A family of two generations consisting of six members P, Q, R, S, T and U has three males and three females. There are two married couples and two unmarried siblings. U is P's daughter and Q is R's mother-in-law. T is an unmarried male and S is a male. Which one of the following is correct?
- (a) R is U's husband.
- (b) R is S's wife. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) S is unmarried.
- (d) None of the above
Why the answer is (b)
• The family has 6 members: 3 males and 3 females, with 2 married couples and 2 unmarried siblings.
• T is an unmarried male and S is a male, so the third male must be R (since U is P's daughter, U is female; Q is R's mother-in-law, implying Q is female; thus P is the remaining female).
• Since Q is R's mother-in-law, R is married to Q's child. The only female child of Q available in the family is P (as U is P's daughter, making P a parent, and T/S are males).
• Therefore, R is married to P. This forms the first married couple (P and R).
• U is P's daughter, so U is female. The remaining female is Q. The remaining male is T (unmarried) and S (male).
• The two unmarried siblings must be T and U, as they are the only ones left who fit the 'unmarried' description alongside the structure (S is male, R is married, P is married, Q is mother-in-law).
• Since S is the only male left who is not R (married) or T (unmarried sibling), and the problem states there are two unmarried siblings (T and U), S must be married to complete the second couple. The only available female for S to marry is Q? No, Q is R's mother-in-law. Let's re-evaluate the couples.
• Correction: Q is R's mother-in-law. R is male. R is married to a female. The females are P, Q, U. Q is the mother-in-law, so Q is not R's wife. U is P's daughter. If P is R's wife, U is R's daughter. Then the couples are (P, R) and (S, ?). The remaining female is Q? No, Q is the mother-in-law of R, so Q is the mother of P. Thus Q is not in the same generation as P? Wait, 'two generations'. Gen 1: Q, ?. Gen 2: P, R, S, T, U? No, 6 members.
• Let's trace: Q is R's mother-in-law. R is male. R's wife is a female. Let's say R's wife is P. Then Q is P's mother. So Q and P are in Gen 1/2? No, Q is mother, P is daughter. So Q is Gen 1, P is Gen 2. R is Gen 2 (husband of P). U is P's daughter, so U is Gen 3? But the problem says 'two generations'. This implies U is in Gen 2? No, 'U is P's daughter' makes U a child. If the family is two generations, P and R are Gen 1, and their children are Gen 2. But Q is R's mother-in-law, so Q is Gen 0? Contradiction.
• Re-read: 'Two generations'. This usually means Parents and Children. If Q is R's mother-in-law, Q is the parent of R's spouse. If R's spouse is P, Q is P's mother. So Q is Gen 1, P is Gen 2. R is Gen 2. U is P's daughter, so U is Gen 3. This violates 'two generations'.
• Alternative: R is female? No, 'Q is R's mother-in-law' doesn't specify R's gender, but 'T is an unmarried male and S is a male'. We have 3 males. T, S, and one more. If R is male, males are T, S, R. Females are P, Q, U. If R is female, males are T, S, and one of P/Q/U? No, P is U's parent, Q is R's MIL.
• Let's assume R is female. Then males are T, S, and one other. Who is the third male? P? Q? U? U is P's daughter (female). Q is R's MIL (female). So P must be male? If P is male, U is P's daughter. Q is R's mother-in-law. R is female. R is married to a male. The males are P, S, T. T is unmarried. So R is married to P or S. If R is married to P, Q is P's mother. So Q is Gen 1, P/R are Gen 2. U is P's daughter (Gen 3). Still 3 generations.
• Is it possible 'two generations' allows for a grandmother? No.
• Let's look at the options. (b) R is S's wife. This implies R is female. If R is female, S is male. They are a couple. Q is R's mother-in-law, so Q is S's mother. So S and Q are Gen 1/2? Q is mother, S is son. So Q is Gen 1, S is Gen 2. R is S's wife, so R is Gen 2. P is U's parent. U is female. P is male or female? Males: S, T, and one more. If R is female, P must be male to make 3 males (S, T, P). So P is male. U is P's daughter. P is Gen 2? If P is Gen 2, U is Gen 3. Still 3 generations.
• Wait, if P is Gen 1? If P is Gen 1, U is Gen 2. Q is Gen 1 (S's mother). S is Gen 2. R is Gen 2. T is Gen 2 (unmarried male). U is Gen 2. So Gen 1: P, Q. Gen 2: S, R, T, U. This fits 'two generations'.
• Check relationships: Q is S's mother. S is married to R. So Q is R's mother-in-law. Correct. P is U's father (since P is male). T is unmarried male. S is male. R is female. U is female. Q is female. P is male. Males: P, S, T. Females: Q, R, U. Couples: (S, R) and (P, ?). Who is P married to? P is Gen 1. Q is Gen 1. Are P and Q married? If P and Q are married, they are a couple. Then S is their son. R is S's wife. U is P's daughter. T is P's son? Or S's brother? T is unmarried male. If T is P's son, he is Gen 2. So Gen 2 members: S, R, U, T. This works.
• So the structure is: Gen 1: P (Male), Q (Female). Gen 2: S (Male), R (Female), U (Female), T (Male).
• Couples: (P, Q) and (S, R).
• Unmarried siblings: U and T (both children of P and Q, or at least siblings in the family context). The prompt says 'two unmarried siblings'. U and T are siblings.
• Therefore, R is S's wife.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) R is U's husband.
- R is female and married to S, not U (who is female and unmarried).
- (c) S is unmarried.
- S is male and married to R, so he is not unmarried.
- (d) None of the above
- Option (b) is correct, so 'None of the above' is incorrect.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.