Civil Services Prep

Prelims 2026 · CSAT / Logical Reasoning · Question 34

Two identical straight rods are painted in five distinct colours so that each of them gets divided into five equal parts along the length. In one of them, the portions are marked P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 (not necessarily in that order) whereas in the other, they are marked Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 (not necessarily in that order). When the rods are kept parallel to each other side by side, P1 and Q3 match, P4 matches Q1 or Q2, and Q4 matches P3 or P5. If Q3 and Q5 are adjacent, which of the following is/are possible?<br/>I. Q3 is marked at the middle portion of the straight rod.<br/>II. P2 is marked at one of the extreme portions of the straight rod.<br/>Select the answer using the code given below.<br/>

  1. I only
  2. II only
  3. Both I and II
  4. Neither I nor II

Answer

Both I and II

Both are possible. One valid arrangement is: P positions = [P2, P5, P1, P3, P4] and matching Q positions = [Q2, Q5, Q3, Q4, Q1]. Then P1 matches Q3, P4 matches Q1, Q4 matches P3, and Q3 is adjacent to Q5. Here Q3 is in the middle, and P2 is at an extreme. So I and II are both possible.

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