Consider two Statements and a Question : Statement-1 : Priya is 4 ranks below Seema and is 31st from the bottom. Statement-2 : Ena is 2 ranks above Seema and is 37th from the bottom. Question : What is Seema's rank from the top in the class of 40 students ? Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Statements and the Question ?
- (a) Statement-1 alone is not sufficient to answer the Question
- (b) Statement-2 alone is not sufficient to answer the Question
- (c) Either Statement-1 alone or Statement-2 alone is sufficient to answer the Question ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are required to answer the Question
Why the answer is (c)
• Statement-1: Priya is 31st from the bottom in 40 students, so Priya is 40 - 31 + 1 = 10th from the top.
• Priya is 4 ranks below Seema, so Seema is 10 - 4 = 6th from the top.
• Statement-2: Ena is 37th from the bottom in 40 students, so Ena is 40 - 37 + 1 = 4th from the top.
• Ena is 2 ranks above Seema, so Seema is 4 + 2 = 6th from the top.
• Therefore, Statement-1 alone or Statement-2 alone gives Seema's rank from the top, so option (c) follows.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Statement-1 alone is not sufficient to answer the Question
- Statement-1 alone is sufficient because it gives Priya as 10th from the top and Seema as 6th from the top.
- (b) Statement-2 alone is not sufficient to answer the Question
- Statement-2 alone is sufficient because it gives Ena as 4th from the top and Seema as 6th from the top.
- (d) Both Statement-1 and Statement-2 are required to answer the Question
- Both statements are not required because each statement alone gives Seema's rank as 6th from the top.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.