Passage

Directions for the following 6 (six) items : Read the information given below and answer the six items that follow. A, B, C and D are students. They are studying in four different cities, viz., P, Q, R and S (not necessarily in that order). They are studying in Science college, Arts college, Commerce college and Engineering college (not necessarily in that order), which are situated in four different States, viz., Gujarat, Rajasthan, Assam and Kerala (not necessarily in that order). Further, it is given that— (i) D is studying in Assam (ii) Arts college is located in city S which is in Rajasthan (iii) A is studying in Commerce college (iv) B is studying in city Q (v) Science college is located in Kerala

Science college is located in

(a) city Q ✓ UPSC's answer
(b) city S
(c) city R
(d) city P

Why the answer is (a)

• From the previous item: A is in Commerce (Gujarat) and D in Engineering (Assam).

• B studies in city Q (iv). City S has the Arts college, so B is not in Arts; B is therefore in Science, and C in Arts.

• Science college is thus in B's city, city Q, option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) city S: City S has the Arts college.
(c) city R: Science college is in city Q, where B studies; R is not fixed by the data.
(d) city P: Science college is in city Q, where B studies; P is not fixed by the data.

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.