If F stands second in the ranking, then the position of B is
- (a) Third
- (b) Fourth
- (c) Fifth ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Sixth
Why the answer is (c)
• The condition 'Either C or F scores the highest' implies that if F is not the highest, C must be the highest.
• Since F is stated to stand second, C must be the highest (1st position).
• The rule 'Whenever C scores the highest, then E scores the least' places E in the 6th position.
• The ranking constraints are: C > A > B and D > A. This means A is higher than B, and both C and D are higher than A.
• Therefore, the students ranked higher than B are C, D, and A. Since F is 2nd, the top four positions are occupied by C, F, D, and A in some order, but all are above B.
• With C (1st), F (2nd), and E (6th) fixed, and D and A both ranking higher than B, B must be in the 5th position, with D and A occupying the 3rd and 4th positions.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Third
- B cannot be third because both D and A score higher than B, and C and F are already in the top two positions, leaving no room for B to be third.
- (b) Fourth
- B cannot be fourth because D and A both score higher than B, meaning at least three students (C, D, A) plus F are above B, pushing B to fifth.
- (d) Sixth
- B cannot be sixth because the condition states that when C scores highest, E scores the least, so E occupies the sixth position.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.