OSSSC (Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Commission) conducts recruitment exams for various posts including Revenue Inspector (RI), Assistant Revenue Inspector (ARI), Amin, Statistical Field Surveyor (SFS), and ICDS Supervisor. One of the key sections in these exams is Reasoning Ability, which assesses candidates’ logical and analytical thinking skills. To help aspirants prepare effectively, here are the top 30 Reasoning MCQs for OSSSC recruitment exams.
Top 30 Reasoning MCQs for OSSSC RI,ARI, Amin, SFS, ICDS Supervisor
- A clock shows the time as 3:15. What is the angle between the hour and minute hands?
(a) 37.5 degrees
(b) 32.5 degrees
(c) 35 degrees
(d) 40 degrees
Ans: (a) 37.5 degrees
Sol: The angle between the hour and minute hands = |(30*hour – (11/2)minutes)| = |(30*3 – (11/2)*15)| = |90 – 82.5| = 37.5 degrees. - If a man is facing north and turns 135 degrees clockwise, which direction is he facing now?
(a) East
(b) South-East
(c) South-West
(d) North-East
Ans: (b) South-East
Sol: Turning 135 degrees clockwise from north will place him facing South-East. - In a group of 30 people, 18 like coffee, 20 like tea, and 12 like both. How many people like only coffee?
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 10
(d) 12
Ans: (b) 8
Sol: Using the formula for exclusive set calculation: Only coffee = Total coffee – Both = 18 – 12 = 6. - A group of 5 friends A, B, C, D, and E are seated in a row. C is not at the ends, and A is to the left of D. If B is to the right of C, who is seated at the extreme right?
(a) A
(b) B
(c) D
(d) E
Ans: (b) B
Sol: Arranging them according to the conditions, B will be at the extreme right. - If all the letters in the word “PARTICIPATE” are rearranged, which of the following words is NOT possible?
(a) RAPTICEPIA
(b) TARPICEIPA
(c) ACTEIRPPAI
(d) ARTEIPICPA
Ans: (c) ACTEIRPPAI
Sol: The word “ACTEIRPPAI” is not a rearrangement of “PARTICIPATE” because it does not match the number of occurrences of each letter. - In a certain language, “SUCCESS” is written as “TVDDFTT.” How is “PROGRESS” written in that language?
(a) QSPHFTT
(b) QSPHGTU
(c) QTHHFTT
(d) QTHHFTU
Ans: (a) QSPHFTT
Sol: Each letter is shifted forward by one place in the alphabet: S → T, U → V, C → D, E → F. Similarly, P → Q, R → S, O → P, G → H, R → S, E → F, S → T. - A man is facing west and turns 270 degrees clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
(a) East
(b) South
(c) North
(d) West
Ans: (b) South
Sol: Turning 270 degrees clockwise from west will place him facing south. - If 5 cats can catch 5 mice in 5 minutes, how many cats are needed to catch 100 mice in 100 minutes?
(a) 5
(b) 10
(c) 15
(d) 20
Ans: (a) 5
Sol: The number of cats needed remains the same since the rate of catching mice remains constant. - Choose the odd one out: Cherry, Apple, Banana, Grape
(a) Cherry
(b) Apple
(c) Banana
(d) Grape
Ans: (c) Banana
Sol: Banana is the only fruit that is technically a berry, while others are not. - If a clock shows the time as 8:00 PM, what is the angle between the hour and minute hands?
(a) 240 degrees
(b) 120 degrees
(c) 180 degrees
(d) 90 degrees
Ans: (a) 240 degrees
Sol: The angle between the hour and minute hands = |(30*hour – (11/2)minutes)| = |(308 – (11/2)*0)| = 240 degrees. - In a sequence, each term after the first is obtained by adding the next prime number. If the first term is 2, what is the 5th term?
(a) 20
(b) 18
(c) 22
(d) 16
Ans: (a) 20
Sol: Sequence: 2 (first term) → 2 + 2 (next prime) = 4 → 4 + 3 = 7 → 7 + 5 = 12 → 12 + 7 = 19. The 5th term is 20. - If “A” is coded as “Z,” “B” is coded as “Y,” and so on, what is the code for “M”?
(a) N
(b) O
(c) L
(d) K
Ans: (c) L
Sol: The code is a reverse alphabetical order, so M (13th from the start) is coded as L (13th from the en(d). - Find the missing number in the series: 2, 5, 10, 17, __, 37
(a) 24
(b) 25
(c) 26
(d) 27
Ans: (b) 26
Sol: The pattern is n^2 + 1: 1^2 + 1 = 2, 2^2 + 1 = 5, 3^2 + 1 = 10, 4^2 + 1 = 17, 5^2 + 1 = 26. - Complete the analogy:
3: 9:: 4:?
Options:
(a) 8
(b) 12
(c) 16
(d) 6
Ans:- (b) 12
Sol:- The relationship between 3 and 9 is that 3 squared equals 9. Similarly, 4 squared equals 16. Therefore, the correct Answer is 12 because it is the square of 4. - Complete the analogy:
5 : 25:: 6:?
Options:
(a) 31
(b) 36
(c) 30
(d) 29
Ans:- (b) 36
Sol:- The relationship between 5 and 25 is that 5 squared equals 25. Similarly, 6 squared equals 36. Therefore, the correct Answer is 36. - Complete the analogy:
8: 64:: 10:?
Options:
(a) 100
(b) 80
(c) 120
(d) 64
Ans:- (a) 100
Sol:- The relationship between 8 and 64 is that 8 squared equals 64. Similarly, 10 squared equals 100. Therefore, the correct Answer is 100. - Complete the analogy:
2: 8:: 6:?
Options:
(a) 18
(b) 20
(c) 24
(d) 36
Ans:- (c) 24 - What is the logical and meaningful arrangement of the following words?
1.Knee
2.Heel
3.Ankle
4.Thigh
5.Calf
(a) 2, 3, 1, 4, 5
(b) 2, 3, 1, 5, 4
(c) 4, 5, 3, 2, 1
(d) 2, 3, 5, 1, 4
Ans: (d) 2, 3, 5, 1, 4
Sol. The correct sequence from bottom to top is Heel → Ankle → Calf → Knee → Thigh. - Arrange the following words in a logical and meaningful order:
1.Gateway of India
2.World
3.Mumbai
4.India
5.Maharashtra
(a) 2, 4, 5, 1, 3
(b) 4, 2, 5, 3, 1
(c) 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
(d) 4, 2, 5, 1, 3
Ans: (b) 4, 2, 5, 3, 1
Sol. The correct logical order is World → India → Maharashtra → Mumbai → Gateway of India. - What is the logical and meaningful order for the following words?
1.Bronze
2.Gold
3.Silver
4.Platinum
5.Iron
(a) 3, 1, 5, 2, 4
(b) 5, 1, 3, 2, 4
(c) 2, 1, 5, 3, 4
(d) 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Ans: (b) 5, 1, 3, 2, 4
sol. The correct logical order based on increasing value is Iron → Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum. - Arrange the given words in a logical and meaningful order:
Writing
1.Book
2.Seller
3.Idea
4.Feedback
5.Reader
(a) 4, 1, 2, 3, 6, 5
(b) 4, 1, 2, 6, 3, 5
(c) 4, 1, 3, 6, 5, 2
(d) 4, 1, 2, 6, 5, 3
Ans: (d) 4, 1, 2, 6, 5, 3
Sol. The correct sequence is Idea → Book → Seller → Reader → Feedback. - What is the logical and meaningful order for the following?
1.World Cup Semi Final Matches
2.World Cup Finals Match
3.Organizing the World Cup
4.Finalizing the participating teams
5.Winner of the World Cup
(a) 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
(b) 4, 1, 2, 3, 5
(c) 4, 3, 1, 2, 5
(d) 4, 1, 3, 2, 5
Ans: (c) 4, 3, 1, 2, 5
Sol; The correct sequence is Finalizing the participating teams → Organizing the World Cup → World Cup Semi-Final Matches → World Cup Finals Match → Winner of the World Cup. - Choose the word that is most similar to the given word: “Sunrise”
(a) Moonrise
(b) Sunset
(c) Nightfall
(d) Dawn
Ans: (d) Dawn
Sol: The closest synonym for “sunrise” is “dawn,” which refers to the time of day when the sun rises. - Identify the word that is different from the others:
(a) Apple
(b) Mango
(c) Orange
(d) Potato
Ans: (d) Potato
Sol: Apple, mango, and orange are fruits, while potato is a vegetable. - A cube is given with each side numbered 1 through 6. If the cube is rotated such that the 1st face becomes the top face and the 6th face remains at the bottom, which face will be at the front?
(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 4
(d) 5
Ans: (b) 3
Sol: Given the top and bottom faces, rotating the cube such that 1 and 6 are maintained, the only remaining possible front face is 3. - In a sequence of numbers, find the missing number: 3, 6, 9, __, 15
(a) 10
(b) 11
(c) 12
(d) 13
Ans: (c) 12
Sol: The pattern involves adding 3 each time: 3 + 3 = 6, 6 + 3 = 9, 9 + 3 = 12, 12 + 3 = 15. - If you are facing north and turn 90 degrees to your right, which direction will you be facing?
(a) South
(b) East
(c) West
(d) North
Ans: (b) East
Sol: Turning 90 degrees to the right from facing north will point you in the direction of east. - Which of the following shapes does not belong in the group?
(a) Circle
(b) Rectangle
(c) Square
(d) Triangle
Ans: (a) Circle
Sol: The other three shapes (rectangle, square, and triangle) have straight lines, while a circle is round. - Which shape can be created by folding a square piece of paper diagonally and then folding it in half again?
(a) Square
(b) Rectangle
(c) Triangle
(d) Hexagon
Ans: (c) Triangle
Sol: Folding a square piece of paper diagonally twice results in a triangle shape. - John needs to catch a flight that departs at 3:00 PM. It takes him 45 minutes to get to the airport, and he needs to arrive one hour before the flight departs. At what time should he leave home?
(a) 1:00 PM
(b) 1:15 PM
(c) 1:30 PM
(d) 2:00 PM
Ans: (b) 1:15 PM
Sol: John needs to arrive at the airport by 2:00 PM (one hour before the flight). Since it takes him 45 minutes to get there, he should leave home at 1:15 PM. - Given the sequence of letters: A, C, E, G, __, what is the next letter?
(a) H
(b) I
(c) J
(d) K
Ans: (b) ISol: The sequence progresses by skipping one letter each time: A to C (skip (b), C to E (skip (d), E to G (skip F), and then G to I (skip H). So, the next letter in the sequence is I.
