Here’s a structured solution to a hypothetical 2017 Slot 1 VARC (Verbal Ability, Reasoning, and Critical Thinking) question, tailored to Indian competitive exams like CAT or similar tests. This example focuses on logical reasoning and data interpretation, common in such exams:
Question
Five friends—A, B, C, D, and E—plan to attend a concert. The following conditions apply:
A cannot attend if B attends.
If C attends, then D must also attend.
Exactly two of B, C, and D will attend.
E will attend if and only if A attends.
Only one person can attend from the group if they are a student (A and C are students).
Question: If E attends, which of the following must be true?
Solution
Analyze Condition 4:
E attends if and only if A attends → A and E attend together or neither attends.
Since E attends, A must attend.
Apply Condition 1:
A cannot attend if B attends → B does not attend.
Condition 3:
Exactly two of B, C, D attend. Since B is excluded, the two must be C and D.
C and D attend (from Condition 2: If C attends, D must attend).
Condition 5:
Only one student (A or C) can attend.
A (student) and C (student) both attend → Contradiction.
Thus, C cannot attend, violating Condition 2.
Resolution:
If C cannot attend, Condition 2 is irrelevant.
From Condition 3, since B is excluded and C is excluded, D must attend (but only one of B, C, D can now attend, conflicting with Condition 3).
Re-examining: The only valid scenario is A and E attend, and D attends (but this violates Condition 3).
Conclusion:
The conditions are inconsistent if E attends.
Therefore, E cannot attend under the given constraints.
Key Takeaways
Logical consistency checks are critical in such problems.
Contradictions (e.g., Condition 5 conflicting with Condition 3) often reveal hidden constraints.
Stepwise elimination simplifies complex scenarios.
Let me know if you need further clarification or a different question type! 🎯
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