Passage

Directions for the following 3 (three) items : Read the following information and answer the three items that follow : Six students A, B, C, D, E and F appeared in several tests. Either C or F scores the highest. Whenever C scores the highest, then E scores the least. Whenever F scores the highest, B scores the least. In all the tests they got different marks; D scores higher than A, but they are close competitors; A scores higher than B; C scores higher than A.

If B scores the least, the rank of C will be

(a) Second
(b) Third
(c) Fourth
(d) Second or third ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• The condition 'B scores the least' triggers the rule: 'Whenever F scores the highest, B scores the least,' implying F is the highest scorer (Rank 1).

• Since F is highest, C is not highest. The remaining students are A, C, D, and E.

• We know C > A and D > A. Also, A > B (Rank 6).

• The relative order of C and D is not specified, only that both are higher than A.

• Therefore, C can be Rank 2 (if C > D) or Rank 3 (if D > C).

• Since C's rank can be either second or third, the correct option is (d).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Second: C is not necessarily second because D could score higher than C, making D second and C third.
(b) Third: C is not necessarily third because C could score higher than D, making C second and D third.
(c) Fourth: C cannot be fourth because C scores higher than A, and A is higher than B (Rank 6), meaning A is at best Rank 5, so C must be Rank 4 or higher; however, since D is also higher than A, C and D occupy Ranks 2 and 3, leaving Rank 4 for E.

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.