3. Saira, on Pallavi's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Pallavi: second. Nirmala, on Rakesh's right, is the seat anticlockwise of Rakesh: fifth. Tushar is fourth.

  4. Clockwise from Mehul: Mehul, Saira, Pallavi, Tushar, Nirmala, Rakesh, Oinam.

  5. Clockwise from Oinam: Mehul, Saira, Pallavi, then Tushar. Three people are passed.

Worth noting

2 counts the other way round (Rakesh, Nirmala). The stem fixes the direction.

Question 44

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Eight people, Ankit, Bela, Chandan, Dimple, Eshwar, Fiza, Gautam and Hiral, sit around a round table at eight equally spaced seats numbered 1 to 8 in clockwise order (as seen from above). All eight face outward, away from the centre.

1. Ankit sits in seat 1, and Dimple sits opposite him.

2. Bela sits immediately to the left of Ankit.

3. Chandan sits immediately to the right of Dimple.

4. Fiza sits between Chandan and Bela.

5. Eshwar sits second to the right of Ankit.

6. Hiral sits immediately to the left of Dimple.

At the numbered table, who is immediately to the right of Gautam?

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AnswerB · Eshwar

  1. Facing outward, left and right swap compared with facing the centre: a person's left neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise (the lower seat number) and the right neighbour is the next seat clockwise (the higher number).

  2. Ankit is in seat 1 and Dimple opposite in seat 5. Bela, on Ankit's left, is in seat 8. Eshwar, second to Ankit's right, is in seat 3.

  3. Chandan, on Dimple's right, is in seat 6; Hiral, on Dimple's left, is in seat 4. Fiza is between Chandan and Bela: seat 7. Gautam takes seat 2.

  4. Seats 1 to 8: Ankit, Gautam, Eshwar, Hiral, Dimple, Chandan, Fiza, Bela.

  5. Gautam is in seat 2; his right is the next seat clockwise, seat 3: Eshwar.

Worth noting

Ankit, in seat 1, is on Gautam's left.

Question 45

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Eight people, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, sit around a round table. The seats are equally spaced and all eight face the centre.

1. A sits opposite E.

2. C sits third to the right of A.

3. B sits next to C and sits opposite D.

4. G does not sit next to D.

5. H sits immediately to the left of A.

At the eight-seat table, who sits second to the left of E?

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AnswerB · B

  1. Put A first; E is opposite (four seats away). C is three seats anticlockwise from A, which is five seats clockwise: A, _, _, _, E, C, _, _.

  2. B is next to C; E is on C's other side, so B follows C, and D (opposite B) is third. H, on A's left, is second.

  3. Two seats remain, next to D and next to A. G cannot sit next to D, so G takes the last seat and F sits between D and E.

  4. Clockwise from A: A, H, D, F, E, C, B, G.

  5. Left = clockwise. From E: C (1st), B (2nd).

Worth noting

D is second to E's RIGHT (anticlockwise: F, then D).

Question 46

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Eight people, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, sit around a round table. The seats are equally spaced and all eight face the centre.

1. A sits opposite E.

2. C sits third to the right of A.

3. B sits next to C and sits opposite D.

4. G does not sit next to D.

5. H sits immediately to the left of A.

Which one of the following is true about the eight people at the table?

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AnswerD · F sits second to the right of C.

  1. Put A first; E is opposite (four seats away). C is three seats anticlockwise from A, which is five seats clockwise: A, _, _, _, E, C, _, _.

  2. B is next to C; E is on C's other side, so B follows C, and D (opposite B) is third. H, on A's left, is second.

  3. Two seats remain, next to D and next to A. G cannot sit next to D, so G takes the last seat and F sits between D and E.

  4. Clockwise from A: A, H, D, F, E, C, B, G.

  5. Right = anticlockwise: from C, E (1st), F (2nd), so F is second to C's right. H's right is A, H's neighbours are A and D, and E is on C's right, not left.

Worth noting

'D sits immediately to the right of H' is the mirror of the truth: D is on H's left.

Question 47

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Six friends, Gurpreet, Hema, Irfan, Jasmine, Kiran and Lalit, sit around a circular table with equally spaced seats. Some of them face the centre and the others face outward, away from the centre.

1. Gurpreet faces the centre and sits opposite Jasmine.

2. Hema sits immediately to the left of Gurpreet.

3. Irfan faces outward and sits second to the right of Hema.

4. Both immediate neighbours of Jasmine face outward.

5. Lalit sits next to Hema.

6. Kiran sits immediately to the left of Jasmine.

How many of the six friends face the centre of the table?

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AnswerC · 3

  1. Facing the centre, left = next seat clockwise; facing outward, left = next seat anticlockwise (seen from above). Gurpreet faces the centre, so Hema is the next seat clockwise from him; Jasmine is opposite him.

  2. Irfan is second to Hema's right. If Hema faced outward, her right would be clockwise and Irfan would land on Jasmine's seat. So Hema faces the centre and Irfan is two seats anticlockwise of her: the seat just anticlockwise of Gurpreet.

  3. Lalit sits next to Hema: the seat between Hema and Jasmine. Kiran takes the seat after Jasmine. Clockwise from Gurpreet: Gurpreet, Hema, Lalit, Jasmine, Kiran, Irfan.

  4. Lalit and Kiran face outward (clue 4). Kiran is the next seat clockwise from Jasmine and is on her left, so Jasmine faces the centre.

  5. Facing the centre: Gurpreet, Hema and Jasmine, 3 people. Irfan, Lalit and Kiran face outward.

Worth noting

2 misses that clue 6 fixes Jasmine's direction; if she faced outward, her left would be Lalit, not Kiran.

Question 48

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Six friends, Gurpreet, Hema, Irfan, Jasmine, Kiran and Lalit, sit around a circular table with equally spaced seats. Some of them face the centre and the others face outward, away from the centre.

1. Gurpreet faces the centre and sits opposite Jasmine.

2. Hema sits immediately to the left of Gurpreet.

3. Irfan faces outward and sits second to the right of Hema.

4. Both immediate neighbours of Jasmine face outward.

5. Lalit sits next to Hema.

6. Kiran sits immediately to the left of Jasmine.

Who sits immediately to the right of Kiran?

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AnswerB · Irfan

  1. Facing the centre, left = next seat clockwise; facing outward, left = next seat anticlockwise (seen from above). Gurpreet faces the centre, so Hema is the next seat clockwise from him; Jasmine is opposite him.

  2. Irfan is second to Hema's right. If Hema faced outward, her right would be clockwise and Irfan would land on Jasmine's seat. So Hema faces the centre and Irfan is two seats anticlockwise of her: the seat just anticlockwise of Gurpreet.

  3. Lalit sits next to Hema: the seat between Hema and Jasmine. Kiran takes the seat after Jasmine. Clockwise from Gurpreet: Gurpreet, Hema, Lalit, Jasmine, Kiran, Irfan.

  4. Lalit and Kiran face outward (clue 4). Kiran is the next seat clockwise from Jasmine and is on her left, so Jasmine faces the centre.

  5. Kiran faces outward, so his right is the next seat clockwise: Irfan.

Worth noting

Jasmine would be Kiran's right-hand neighbour only if he faced the centre.

Question 49

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Eight people, Ankit, Bela, Chandan, Dimple, Eshwar, Fiza, Gautam and Hiral, sit around a round table at eight equally spaced seats numbered 1 to 8 in clockwise order (as seen from above). All eight face outward, away from the centre.

1. Ankit sits in seat 1, and Dimple sits opposite him.

2. Bela sits immediately to the left of Ankit.

3. Chandan sits immediately to the right of Dimple.

4. Fiza sits between Chandan and Bela.

5. Eshwar sits second to the right of Ankit.

6. Hiral sits immediately to the left of Dimple.

Who occupies seat 4?

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AnswerA · Hiral

  1. Facing outward, left and right swap compared with facing the centre: a person's left neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise (the lower seat number) and the right neighbour is the next seat clockwise (the higher number).

  2. Ankit is in seat 1 and Dimple opposite in seat 5. Bela, on Ankit's left, is in seat 8. Eshwar, second to Ankit's right, is in seat 3.

  3. Chandan, on Dimple's right, is in seat 6; Hiral, on Dimple's left, is in seat 4. Fiza is between Chandan and Bela: seat 7. Gautam takes seat 2.

  4. Seats 1 to 8: Ankit, Gautam, Eshwar, Hiral, Dimple, Chandan, Fiza, Bela.

  5. Seat 4 is Hiral's.

Worth noting

Chandan is the answer a solver gets by using the facing-the-centre rule (left = clockwise). The whole arrangement then comes out mirrored.

Question 50

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Eight people, Ankit, Bela, Chandan, Dimple, Eshwar, Fiza, Gautam and Hiral, sit around a round table at eight equally spaced seats numbered 1 to 8 in clockwise order (as seen from above). All eight face outward, away from the centre.

1. Ankit sits in seat 1, and Dimple sits opposite him.

2. Bela sits immediately to the left of Ankit.

3. Chandan sits immediately to the right of Dimple.

4. Fiza sits between Chandan and Bela.

5. Eshwar sits second to the right of Ankit.

6. Hiral sits immediately to the left of Dimple.

Which seat number does Eshwar occupy?

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AnswerB · 3

  1. Facing outward, left and right swap compared with facing the centre: a person's left neighbour is the next seat anticlockwise (the lower seat number) and the right neighbour is the next seat clockwise (the higher number).

  2. Ankit is in seat 1 and Dimple opposite in seat 5. Bela, on Ankit's left, is in seat 8. Eshwar, second to Ankit's right, is in seat 3.

  3. Chandan, on Dimple's right, is in seat 6; Hiral, on Dimple's left, is in seat 4. Fiza is between Chandan and Bela: seat 7. Gautam takes seat 2.

  4. Seats 1 to 8: Ankit, Gautam, Eshwar, Hiral, Dimple, Chandan, Fiza, Bela.

  5. Eshwar is in seat 3.

Worth noting

7 comes from treating 'right' as anticlockwise, which is correct only for people facing the centre.

Two facing rows

15 questions

Question 51

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Four friends sit in two rows of two, facing each other. Kiran and Lata sit in the row facing north; Mohan and Nita sit in the row facing south. Kiran sits at the left end of his row, and Mohan faces Lata. Who sits immediately to the left of Nita?

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AnswerA · Mohan

  1. Kiran is at the west end of the north-facing row (left = west there), so Lata is at the east end.

  2. Mohan faces Lata, so Mohan is at the east end of the south-facing row and Nita at the west end.

  3. Facing south, Nita's left points east, where Mohan sits.

Worth noting

'No one' comes from thinking Nita is at the left end. The west end is the RIGHT end for someone facing south.

Question 52

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Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four, facing each other. Aman, Bhanu, Charan and Diksha sit in Row 1, facing north. Ekta, Faizan, Girish and Heena sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Bhanu sits at one end of Row 1 and faces Faizan.

2. Ekta sits immediately to the right of Faizan.

3. Diksha faces Ekta.

4. Heena sits at one end of Row 2.

5. Charan does not face Girish.

In the two rows of four, who faces Aman?

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AnswerC · Girish

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Bhanu is at an end of Row 1, so Faizan is at an end of Row 2. Ekta is on Faizan's right, the west side, so there must be a seat west of Faizan: Faizan is at the east end with Ekta beside him.

  3. So Bhanu is at the east end of Row 1, and Diksha faces Ekta. Heena takes the west end of Row 2 and Girish the seat next to her. Charan must not face Girish, so Charan is at the west end and Aman beside him.

  4. West to east: Row 1 Charan, Aman, Diksha, Bhanu; Row 2 Heena, Girish, Ekta, Faizan.

  5. Aman is second from the west; so is Girish.

Worth noting

Heena faces Charan.

Question 53

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Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four, facing each other. Aman, Bhanu, Charan and Diksha sit in Row 1, facing north. Ekta, Faizan, Girish and Heena sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Bhanu sits at one end of Row 1 and faces Faizan.

2. Ekta sits immediately to the right of Faizan.

3. Diksha faces Ekta.

4. Heena sits at one end of Row 2.

5. Charan does not face Girish.

Who sits at the right end of the row that faces north?

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AnswerA · Bhanu

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Bhanu is at an end of Row 1, so Faizan is at an end of Row 2. Ekta is on Faizan's right, the west side, so there must be a seat west of Faizan: Faizan is at the east end with Ekta beside him.

  3. So Bhanu is at the east end of Row 1, and Diksha faces Ekta. Heena takes the west end of Row 2 and Girish the seat next to her. Charan must not face Girish, so Charan is at the west end and Aman beside him.

  4. West to east: Row 1 Charan, Aman, Diksha, Bhanu; Row 2 Heena, Girish, Ekta, Faizan.

  5. Row 1 faces north, so its right end is the east end: Bhanu.

Worth noting

Charan is at the left (west) end.

Question 54

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Ten people sit in two rows of five, facing each other. P, Q, R, S and T sit in Row 1, facing north. A, B, C, D and E sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. T sits in the middle of Row 1, and A faces T.

2. Q sits at the right end of Row 1, and R sits immediately to the left of Q.

3. S does not sit next to T.

4. D faces R.

5. B sits second to the left of A.

6. E does not sit at an end.

Of the ten people, who faces S?

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AnswerC · C

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Row 1 faces north, so its right end is east: Q is at the east end and R beside him (fourth from the west). T is in the middle. S is not next to T, so S is at the west end and P second.

  3. A faces T (middle of Row 2) and D faces R. B is second to A's left; left is east for Row 2, so B is at the east end. E is not at an end, so E is second from the west and C is at the west end.

  4. West to east: Row 1 S, P, T, R, Q; Row 2 C, E, A, D, B.

  5. S and C are both at the west ends.

Worth noting

B is at the east end of Row 2, facing Q.

Question 55

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Six friends, Jaya, Kabir, Lina, Manoj, Nikhil and Ojas, sit in two rows of three chairs facing each other. One row faces north and the other faces south, and each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Jaya sits in the middle of a row and faces Lina.

2. Kabir faces north and sits immediately to the left of Jaya.

3. Ojas faces Kabir.

4. Nikhil sits in the same row as Kabir.

Among the six friends, who faces Nikhil?

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AnswerC · Manoj

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Kabir faces north and sits next to Jaya, so Jaya is in the north-facing row too, in the middle. Kabir is on her left, the west side; Nikhil, in the same row, is at the east end.

  3. Lina faces Jaya and Ojas faces Kabir, so the south-facing row has Ojas (west end) and Lina (middle); Manoj takes its east end.

  4. West to east: north-facing row Kabir, Jaya, Nikhil; south-facing row Ojas, Lina, Manoj.

  5. Nikhil and Manoj are both at the east ends.

Worth noting

Ojas faces Kabir, at the other end.

Question 56

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Six friends, Jaya, Kabir, Lina, Manoj, Nikhil and Ojas, sit in two rows of three chairs facing each other. One row faces north and the other faces south, and each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Jaya sits in the middle of a row and faces Lina.

2. Kabir faces north and sits immediately to the left of Jaya.

3. Ojas faces Kabir.

4. Nikhil sits in the same row as Kabir.

Who sits immediately to the left of Ojas?

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AnswerD · Lina

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Kabir faces north and sits next to Jaya, so Jaya is in the north-facing row too, in the middle. Kabir is on her left, the west side; Nikhil, in the same row, is at the east end.

  3. Lina faces Jaya and Ojas faces Kabir, so the south-facing row has Ojas (west end) and Lina (middle); Manoj takes its east end.

  4. West to east: north-facing row Kabir, Jaya, Nikhil; south-facing row Ojas, Lina, Manoj.

  5. Ojas faces south, so his left is east: the next seat east is Lina's.

Worth noting

'No one' treats the west end as Ojas's left end; facing south, it is his right end.

Question 57

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Six people sit in two rows of three, facing each other. Anil, Brinda and Chetan sit in Row 1 facing north; Diya, Ehsaan and Falguni sit in Row 2 facing south. Brinda sits in the middle of Row 1 with Anil immediately to her right. Ehsaan faces Brinda. Diya sits at the right end of Row 2. Who faces Chetan?

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AnswerD · Diya

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Row 1 (west to east): Chetan, Brinda, Anil, since Anil is on Brinda's right, the east side.

  3. Row 2 faces south, so its right end is the WEST end: Diya is at the west end, Ehsaan in the middle, Falguni at the east end.

  4. Chetan (west end of Row 1) faces Diya (west end of Row 2).

Worth noting

Falguni is the answer if you put Row 2's right end on the east, as for Row 1. The two rows have opposite right ends.

Question 58

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Eight people sit in two rows of four facing each other. Pranav, Rukmini, Sagar and Tanya sit in Row 1 facing north; Uttam, Vasudha, Wamiq and Yamini sit in Row 2 facing south. Pranav sits at the left end of Row 1, and Vasudha faces Pranav. Yamini sits second to the left of Vasudha. Who sits at the right end of Row 2?

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AnswerC · Vasudha

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Pranav is at the left end of Row 1, which is the west end. Vasudha faces him, so she is at the west end of Row 2.

  3. Facing south, the west end is on the right: Vasudha herself is at the right end of Row 2. (Yamini, second to her left, is two seats east of her, which confirms Vasudha is at an end.)

Worth noting

A solver who puts Row 2's right end on the east looks for someone at the east end, but no clue places anyone there; that is the sign of the error. The other people cannot all be placed, and the question does not need them.

Question 59

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Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four, facing each other. Aman, Bhanu, Charan and Diksha sit in Row 1, facing north. Ekta, Faizan, Girish and Heena sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Bhanu sits at one end of Row 1 and faces Faizan.

2. Ekta sits immediately to the right of Faizan.

3. Diksha faces Ekta.

4. Heena sits at one end of Row 2.

5. Charan does not face Girish.

Counting to Ekta's right, who is the second person from her?

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AnswerD · Heena

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Bhanu is at an end of Row 1, so Faizan is at an end of Row 2. Ekta is on Faizan's right, the west side, so there must be a seat west of Faizan: Faizan is at the east end with Ekta beside him.

  3. So Bhanu is at the east end of Row 1, and Diksha faces Ekta. Heena takes the west end of Row 2 and Girish the seat next to her. Charan must not face Girish, so Charan is at the west end and Aman beside him.

  4. West to east: Row 1 Charan, Aman, Diksha, Bhanu; Row 2 Heena, Girish, Ekta, Faizan.

  5. Ekta faces south, so her right is the west. Going west from Ekta: Girish (1st), Heena (2nd).

Worth noting

Faizan is on Ekta's LEFT; for a south-facing person, left is east.

Question 60

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Eight people sit in two parallel rows of four, facing each other. Aman, Bhanu, Charan and Diksha sit in Row 1, facing north. Ekta, Faizan, Girish and Heena sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Bhanu sits at one end of Row 1 and faces Faizan.

2. Ekta sits immediately to the right of Faizan.

3. Diksha faces Ekta.

4. Heena sits at one end of Row 2.

5. Charan does not face Girish.

Who sits diagonally opposite Charan, that is, at the far end of the other row?

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AnswerB · Faizan

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Bhanu is at an end of Row 1, so Faizan is at an end of Row 2. Ekta is on Faizan's right, the west side, so there must be a seat west of Faizan: Faizan is at the east end with Ekta beside him.

  3. So Bhanu is at the east end of Row 1, and Diksha faces Ekta. Heena takes the west end of Row 2 and Girish the seat next to her. Charan must not face Girish, so Charan is at the west end and Aman beside him.

  4. West to east: Row 1 Charan, Aman, Diksha, Bhanu; Row 2 Heena, Girish, Ekta, Faizan.

  5. Charan is at the west end of Row 1. The far end of Row 2 is its east end: Faizan.

Worth noting

Heena sits directly opposite Charan, not diagonally.

Question 61

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Ten people sit in two rows of five, facing each other. P, Q, R, S and T sit in Row 1, facing north. A, B, C, D and E sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. T sits in the middle of Row 1, and A faces T.

2. Q sits at the right end of Row 1, and R sits immediately to the left of Q.

3. S does not sit next to T.

4. D faces R.

5. B sits second to the left of A.

6. E does not sit at an end.

Of A, B, C, D and E, who sits at the left end of the south-facing row?

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AnswerD · B

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Row 1 faces north, so its right end is east: Q is at the east end and R beside him (fourth from the west). T is in the middle. S is not next to T, so S is at the west end and P second.

  3. A faces T (middle of Row 2) and D faces R. B is second to A's left; left is east for Row 2, so B is at the east end. E is not at an end, so E is second from the west and C is at the west end.

  4. West to east: Row 1 S, P, T, R, Q; Row 2 C, E, A, D, B.

  5. For Row 2 (facing south), left is east: the left end is B's seat.

Worth noting

C is at the west end, which is the RIGHT end for people facing south.

Question 62

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Six friends, Jaya, Kabir, Lina, Manoj, Nikhil and Ojas, sit in two rows of three chairs facing each other. One row faces north and the other faces south, and each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Jaya sits in the middle of a row and faces Lina.

2. Kabir faces north and sits immediately to the left of Jaya.

3. Ojas faces Kabir.

4. Nikhil sits in the same row as Kabir.

Which three of the six friends in the two rows of chairs face south?

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AnswerA · Lina, Manoj and Ojas

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Kabir faces north and sits next to Jaya, so Jaya is in the north-facing row too, in the middle. Kabir is on her left, the west side; Nikhil, in the same row, is at the east end.

  3. Lina faces Jaya and Ojas faces Kabir, so the south-facing row has Ojas (west end) and Lina (middle); Manoj takes its east end.

  4. West to east: north-facing row Kabir, Jaya, Nikhil; south-facing row Ojas, Lina, Manoj.

  5. Lina, Manoj and Ojas make up the south-facing row.

Worth noting

Without the words 'Kabir faces north' the puzzle would have two answers, one the other turned round by 180 degrees; that clue decides which row is which.

Question 63

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Six friends, Jaya, Kabir, Lina, Manoj, Nikhil and Ojas, sit in two rows of three chairs facing each other. One row faces north and the other faces south, and each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. Jaya sits in the middle of a row and faces Lina.

2. Kabir faces north and sits immediately to the left of Jaya.

3. Ojas faces Kabir.

4. Nikhil sits in the same row as Kabir.

In the two rows of chairs, which friend is at the right end of the row facing south?

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AnswerB · Ojas

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Kabir faces north and sits next to Jaya, so Jaya is in the north-facing row too, in the middle. Kabir is on her left, the west side; Nikhil, in the same row, is at the east end.

  3. Lina faces Jaya and Ojas faces Kabir, so the south-facing row has Ojas (west end) and Lina (middle); Manoj takes its east end.

  4. West to east: north-facing row Kabir, Jaya, Nikhil; south-facing row Ojas, Lina, Manoj.

  5. Facing south, right is west: Ojas is at the right end.

Worth noting

Manoj is at the east end, which is the left end for people facing south.

Question 64

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Ten people sit in two rows of five, facing each other. P, Q, R, S and T sit in Row 1, facing north. A, B, C, D and E sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. T sits in the middle of Row 1, and A faces T.

2. Q sits at the right end of Row 1, and R sits immediately to the left of Q.

3. S does not sit next to T.

4. D faces R.

5. B sits second to the left of A.

6. E does not sit at an end.

In Row 2, whose seat is immediately to the left of E's?

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AnswerA · A

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Row 1 faces north, so its right end is east: Q is at the east end and R beside him (fourth from the west). T is in the middle. S is not next to T, so S is at the west end and P second.

  3. A faces T (middle of Row 2) and D faces R. B is second to A's left; left is east for Row 2, so B is at the east end. E is not at an end, so E is second from the west and C is at the west end.

  4. West to east: Row 1 S, P, T, R, Q; Row 2 C, E, A, D, B.

  5. E faces south, so E's left is the east side: the next seat east is A's.

Worth noting

C is E's neighbour on the west, which is E's right. B is at the far east end, two seats beyond A.

Question 65

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Ten people sit in two rows of five, facing each other. P, Q, R, S and T sit in Row 1, facing north. A, B, C, D and E sit in Row 2, facing south. Each person faces exactly one person in the other row.

1. T sits in the middle of Row 1, and A faces T.

2. Q sits at the right end of Row 1, and R sits immediately to the left of Q.

3. S does not sit next to T.

4. D faces R.

5. B sits second to the left of A.

6. E does not sit at an end.

Among the ten people, who faces the person sitting second to the left of R?

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AnswerB · E

  1. Row facing north: left is west, right is east. Row facing south: left is east, right is west. Each person faces the one in the same position of the other row.

  2. Row 1 faces north, so its right end is east: Q is at the east end and R beside him (fourth from the west). T is in the middle. S is not next to T, so S is at the west end and P second.

  3. A faces T (middle of Row 2) and D faces R. B is second to A's left; left is east for Row 2, so B is at the east end. E is not at an end, so E is second from the west and C is at the west end.

  4. West to east: Row 1 S, P, T, R, Q; Row 2 C, E, A, D, B.

  5. R faces north: left is west. Going west from R: T (1st), P (2nd). P faces E.

Worth noting

A faces T, who is only first to R's left. D faces R himself.

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