What is this all about?

Generally one is asked to imagine that there is some kind of computer or Machine which follows a certain
protocol to perform specific kind of actions in each step to produce a desired output. In these types of questions
an input is given which consists of either words or numbers. You will be told that this machine rearranges this
input in a particular fashion. Your aim is to find the rule followed by the machine in rearranging the input. Then
you have to apply this rule to the questions given and find the answers. Finding the rule followed by the machine
is the key task. Once you find the rule, its quite easy to solve the questions.
Guideline to approach.
STEP 1: First check the output of the step its asking about because without knowing what is final result it doesnt
make any sense of moving ahead.
STEP 2: Check the input step.
STEP 3: Check the previous steps to output step to find out how the output is really coming out. (In many cases
this step 3 might not be required)

A word of caution!
If in the question Nth step is given and output of any of its previous steps is asked, then the answer would be
Can not be determined. That means if output of 4th step is given and you are asked about 2nd or 3rd step, then
you simply choose the option of Can not be determined.

So to say, there is hardly any specific trick for these types of questions. Some laid out strategies and most of the
time its about striking you in the exam hall.
Let us discuss further with some specific examples:
EXAMPLES:
(1) Follow the dictionary! Arrange according to the dictionary.

Input: is of am do can
Step I: am is of do can
Step II: am can is of do
Step III: am can do is of

Here `am, the 1st word that we will find in a dictionary from the given input, is placed in the 1st position in Step I.
Then `can, the second letter in the dictionary, is placed in the 2nd position and the process continues till the
whole input of words are arranged. In the same manner as they will appear in the dictionary.

(2) Total number of letters - Arranging the words according to the increasing or decreasing order of the
total number of letters of each word.

Input : He never lie always

Step I: Always He never lie

Step II: Always never He lie
Step III: Always never lie He

Here the word with the larger number of letters is placed first, ie `always, then the word `never and so on till the
word with least number of letters is placed last.

(3) I dont find any arrangement Simply number the words of the input and check the pattern.

Input: is to before go back on

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Step I: go is to before back on
(4) (1) (2) (3) (5) (6)
Step II: is go to before back on
(1) (4) (2) (3) (5) (6)
Step III: is before go to back on
(1) (3) (4) (2) (5) (6)
and so on ..

Were the 4th word is brought to the 1st place and the nearest word to it is interchanged. This process is
continued.

(4) Lets play with numbers Arrangement of Numbers

Input: 15 28 27 39 12 6
Step I: 6 12 15 28 27 39
Step II: 6 12 28 15 27 39
Step III: 6 12 28 15 27 39
Step IV: 6 12 28 39 15 27
Step V: 6 12 28 39 27 15

Here, 1st the even numbers are arranged in the ascending order while the odd numbers are
arranged in the descending order after the arrangement of even numbers.

SOME PROBLEMS FROM PREVIOUS YEAR PAPERS: (UCO Bank Question)

Input : lived 18 a 12 once 93 upon 32 time 46 wolf

Step I : a lived 18 12 once 93 upon 32 46 time wolf
Step II : a once 18 12 93 upon 32 46 lived time wolf
Step III : a once upon 18 12 93 32 46 lived time wolf
Step IV : a once upon 93 18 12 32 46 lived time wolf
Step V : a once upon 93 46 18 12 32 lived time wolf
Step VI : a once upon 93 46 32 18 12 lived time wolf

What do we do? We directly check the last step i.e. Step

VI

(a) We cross-check it for dictionary words pattern in increasing or decreasing order first. No! its not any of
those patterns. But there is some peculiarity about dictionary type pattern here. Lets move on and if we find
none, we will come back.
(b) We cross-check for number of letters. Whether an increasing or decreasing pattern is followed? No again!
Move on.
(c)

In this step we were supposed to number them. But this is the final survival way if nothing works out. Go

back to step (a).

After watching the number series, one thing should be clear that the pattern before and after the
series COULD be different. So lets check it out.
The pattern before the number series is: a

once upon

While the pattern after the series is: lived

time wolf

Now the dictionary pattern seems evident once again i.e. in the pattern before the series, i.e. a

once upon,
increasing order of dictionary words is there while in the pattern after the series i.e. lived
time wolf, also increasing order of dictionary words follow.

Now what differentiates both the sides?

Generally VOWELS are the most common thing that comes to mind and thats what the case here. a

once

upon starts with vowels while lived time wolf starts with consonant.

SOLVED EXAMPLES:

Directions (1-5): Study the following information to answer the given questions:
A word and number arrangement machine when given an input line of words rearranges them following a
particular rule. The following is an illustration of input and rearrangement.
(Corporation Bank PO 2011)

Input: age road own wire tire ink pen uni dice eat
Step I : Uni age road own wire

tire ink pen eat dice

Step II : Uni Own age road wire

tire ink eat pen dice

Step III : Uni own ink age wire tire eat road pen dice
Step IV: Uni own ink eat age wire tire road pen dice
And stepfour is the last step of the rearrangement
As per the rules followed in the above steps, find out in each of the following questions the appropriate steps for
the given input.

Input for the questions

Input: gem stat ace cast omit fan rate uncut era input
1. Which of the following would be the final arrangement?
a) Cast gem fan rate stat uncut omit input era ace
b) Uncut omit input era ace cast fan gem rate stat
c) Uncut omit input era ace stat rate gem fan cast
d) Uncut omit input era ace stat fan gem rate cast
e) None

2. In Step III, which of the following word would be at 6th position from the left?
a)rate b)ace c)stat d)gem e) None

3. Which step number would be the following output?

Uncut omit gem stat ace rate era input fan cast
a)

II b) III c) V d) IV e) None

4. In step IV of the rearrangement, if omit is related to era and rate is related to fan in a certain way, to which of
the following would ace be related to, following the same pattern?
a)rate b)input c)stat d)gem e) None

5. Which of the following would be step VII?

a) Uncut omit input era ace stat rate gem fan cast.
b) Uncut omit input era ace rate stat fan gem cast.
c) Uncut omit input era ace cast fan gem rate stat.
d) Uncut omit input era stat ace rate gem fan cast.

e) There will be no such step as the input gets rearranged before step VII.

Answers with Explanations: After careful analysis of the given input and various steps of rearrangement, it is
evident that two words are rearranged in each step. The words starting with vowels are rearranged from the left
in the reverse alphabetical order and words starting with consonants are arranged from the right in alphabetical
order.
Input : gem stat ace cast omit fan rate uncut era input
Step I : uncut gem stat ace omit

fan rate era input cast

Step II : uncut omit gem stat ace

rate era input fan cast

Step III : uncut omit input stat ace

rate era gem fan cast

Step IV : uncut omit input era stat

ace rate gem fan cast

Step V : uncut omit input era ace

stat rate gem fan stat

1. (c) Option (c) is the final

arrangement

2. (a) The word rate is at sixth place from the left in the Step III
3. (a) It is Step II
4. (d) There is one word between omit and era. Therefore ace would be related to gem.
5. (e) Step IV is the last Step.

Directions (6-10): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions which follow:

A word and number arrangement machine when given an input line of words and numbers rearranges them
following a particular rule. Following is an illustration of input and the rearrangement. (United Bank of India PO2010)
Input : flight 37 delay an 53 87

hour 19 by 46

Step I : 87 flight 37 delay 53 hour 19 by 46 an

Step II : 87 53 flight 37 delay hour 19 46 by an
Step III : 87 53 46 flight 37 hour 19 delay by an
Step IV : 87 53 46 37 hour 19 flight delay by an
Step V : 87 53 46 37 19 hour flight

delay by an

Step V is the last step of the arrangement of the above input as the intended rearrangement is obtained. As per
the rules followed in the above steps, answer the following questions based upon the input: 24cross 82 road 93
safe 13 jam halt 46

6. Which of the following would be the second step after the rearrangement?
a) 93 82 46 24 13 safe road jam halt cross

b) 93 82 46 24 road safe 13 jam halt cross

c) 93 82 24 road safe 13 jam 46 halt cross
d) 93 24 82 road safe 13 jam halt 46 cross
e) None of these

7. Which of the following would be the final arrangement?

a) 93 82 46 24 13 safe road jam halt cross
b) 93 82 46 13 24 safe road jam halt cross
c) 13 24 46 82 93 safe road jam halt cross
d) 93 82 46 24 13 cross halt jam road safe
e) safe road jam halt cross 93 82 46 24 13

8. Which of the following will be step VI of the above input?

a) 93 24 82 road safe 13 jam halt 46 cross
b) 93 82 24 road safe 13 jam 46 halt cross
c) 93 82 46 24 road safe 13 jam halt cross
d) 93 82 46 24 13 safe road jam halt cross
e) There will be no such step as it gets arranged before StepVI

9. In step III, which of the following would be the third word/number from the left?
a) safe b) 46 c)13 d) road e) None

10. Which step would be the following Output?

93 24 82 road safe 13 jam halt 46 cross
a) I

b) II c) III d) IV e) V

Answers:
6) c, 7) a, 8) e, 9) b, 10) a

Directions (11-15): Study the following information carefully to answer the given questions:
A word and number arrangement machine when given an input line of words and numbers rearranges them
following a particular rule. The following is an illustration of input and the rearrangement. (Central Bank of India
PO-2010)

Input : why is 25 bigger than 14 but smaller than 32

Step I : than 14 why is 25 bigger
Step II : than 14 is 25 why bigger

but smaller than 32

but smaller than 32

Step III : than 14 is 25 than 32 why bigger but smaller

Step IV : than 14 is 25 than 32 why smaller bigger but
Step V : than 14 is 25 than 32 why smaller but bigger
Step V is the last step of the arrangement of the above input as the intended rearrangement is obtained. As per
the rules followed in the above steps, indicate the answer in each of the following questions with respect to the
appropriate step for the given input.

Input for the questions: any number less than 30 and more than 20 does not equal 40

11. Which step number would be the following output?

than 20 any number less than 30 and more does not equal 40
a) III b) IV c) V d) VI e) None

12. How many steps would be needed to complete the arrangement?

a) X b) VIII c) IX d) VII e) None

13. Which of the following would be step IV?

a) than 20 than 30 equal 40 any number less and more does not
b) than 20 any number less than 30 and more does not equal 40
c) 20 30 40 than than equal number any less and more does not
d) 20 than 30 than 40 equal number any less and more does not
e) None of these

14. Which of the following would be the step II?

a) 20 than 30 than any number less and more does not equal 40
b) than 20 than 30 equal 40 any number less and more does not
c) than 20 than 30 any number less and more does not equal 40
d) than 20 than 30 any number less and more does not 40 equal
e) None of these.

15. Which word/number would be on 8th position from left side in step V?

a)any b)not c)40 d)number e) none

Answers with Explanations:

First of all the numbers and their preceding letters are arranged. The numbers are arranged in ascending order.
Then, the words are arranged in alphabetical but in reverse order.
Input: any number less than 30 and more than20 does not equal 40
Step I: than 20 any number less than 30 and more does not equal 40
Step II: than 20 than 30 any num-ber less and more does not equal 40
Step III: than 20 than 30 equal 40 any number less and more does not
Step IV: than 20 than 30 equal 40 number any less and more does not
Step V: than 20 than 30 equal 40 number not any less and more does
Step VI: than 20 than 30 equal 40 number not more any less and does
Step VII: than 20 than 30 equal 40 number not more less any and does
Step VIII: than 20 than 30 equal 40 number not more less does any
and Step VIII is the last Step
11. e) It is Step I.
12. b) Eight steps would be required to complete the arrangement.
13. e) There is no such option.
14. c) Option (c) is step III.
15. b) The word not would be on 8th position from left in Step V.
Problem 1. (Qs. 1 to 5). In an SSB interview for the NDA, a group testing officer allocates the following
instructions to the candidates divided into 7 groups, who have to perform the tasks according to the input:
Group I: Monkey crawling long jump and rope climbing.
Group II: Monkey crawling rope jump and long climbing.
Group III: Rope crawling Monkey climbing long and jump.
Group IV: Climbing Monkey crawling rope jump and long.
Group V: Climbing Monkey and rope jump crawling long. and so on
The questions below are based on logic given above.
1. If the task of IInd group is Nothing is without be achieved to determination then which will be the VI group?
(1) Without is nothing determination to achieved to
(2) Achieved nothing determination to is be without
(3) Nothing is achieved without be to determination
(4) Data is inadequate
(5) None of these

2. If Terrorism Bush job incurbing remarkable did a is Vth group task then which is Bush did incurbing
remarkable job a terrorism group?
(1) V (2) IV (3) II
(4) VI (5) None of these
3. Asad is first selected for Ist group you are my inspiration, guide and instructor, after some time he was shifted
to group IV.
What is his new group task?
(1) Instructor you are and inspiration guide my
(2) You are my guide instructor and inspiration
(3) Inspiration and guide instructor you are my
(4) Data inadequate
(5) None of these
4. If the last (7th) group is Not job you for this selected are then which group is Ist?
(1) You are selected for this not job.
(2) Selected for this job you are not.
(3) Not you are selected for this job.
(4) You are not selected for this job.
(5) None of these
5. If the task of VI group is pollution is becoming cause of deadly diseases then what is third (IIIrd) group?
(1) Pollution is cause of deadly diseases becoming
(2) Diseases becoming is cause of deadly pollution
(3) Becoming is pollution diseases deadly of cause
(4) Data inadequate
(5) None of these
The above questions will be solved thus:
Group 1 to 2: Based on arrangements of words to different positions. The third word of previous group becomes
sixth and sixth becomes third, interchanging their places.
Group 2 to 3: First three words get reversed and so the group of last four.
Group 3 to 4: Next time we reverse the group of first 4 words and
then the last three.
Group 4 to 5: In group 5 same rule follows as in group 1 to group 2.
To solve the problems more easily we can give numbers to each word.
G. 1. Monkey(1) crawling(2) long(3) jump(4) and(5) rope(6) climbing(7).
G. 2. Monkey(1) crawling(2) long(6) jump(4) and(5) rope(3) climbing(7).

G. 3. Monkey(6) crawling(2) long(1) jump(7) and(3) rope(5) climbing(4).

G. 4. Monkey(7) crawling(1) long(2) jump(6) and(4) rope(5) climbing(3).
G. 5. Monkey(7) crawling(1) long(5) jump(6) and(4) rope(2) climbing(3).
G. 6. Monkey(5) crawling(1) long(7) jump(3) and(2) rope(4) climbing(6).
7. Monkey(3) crawling(7) long(1) jump(5) and(6) rope(4) climbing(2).
Here it ends because groups are 7 only.
Q. 1. Ans. 2.
Group II is: Nothing(1) is(2) without(6) be(4) achieved(5) to(3) determination(7).
In same logic group VI will be Achieved(5) nothing(1) determination(7) to(3) is(2) be(4) without(6).
Q. 2. Ans. 3
Group V is: Terrorism(7) Bush(1) job(5) incurbing(6) remarkable(4) did(2) a(3).
It can also be solved by going back: but the above system is more convenient. So Bush(1) did(2) incurbing(6)
remarkable(4) job(5) a(3) terrorism(7) will be Group II.
Q. 3. Ans. 1.
Group I is: You(1) are(2) my(3) inspiration(4) guide(5) and(6) instructor(7). Group IV will be Instructor(7) you(1)
are(2) and(6) inspiration(4) guide(5) my(3).
Q. 4. Ans. 4
Last group (VII) is: Not(3) job(7) you(1) for(5) this(6) selected(4) are(2). In same logic Ist Group is: You(1) are(2)
not(3) selected(4) for(5) this(6) job(7).
Q. 5. Ans 5.
Group VI is: Pollution(5) is(1) becoming(7) cause(3) of(2) deadly(4) diseases(6). Group III will be: Diseases(6)
of(2) is(1) becoming(7) cause(3) pollution(5) deadly(4).
Questions (6 to 10) are based on arrangement of numbers in descending order. The largest number comes first
after interchanging its position. After that smallest number interchanges with last position, next, largest number
interchanges with second position and so on.
Problem 2. (Qs. 6 to 10). Read the following information carefully and solve the questions. The
arrangements of given input will follow a particular logic. Understand this logic and solve problems.
Input: 79 421 787 15 159 688
Result-1 787 421 79 15 159 688
Result-2 787 421 79 688 159 15
Result-3 787 688 79 421 159 15
Result-4 787 688 159 421 79 15
Result-5 787 688 421 159 79 15
This arrangement is final for this given input.
6. Which of the following will be 2nd last result of Input: 99 87 152 435 699
1) 99 152 87 435 699

2) 87 99 152 435 699

3) 699 99 152 435 87
4) Indetermined
5) None of these
7. If the given result is 5th and final then what will be the input?
Result-5 343 225 111 81 64 9
1) 225 111 81 64 9 343
2) 111 225 81 9 64 343
3) 343 225 9 81 64 111
4) Indetermined
5) None of these
8. Which will be the last result of given input?
Input: 789 798 59 80 779
1) 798 59 80 789 779
2) 779 59 789 80 798
3) 59 80 779 789 798
4) 798 789 779 80 59
5) None of these
9. Given result is first which will be the IIIrd result of input?
Result-1 625 225 169 589 264
1) 625 225 589 169 264
2) 225 625 589 169 264
3) 264 169 589 625 225
4) Indetermined
5) None of these
10. Following is the fourth result what will be the sixth?
Result-4 417 414 263 219 87 65
1) 417 414 219 263 87 65
2) 65 87 219 263 414 417
3) 263 87 219 65 414 417
4) Indetermined
5) None of these
Q. 6. Ans. 3

Input: 99 87 152 435 699

Result-I 699 87 152 435 99
Result-II 699 99 152 435 87
Result-III 699 435 152 99 87
So the IInd last will be Result II.
Q. 7. Ans. 4.
In this type of problem we cant determine previous steps because we cant assume the position of the number in
previous results.
Q. 8. Ans 4.
In this problem, there is no need of going through all results. Just arrange the series in descending order.
Q. 9. Ans. 5.
Result 1 625 225 169 589 264
Result 2 625 225 264 589 169
Result 3 625 589 264 225 169
Q. 10. Ans. 4.
Because 417 414 263 219 87 65 is already arranged in descending order.
Problem 3. (Qs. 11 to 14). A grammar teacher instructs her students with the following inputs for
restatement as per given rules:
Input: Cigarette smoking is injurious to health.
Rule 1Smoking of cigarette is injurious to health
Rule 2Cigarette when smoked injurious health
Rule 3Health is injured due to smoking
Rule 4Smoking in any form is injurious to health
As per rules dictated by the teacher, find out (as a student), the relevant step or the input, as asked in the given
problems.
11. Input: Tobacco chewing is harmful for teeth. Which of the following rule is: Chewing of tobacco is injurious for
teeth.
1) Rule II 2) Rule III
3) Rule I 4) Rule IV
5) None of these
12. Students are benefited due to coachings, is which rule of given input?
1) Rule I
2) Rule III
3) Rule II
4) Data inadequate

5) None of these
13. Rule 4 on an input is coachings in any form are beneficial for the students; what would be Rule 1 for the
input?
1) Taking of coachings is beneficial to the students
2) Coaching when taken, benefit the student
3) Students are benefited due to coachings
4) Data inadequate
5) None of these
14. Input given by a teacher is Excessive weightlifting is harmful for joints which of the following will be rule 3 of
the input?
1) Weights are harmful for joints.
2) Excessive weights, when lifted harm joints.
Test Of Reasoning 7
3) Weightlifting in any form harm joints.
4) Joints are harmed due to excessive weightlifting.
5) Data inadequate
The above questions can be solved thus:
Q. 11. Ans. 3
Input: Tobacco chewing is harmful for teeth.
Chewing of tobacco is injurious for teeth.
So rule I follows.
Q. 12. Ans. 2.
In this due to comes so rule III follows.
Students are benefited due to coachings.
Q. 13. Ans 1.
Rule 4. Coaching in any form are beneficial for the students.
Rule 1. Taking of coachings is beneficial to the students.
Q. 14. Ans. 4
Rule 3 will follow rule due to. So joints are harmed due to excessive weight lifting is the answer.