PNB Reasoning Ability Question Papers for PO, Clerk, SO Recruitment Exam

Directions (Q. 1-13): Read the following information carefully and answer the questions given below:

Six persons A, B, C, D. E and F took up a job with a firm in a week from Monday to Saturday. Each of them joined for different posts on di1‘1‘erent days. The posts were of – Clerk, Officer, Technician, Manager, Supervisor, and Sales Executive, though not respectively.
F joined as a Manager on the first day. B joined as a Supervisor but neither on Wednesday nor Friday. D joined as a Technician on Thursday. Officer joined the firm on Wednesday. E joined as a Clerk on Tuesday. A joined as a Sales Executive.

1. Who joined the firm on Wednesday?
1) B
2) C
3) B or C
4) Data inadequate
5) None of these

2. Who was the last person to join the firm?
1) E
2) F
3) A
4) B
5) None of these

3. On which of the following days did the Sales Executive join?
1) Tuesday
2) Thursday
3) Saturday
4) Wednesday
5) None of these

Directions (Q. 4-8): Below is given a passage followed by several possible inferences which can be drawn from the facts stated in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity. Mark answer

1) If the inference is ‘definitely true’, i.e. it properly follows from the statement of facts given.
2) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true.’ in the light of the facts given.
3) if the data are inadequate, i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.
4) if the inference is ‘probably false‘ though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts given.
5) if the inference is ‘definitely false’, i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given for it contradicts the given facts.

The latest researches of Information Technology in India reveal that 97 per cent of the manpower employed in this sector are below 39 years in age, among whom the age of women employees is less than that of their male counterparts. Among them 66.9 per cent are less than 25, whereas the percentage of male employees is 38.5 in their comparison. In addition to it, the female employees are as efficient as the male ones. In reality several industries believe that there is not much difference between the functioning of male and female workers. In comparison with their male counterparts, efficiency rating of female workers is higher. Besides, majority of women have sense of security and job satisfaction. Nearly 63 per cent of women feel that their creative works do not come in the way of their household responsibilities.

4. Information technology enterprise is one of the latest industries of India.

5. The male workforce of lesser age in India is not suitable for information technology industry.

6. Women workers have started joining the IT industry in recent past.

7. A large number of women employees probably continue to contribute well to information technology industry even after their marriage.

8. No other industry provides such security and work satisfaction to its women employees.

Directions (Q. 9-13): In making decisions about important questions, it is desirable to be able to distinguish between “Strong” arguments and “Weak” arguments insofar as they relate to the question. “Strong” arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the question. “Weak” arguments are those which are of minor importance and also may not be directly related to the question or may be related to a trivial aspect of the question. Instructions: Each question below is followed by two arguments numbered l and ll. You have to decide which of the arguments is a strong argument and which is a weak argument.
Give answer (1) if only argument I is strong.
Give answer (2) if only argument II is strong.
Give answer (3) if either I or II is strong.
Give answer (4) if neither I nor II is strong; and
Give answer (5) if both I and II are strong.

9. Statement: Should India switch over to capitalist economy from the present mixed one?
Arguments:
I. No, for this to happen there will be a need of constitutional amendments and our prestige will lower.
II. Yes, this is the only way out adopted by developing countries.

10. Statements: Should admission in schools be controlled by the state government concerned?
Arguments:
I. Yes, it will reduce the importance of the members of the school management.
II. No, this will result in delays, compromise with the quality of schools, and give rise to corruption.

Also Read | Old Question Papers of Quantitative Aptitude

11. Statements: Should corporal punishment be fully restricted in schools?
Arguments:
I. No, in low age and formative years punishment helps develop the standard of discipline and values.
II. Yes, physical punishment hurts the self-respect of an individual and such person turns to violent ways of life.

12. Statements: Should metropolitan corporations be changed to public limited companies to enhance their efficiency and reduce expenditure?
Arguments:
I. Yes, it will bring in commercial management and citizens would expect good service at reasonable rates.
II. No, it will end the local elections because there will be no elected corporator.

13. Statements: Should the joining of college students in National Cadet Corps (NCC) be made mandatory?
Arguments:
I. Yes, it is in vogue in many countries.
II. No, it will distract attention and those who are weak in studies will fail.

Directions (Q. 14-20): Study the given information and answer the question given below.

Following are the conditions laid down for declaring the results of examinees in annual examinations of an institute:-
There are five groups – A, B, C, D and E. Among them A, B and C consist of two question papers each. Following are the criteria to declare a candidate passed. It is necessary for the success of a candidate that

(i) he/she must get 50 marks out of 100 in each paper of group A (paper I and II) and D.
(ii) he/she must get 40 marks in each paper of group B and 30 marks in each paper of group C.
(iii) he/she must get 25 marks in group E.
(iv) he/she must get the minimum pass marks as determined above.

However, if a candidate has passed in all the papers/groups except the following:

A. Those who have secured minimum 40% marks in two papers of group A together but passed in only one of them, then his/her case is to be referred to Asst. Headmaster provided he/she has secured minimum 70% marks in group E.
B. Those who haven’t passed in group A or group C but have obtained minimum 35% marks in each paper and minimum 60% marks as a whole in the group, then his/her case is to be referred to Headmaster.
C. Those who haven’t passed in group A or group B but obtained minimum 50% or more marks in that group, are entitled to ATKT.
Based on the above criteria and the information in each of the following questions, what course of action will be taken in case of the following candidates?
Give answer:
1) If the candidate is to be declared passed.
2) if the candidate is to be declared failed.
3) if the candidate is to be referred to Asst. Headmaster.
4) if the candidate is to be referred to Headmaster.
5) if the candidate is entitled ATKT.

Question Paper
	Gr A		Gr B		Gr C		Gr D	Gr E
	I	II	I	II	I	II
Marks	100	100	100	100	75	75	100	50
14. Candidate P	50	45	64	72	40	21	56	27
15. Candidate S	58	28	60	74	32	36	76	36
16. Candidate U	63	47	46	54	50	60	69	43
17. Candidate R	52	74	54	62	67	28	64	35
18. Candidate W	46	76	72	59	34	43	55	32
19. Candidate Q	56	70	58	42	54	34	52	25
20. Candidate T	64	71	44	33	42	48	70	30

Directions (Q. 21-25): In the following questions, the symbols #, $, ?, * and @ are used with the following meanings:
(i) A # B means A is not greater than B.
(ii) A $ B means A is neither smaller than nor equal to B.
(iii) A ? B means A is neither greater than nor smaller than B.
(iv) A * B means A is neither greater than nor equal to B.
(v) A @ B means A is not smaller than B.
Now in each of the following questions, assuming the given statements to be true, find which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is/are definitely true. Give answer
1) if only conclusion I is true;
2) if only conclusion II is true;
3) if either I or II is true;
4) if neither I nor II is true; and
5) if both I and II are true.

21. Statements: P$Q, R@S, P*R
Conclusions: I. Q*R II. P#S

22. Statements: U:$V, W*X, U@X
Conclusions: l. V@X ll. V*X

23. Statements: K#T, D$F, T*F
Conclusions: I. K*D II. D$T

24. Statements: M$N, G@H, N?H
Conclusions: I. M@H II. M$G

25. Statements: G@M, N#J, G*L
Conclusions: l. G@N II. L$M

26. If the first half of the English alphabet is reversed and so is the second half, then which letter is seventh to the right of twelfth letter from the left side?
ABCDEFGHIJKLMINOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1) S
2) V
3) U
4) T
5) None of these

27. If ‘A + B’ means ‘A is brother of B’, ‘A – B’ means ‘A is sister of B’, ‘A x B’ means ‘A is wife of B’, and ‘A+ B’ means ‘A is father of B’, then which of the following indicates ‘S is son of P’?
1) PxQ+R+S-T
2) PxQ+S-R+T
3) PxQ+R-T+S
4) PxQ+R-S+T
5) None of these

Must Read | Punjab National Bank English Question

28. The Union government of country ‘X’ has decided that it will reconstitute its telecommunication department and effort will be made to make it more attractive for private investment.
If the above statement is true then which of the following is the assumption while making this statement?
1) There is tremendous possibility in making investment in the telecommunication department of country ‘X’.
2) The telecommunication department of country ‘X’ is open only for its residents.
3) The telecommunication department of country ‘X’ is open for its residents within this country alone.
4) The telecommunication department of country ‘X’ is not properly constituted.
5) The telecommunication department of country ‘X’ needs advertisement on large scales.

29. In a row of children standing facing South, Nidhi is seventh from the left end and Rajan is fourth from the right. When Nidhi is shified two places towards right and Rajan three places left, then there are five children between them. How many children are standing in the row?
1) 25
2) 21
3) 19
4) Data inadequate
5) None of these

30. In a certain code language the word FUTILE is written as HYVMNI. How will the word PENCIL be written in that language?
1) OIFRLT
2) OIFRLS
3) OLFRIT
4) OIRFLT
5) None of these

Directions(31-35): In each question below, there are three statements followed by three conclusions numbered I, II, and III. You have to take the given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follow(s) from the given statements.

31. Statements:
All glasses are frames.
Some frames are metals.
All blocks are glasses.
Conclusions:
I. All blocks are either metals or glasses.
II. Some blocks are metals.
III. Some frames are blocks.
1) Only III follows
2) Only II follows
3) Only I follows
4) Only I and III follow
5) None of these

32. Statements:
Some doors are windows.
All chairs are tables.
Some chairs are windows.
Conclusions:
I. Some chairs are doors.
II. Some tables are windows.
III. No table is a window.
1) Only I and III follow
2) Only II and III follow
3) Only II follows
4) Only II and either I or III follow
5) None of these

33. Statements:
Some stones are bricks.
All plants are stones.
No flower is a plant.
Conclusions:
I. No flower is a stone.
II. Some bricks are plants.
III. No bricks are plants.
1) Only I follows
2) Only II follows
3) Only III follows
4) Either II or III follows
5) None of these

34. Statements:
Some bottles are bags.
All cards are bottles.
Some pens are bags.
Conclusions:
I. Some pens are cards.
II. Some cards are bottles.
III. Some pens are bottles.
1) Only I and III follow
2) Only II and III follow
3) Only II follows
4) Either I or III follows
5) None of these

35. Statements:
All fishes are bones.
No bone is a dog.
Some cats are dogs.
Conclusions:
I. Some bones are fishes.
II. No dog is a fish.
III. No cat is a bone.
1) Only I and III follow
2) Only I and II follow
3) Only II and III follow
4) I, II and III all follow
5) None of these

Directions (Q. 36-40): In each of the following questions a statement is given followed by two courses of action. A course of action is taken for improvement, follow up. etc. Read the statement carefully and give answer
1) if only course of action I follows.
2) if only course of action II follows.
3) if either course of action I or II follows.
4) if both courses of action I and II follow.
5) if neither course of action I nor II follows.

36. Statement: According to the public health department of State ‘X’, the supply of contaminated water by the municipality is the main reason of the spread of the disease ‘A’ in the state.
Courses of action:
I. State government should replace the head of the water supply department immediately.
II. State government should provide free water filter to its residents.

37. Statement: The proposed strike by the transporters would paralyse day-to-day life of the people.
Courses of action:
I. City administrators should engage the transporters successfully in negotiations on their demands in order to pre-empt their strike.
II. City administrators should arrange for alternative public transportation system during the strike.

38. Statement: The government of state ‘Y’ has decided to remove hutments and buildings that have come up beside roads to broaden them in city ‘A’.
Courses of action:
I. The government of state ‘Y’ should rehabilitate the affected residents of hutments/buildings.
II. The government should compensate with reasonable amounts for the targetted houses.

39. Statement: Since the new building is ready, the chairman of Bank XYZ has directed its administrative section to plan for shifting its headquarters to the new building.
Courses of action:
I. Administrative department should deliver infrastructural facilities for the new building immediately.
II. Administrative department should invite quotations from Movers and Packers.

40. Statement: ABC Ltd Company has decided to launch free education up to class X for the children of its employees from June 2000.
Courses of action:
I. The company should reduce its other expenditures to save money for the plan.
II. The company will have to prepare details for the execution of the plan;

Directions (Q. 41-44): Read the following information carefully to answer the questions given below:
(i) There are six different books on different subjects P, Q, R, S, T and U. These books are kept one above the other on a shelf. These books belong to six different persons — A, B, C, D, E and F. It is not necessary that the orders of these books and persons are the same.
(ii) Only book of subject Q is kept between the books of subject P and T and only book of subject S is kept between books of subject P and U. The book of subject R is immediately above the book of subject T.
(iii) C’s book is kept on the top. A does not have books on subjects T and S. The book on subject P belongs to F. The book on subject U belongs neither to B nor to A. D’s book is kept at the bottom.
41. The book on which of the following subjects belongs to A?
1) Q
2) S
3) P
4) T
5) None of these

42. Who among the following possesses the book on subject T?
1) B
2) E
3) C or E
4) B or E
5) None of these

43. Who owns the book on subject U?
1) B
2) E
3) D
4) C
5) None of these

44. The book on which of the following subjects is kept on the top?
1) T
2) R
3) U
4) Data inadequate
5) None of these

Directions (Q. 45-47): Answer these questions referring to the symbol-letter-number sequence given below:

Q D T P 5 2 3 F G 4 B 7 H J 9 K 6 M N 8

45. If the positions of the letters in the sequence remain unchanged and the positions of the numbers in the sequence are reversed then which of the following letter/number is fifth to right of ninth letter/number from the right?
1) P
2) 6
3) 3
4) K
5) None of these

46. How many letters are there in the sequence which are immediately preceded by a number and immediately followed by a letter?
1) One
2) Two
3) Three
4) Four
5) None of these

47. What will come in place of the question mark (?)?
Q8B, ?, 5MH, 36J
1) TN7
2) TM7
3) TMH
4) TNH
5) None of these

Directions (Q. 48-50): In each question below is given a statement followed by two assumptions numbered I and II. An assumption is something supposed or taken for granted. You have to consider the statement and the following assumptions and decide which of the assumptions is implicit in the statement. Give answer
1) if only assumption I is implicit.
2) if only assumption II is implicit.
3) if either I or II is implicit.
4) if neither I nor II is implicit.
5) if both I and II are implicit.

48. Statement: It has been felt that at a time when the airline faces tough competition and is passing through critical economic conditions, the remaining higher posts should be opened for outside professionals instead of filling them up with insider applicants.
Assumptions:
I. The internal applicants only aspire for promotion without contributing much to the organisation.
II. It is most likely that problems of the airline would be solved by experienced professionals.

49. Statement: KLM company has decided to issue debentures to mop up resources.
Assumptions:
I. KLM company has already explored other sources to collect resources.
II. There are very few competitors in the market for the products of KLM company.

50. Statements: “Tenders are invited from reputed contractors for per-qualification.” — The tender notice of a public sector company
Assumptions:
I. The company seeks to do quality business.
II. The company expects contractual and competitive rates for its work.