Passage

Directions for the following 2 (two) items : Read the following information and answer the two items that follow. The plan of an office block for six officers A, B, C, D, E and F is as follows : Both B and C occupy offices to the right of the corridor (as one enters the office block) and A occupies on the left of the corridor. E and F occupy offices on opposite sides of the corridor but their offices do not face each other. The offices of C and D face each other. E does not have a corner office. F's office is further down the corridor than A's, but on the same side.

If E sits in his office and faces the corridor, whose office is to his left?

(a) A
(b) B
(c) C ✓ UPSC's answer
(d) D

Why the answer is (c)

• Take three offices on each side of the corridor, numbered 1 to 3 from the entrance. B and C are on the right; A is on the left, so D (facing C) and F (same side as A) are also on the left, and E is on the right.

• E has no corner office, so E is in the middle (row 2) on the right. C therefore cannot be in row 2, so C and D face each other in row 1 or row 3.

• If D were in row 3, A and F would take rows 1 and 2 with F further down, putting F in row 2 directly opposite E, which is not allowed. So D and C are in row 1, A is in row 2 and F in row 3; B takes the right-hand row 3.

• E sits on the right side facing the corridor, so his left hand points back towards the entrance: the office on his left is C's, option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) A: A is on the other side of the corridor, directly facing E.
(b) B: B's office is on E's right, further down the corridor.
(d) D: D is on the other side of the corridor, facing C.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.