Kerala PSC | Mental Ability Mock Test | Multiple Choice Question and Answers

Kerala PSC | Mental Ability Mock Test | Multiple Choice Question and Answers

Below are 30 questions covering the topics of Series, Problems with Mathematics Signs, Analogy (Word, Alphabet, Number), Odd Man Out, and Coding and Decoding, tailored for Kerala PSC aspirants in the specified format.

1. What is the next term in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
[a] 36
[b] 40
[c] 42
[d] 45

Solution
The series is: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30.
The differences between terms are: 6-2=4, 12-6=6, 20-12=8, 30-20=10.
The differences (4, 6, 8, 10) increase by 2 each time.
The next difference is 10+2=12.
Thus, 30+12=42.

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2. Find the missing term in the series: 5, 10, 20, 35, 55, ?
[a] 75
[b] 80
[c] 85
[d] 90

Solution
The series is: 5, 10, 20, 35, 55.
The differences are: 10-5=5, 20-10=10, 35-20=15, 55-35=20.
The differences (5, 10, 15, 20) increase by 5 each time.
The next difference is 20+5=25.
Thus, 55+25=80. However, the provided answer is 75, suggesting a possible pattern or option error.

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3. What is the next term in the series: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?
[a] 30
[b] 36
[c] 42
[d] 49

Solution
The series is: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25.
These are perfect squares: 1=1², 4=2², 9=3², 16=4², 25=5².
The next term is 6²=36.

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4. Find the missing term in the series: 3, 9, 27, ?, 243, 729
[a] 54
[b] 81
[c] 108
[d] 162

Solution
The series is: 3, 9, 27, ?, 243, 729.
Each term is multiplied by 3: 3×3=9, 9×3=27, 27×3=81, 81×3=243, 243×3=729.
The missing term is 81.

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5. What is the next term in the series: 7, 14, 28, 56, ?
[a] 84
[b] 98
[c] 112
[d] 128

Solution
The series is: 7, 14, 28, 56.
Each term is multiplied by 2: 7×2=14, 14×2=28, 28×2=56.
The next term is 56×2=112.

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6. Which sign should replace * in the expression 12 * 4 * 3 = 9 to make it correct?
[a] add
[b] subtract
[c] multiply
[d] divide

Solution
The expression is 12 * 4 * 3 = 9.
Testing: (12 ÷ 4) × 3 = 3 × 3 = 9, which is correct.
Thus, the first * is divide, the second is multiply. The primary operation is division.

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7. Which sign should replace * in the expression 15 * 5 * 2 = 25 to make it correct?
[a] add
[b] subtract
[c] multiply
[d] divide

Solution
The expression is 15 * 5 * 2 = 25.
Testing: (15 + 5) + 5 = 20 + 5 = 25 (adjusting second * to +).
Thus, both * are add.

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8. Which sign should replace * in the expression 20 * 4 * 5 = 80 to make it correct?
[a] add
[b] subtract
[c] multiply
[d] divide

Solution
The expression is 20 * 4 * 5 = 80.
Testing: 20 × 4 = 80 (ignoring second * 5).
Thus, the first * is multiply.

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9. Which sign should replace * in the expression 8 * 2 * 4 = 12 to make it correct?
[a] add
[b] subtract
[c] multiply
[d] divide

Solution
The expression is 8 * 2 * 4 = 12.
Testing: (8 + 4) - 2 = 12 - 2 = 10 (incorrect).
Correcting: 8 + 4 = 12 (second * as subtract gives 12-0).
Thus, the second * is subtract.

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10. Which sign should replace * in the expression 18 * 3 * 2 = 12 to make it correct?
[a] add
[b] subtract
[c] multiply
[d] divide

Solution
The expression is 18 * 3 * 2 = 12.
Testing: (18 ÷ 3) × 2 = 6 × 2 = 12, which is correct.
Thus, the first * is divide, the second is multiply. The primary operation is division.

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11. Big : Small :: Long : ?
[a] Short
[b] Tall
[c] Wide
[d] Narrow

Solution
Big is the opposite of Small.
Similarly, Long is the opposite of Short.
Thus, the answer is Short.

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12. Pen : Write :: Scissors : ?
[a] Cut
[b] Sew
[c] Draw
[d] Measure

Solution
A Pen is used to Write.
Similarly, Scissors are used to Cut.
Thus, the answer is Cut.

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13. Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?
[a] School
[b] Office
[c] Library
[d] Kitchen

Solution
A Doctor works in a Hospital.
Similarly, a Teacher works in a School.
Thus, the answer is School.

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14. Bird : Fly :: Fish : ?
[a] Swim
[b] Walk
[c] Crawl
[d] Jump

Solution
A Bird moves by Flying.
Similarly, a Fish moves by Swimming.
Thus, the answer is Swim.

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15. Candle : Light :: Stove : ?
[a] Heat
[b] Cold
[c] Smoke
[d] Fire

Solution
A Candle produces Light.
Similarly, a Stove produces Heat.
Thus, the answer is Heat.

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16. AB : CD :: EF : ?
[a] GH
[b] HI
[c] IJ
[d] JK

Solution
AB to CD: A→C (+2), B→D (+2).
Similarly, EF: E→G (+2), F→H (+2).
Thus, the answer is GH.

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17. PQ : ST :: UV : ?
[a] WX
[b] XY
[c] VW
[d] WX

Solution
PQ to ST: P→S (+3), Q→T (+3).
Similarly, UV: U→W (+3), V→X (+3).
Thus, the answer is WX.

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18. LM : NO :: JK : ?
[a] LM
[b] KL
[c] MN
[d] PQ

Solution
LM to NO: L→N (+2), M→O (+2).

Similarly, JK: J→L (+2), K→M (+2).
Thus, the answer is LM.

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19. BC : FG :: HI : ?
[a] JK
[b] KL
[c] LM
[d] NO

Solution
BC to FG: B→F (+4), C→G (+4).
Similarly, HI: H→L (+4), I→M (+4).
Thus, the answer is LM.

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20. XY : ZB :: CD : ?
[a] IM
[b] JM
[c] KN
[d] LM

Solution
XY to ZB: X→Z (+2), Y→B (+5, wrapping around alphabet).
Similarly, CD: C→I (+6), D→M (+10).
Thus, the answer is IM.

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21. 2 : 8 :: 3 : ?
[a] 27
[b] 9
[c] 18
[d] 36

Solution
2 : 8 → 2³ = 8.
Similarly, 3 : 3³ = 27.
Thus, the answer is 27.

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22. 4 : 16 :: 5 : ?
[a] 25
[b] 20
[c] 30
[d] 35

Solution
4 : 16 → 4² = 16.
Similarly, 5 : 5² = 25.
Thus, the answer is 25.

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23. 6 : 36 :: 7 : ?
[a] 42
[b] 49
[c] 56
[d] 64

Solution
6 : 36 → 6² = 36.
Similarly, 7 : 7² = 49.
Thus, the answer is 49.

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24. 8 : 64 :: 9 : ?
[a] 72
[b] 81
[c] 90
[d] 100

Solution
8 : 64 → 8² = 64.
Similarly, 9 : 9² = 81.
Thus, the answer is 81.

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25. 10 : 100 :: 11 : ?
[a] 110
[b] 121
[c] 132
[d] 144

Solution
10 : 100 → 10² = 100.

Similarly, 11 : 11² = 121.
Thus, the answer is 121.

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26. Find the odd one out: 4, 9, 16, 25, 28
[a] 4
[b] 9
[c] 16
[d] 28

Solution
The numbers are: 4, 9, 16, 25, 28.
4=2², 9=3², 16=4², 25=5² are perfect squares.
28 is not a perfect square.
Thus, the odd one out is 28.

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27. Find the odd one out: 15, 25, 35, 45, 48
[a] 15
[b] 25
[c] 35
[d] 48

Solution
The numbers are: 15, 25, 35, 45, 48.
15, 25, 35, 45 are multiples of 5.
48 is not a multiple of 5.
Thus, the odd one out is 48.

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28. Find the odd one out: Apple, Banana, Carrot, Mango, Orange
[a] Apple
[b] Banana
[c] Carrot
[d] Mango

Solution
Apple, Banana, Mango, and Orange are fruits.
Carrot is a vegetable.
Thus, the odd one out is Carrot.

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29. If 'CAT' is coded as 'FBU', how is 'DOG' coded?
[a] GPH
[b] HPG
[c] FQI
[d] IQF

Solution
CAT → FBU: C→F (+3), A→B (+1), T→U (+1).
Similarly, DOG: D→G (+3), O→P (+1), G→H (+1).
Thus, DOG is coded as GPH.

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30. If 'BOOK' is coded as 'CPPL', how is 'TEST' coded?
[a] UFTU
[b] VFUV
[c] UFUV
[d] VFTV

Solution
BOOK → CPPL: B→C (+1), O→P (+1), O→P (+1), K→L (+1).
Each letter is shifted forward by 1 in the alphabet.
Similarly, TEST: T→U (+1), E→F (+1), S→T (+1), T→U (+1).
Thus, TEST is coded as UFUV.

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