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
- Look at this series: 2, 1, (1/2), (1/4), … What number should come next?
A. (1/3)
B. (1/8)
C. (2/8)
D. (1/16)
Answer: B. (1/8)
Explanation:
4/2 = 2
2/2 = 1
1/2 = 1/2
(1/2)/2 = 1/4
(1/4)/2 = 1/8 and so on.Look at this series: 7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, … What number should come next?
A. 7
B. 10
C. 12
D. 13
Answer: D. 13
Explanation:
This is a simple alternating addition and subtraction series. In the first pattern, 3 is added; in the second, 2 is subtracted. - Look at this series: 36, 34, 30, 28, 24, … What number should come next?
A. 20
B. 22
C. 23
D. 26
Answer: B. 22
Explanation:
This is an alternating number subtraction series. First, 2 is subtracted, then 4, then 2, and so on. - Look at this series: 22, 21, 23, 22, 24, 23, … What number should come next?
A. 22
B. 24
C. 25
D. 26
Answer: C. 25
Explanation:
In this simple alternating subtraction and addition series; 1 is subtracted, then 2 is added, and so on. - Look at this series: 53, 53, 40, 40, 27, 27, … What number should come next?
A. 12
B. 14
C. 27
D. 53
Answer: A. 12
Explanation:
In this series, each number is repeated, then 13 is subtracted to arrive at the next number. - Look at this series: SCD, TEF, UGH, ____, WKL
A. CMN
B. UJI
C. VIJ
D. IJT
Answer: C. VIJ
Explanation:
There are two alphabetical series here. The first series is with the first letters only: S, T, U, V, W. The second series involves the remaining letters: CD, EF, GH, IJ, KL. - Look at this series: B2CD, _____, BCD4, B5CD, BC6D
A. B2C2D
B. BC3D
C. B2C3D
D. BCD7
Answer: B. BC3D
Explanation:
Because the letters are the same, concentrate on the number series, which is a simple 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 series, and follows each letter in order. - Look at this series: FAG, GAF, HAI, IAH, ____
A. JAK
B. HAL
C. HAK
D. JAI
Answer: A. JAK
Explanation:
The middle letters are static, so concentrate on the first and third letters. The series involves an alphabetical order with a reversal of the letters. The first letters are in alphabetical order: F, G, H, I, J. The second and fourth segments are reversals of the first and third segments. - Look at this series: ELFA, GLHA, ILJA, _____, MLNA
A. OLPA
B. KLMA
C. LLMA
D. KLLA
Answer: B. KLMA
Explanation:
The second and fourth letters in the series, L and A, are static. The first and third letters consist of an alphabetical order beginning with the letter E. - Look at this series: CMM, EOO, GQQ, _____, KUU
A. GRR
B. GSS
C. ISS
D. ITT
Answer: C. ISS
Explanation:
The first letters are in alphabetical order with a letter skipped in between each segment: C, E, G, I, K. The second and third letters are repeated; they are also in order with a skipped letter: M, O, Q, S, U. - Which word does NOT belong with the others?
A. Parsley
B. Basil
C. Dill
D. Mayonnaise
Answer: D
Explanation: Parsley, basil, and dill are types of herbs. Mayonnaise is not an herb. - Which word does NOT belong with the others?
A. Inch
B. Ounce
C. Centimeter
D. Yard
Answer: B
Explanation: An ounce measures weight; the other choices measure length. - Which word does NOT belong with the others?
A. Tyre
B. Steering wheel
C. Engine
D. Car
Answer: D
Explanation: Tyre, steering wheel, and engine are all parts of a car. - Which word does NOT belong with the others?
A. Tulip
B. Rose
C. Bud
D. Daisy
Answer: C
Explanation: Tulip, rose, and daisy are all types of flowers. A bud is not. - Which word does NOT belong with the others?
A. Rye
B. Sourdough
C. Pumpernickel
D. Loaf
Answer: A
Explanation: Loaf, sourdough, and pumpernickel are types of bread. A rye is not a bread type.
Additional definitions for context:
Loaf: Bread that is shaped and baked in one piece and usually sliced before being eaten.
Pumpernickel: Dark, dense German bread made from coarsely ground whole-grain rye.
Sourdough: Leaven for making bread, consisting of fermenting dough, typically that left over from a previous batch.
Rye: A wheat-like cereal plant that tolerates poor soils and low temperatures. - In which year was Rahul born?
Statements:
Rahul at present is 25 years younger to his mother.
Rahul’s brother, who was born in 1964, is 35 years younger to his mother.
A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient
B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient
C. Either I or II is sufficient
D. Neither I nor II is sufficient
E. Both I and II are sufficient
Answer: E
Explanation: From both statements, we find that Rahul is (35 – 25) = 10 years older than his brother, who was born in 1964. So, Rahul was born in 1954. - What will be the total weight of 10 poles, each of the same weight?
Statements:
One-fourth of the weight of each pole is 5 kg.
The total weight of three poles is 20 kilograms more than the total weight of two poles.
A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient
B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient
C. Either I or II is sufficient
D. Neither I nor II is sufficient
E. Both I and II are sufficient
Answer: E
Explanation:
From statement I, weight of each pole = (4×5) kg = 20 kg.
From statement II, weight of each pole = (weight of 3 poles) – (weight of 2 poles) = 20 kg.
So, total weight of 10 poles = (20 x 10) kg = 200 kg from either statement. - How many children does M have?
Statements:
H is the only daughter of X who is wife of M.
K and J are brothers of M.
A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient
B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient
C. Either I or II is sufficient
D. Neither I nor II is sufficient
E. Both I and II are sufficient
Answer: D
Explanation: From statement I, H is the only daughter of M, but this does not indicate that M has no son. The information given in II is immaterial. - How much was the total sale of the company?
Statements:
The company sold 8000 units of product A each costing Rs. 25.
This company has no other product line.
A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient
B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient
C. Either I or II is sufficient
D. Neither I nor II is sufficient
E. Both I and II are sufficient
Answer: E
Explanation: From statement I, total sale of product A = Rs. (8000 x 25) = Rs. 200000.
From statement II, we know that the company deals only in product A. This implies that sale of product A is the total sale of the company, which is Rs. 200000. - The last Sunday of March, 2006 fell on which date?
Statements:
The first Sunday of that month fell on 5th.
The last day of that month was Friday.
A. I alone is sufficient while II alone is not sufficient
B. II alone is sufficient while I alone is not sufficient
C. Either I or II is sufficient
D. Neither I nor II is sufficient
E. Both I and II are sufficient
Answer: E
Explanation:
From statement I, we conclude that 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of March, 2006 were Sundays. So, the last Sunday fell on 26th.
From statement II, we conclude that 31st March, 2006 was Friday. Thus, 26th March, 2006 was the last Sunday of the month. - Pointing to a photograph of a boy, Suresh said, “He is the son of the only son of my mother.” How is Suresh related to that boy?
A) Brother
B) Uncle
C) Cousin
D) Father
Answer: D) Father
Explanation: The boy in the photograph is the son of the only son of Suresh’s mother, i.e., the son of Suresh. Hence, Suresh is the father of the boy. - If A + B means A is the mother of B; A – B means A is the brother of B; A % B means A is the father of B, and A x B means A is the sister of B, which of the following shows that P is the maternal uncle of Q?
A) Q – N + M x P
B) P + S x N – Q
C) P – M + N x Q
D) Q – S % P
Answer: C) P – M + N x Q
Explanation:
P – M → P is the brother of M
M + N → M is the mother of N
N x Q → N is the sister of Q
Therefore, P is the maternal uncle of Q. - If A is the brother of B; B is the sister of C; and C is the father of D, how is D related to A?
A) Brother
B) Sister
C) Nephew
D) Cannot be determined
Answer: D) Cannot be determined
Explanation:
If D is male, the answer is Nephew.
If D is female, the answer is Niece.
Since the sex of D is not known, the relation between D and A cannot be determined.
Note:
Niece – A daughter of one’s brother or sister, or of one’s brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
Nephew – A son of one’s brother or sister, or of one’s brother-in-law or sister-in-law. - If A + B means A is the brother of B; A – B means A is the sister of B, and A x B means A is the father of B. Which of the following means that C is the son of M?
A) M – N x C + F
B) F – C + N x M
C) N + M – F x C
D) M x N – C + F
Answer: D) M x N – C + F
Explanation:
M x N → M is the father of N
N – C → N is the sister of C
C + F → C is the brother of F
Hence, M is the father of C or C is the son of M. - Introducing a boy, a girl said, “He is the son of the daughter of the father of my uncle.” How is the boy related to the girl?
A) Brother
B) Nephew
C) Uncle
D) Son-in-law
Answer: A) Brother
Explanation:
The father of the boy’s uncle is the girl’s grandfather. The daughter of the grandfather is the girl’s mother or aunt. Therefore, the boy is the girl’s brother. - Which two of the following are not neighbours?
A) RV
B) UV
C) RP
D) QW
Answer: A) RV
Explanation:
- Which one is immediately to the right of V?
A) P
B) U
C) R
D) T
Answer: D) T
Explanation:
T is immediately to the right of V. - What is the position of S?
A) Between U and V
B) Second to the right of P
C) To the immediate right of W
D) Data inadequate
Answer: C) To the immediate right of W - Who is sitting to the right of Prakash? A) Mukesh
B) Deepa
C) Pankaj
D) Lalit
Answer: D) Lalit
Explanation:
Lalit is sitting to the right of Prakash. 
- Who is sitting just to the right of Pankaj?
A) Deepa
B) Lalit
C) Prakash
D) Priti
Answer: A) Deepa
Explanation:
Deepa is sitting just to the right of Pankaj.
