CDP Quiz for 100 Challenging Questions

NMMSE 2024 Mental Ability Test

Questions 1–20 with Detailed Solutions

NMMSE 2024 MAT/SAT: This article provides detailed, step-by-step solutions to Questions 1 to 20 of the Mental Ability Test. Questions 1–10 are based on identifying the odd item, while Questions 11–20 are based on number series and finding the missing term.

Questions 1–10: Find the Odd One Out

Question 1

(A) PT    (B) RU    (C) GK    (D) SW

Solution:

Look at the alphabetical positions of the two letters in each pair.

• PT: P = 16, T = 20 → difference = 4
• RU: R = 18, U = 21 → difference = 3
• GK: G = 7, K = 11 → difference = 4
• SW: S = 19, W = 23 → difference = 4

Three pairs have a difference of 4, whereas RU has a difference of 3.

Answer: (B) RU

Question 2

(A) 9, 64    (B) 25, 36    (C) 144, 169    (D) 100, 121

Solution:

Check whether the numbers are squares of consecutive integers.

• 9 = 3² and 64 = 8² → roots are 3 and 8
• 25 = 5² and 36 = 6² → consecutive roots
• 144 = 12² and 169 = 13² → consecutive roots
• 100 = 10² and 121 = 11² → consecutive roots

In options B, C and D, the square roots are consecutive numbers. In option A, 3 and 8 are not consecutive.

Answer: (A) 9, 64

Question 3

(A) 36    (B) 96    (C) 16    (D) 80

Solution:

Check divisibility by 8:

• 96 ÷ 8 = 12
• 16 ÷ 8 = 2
• 80 ÷ 8 = 10

Therefore, 96, 16 and 80 are all divisible by 8. But 36 is not divisible by 8.

Answer: (A) 36

Question 4

(A) BDC    (B) XYZ    (C) MON    (D) PQR

Solution:

Look at the alphabetical order of the letters.

• XYZ → consecutive letters
• MON → M, N, O are consecutive letters, although arranged as MON in the given group? Actually the letters are M, O, N; their set consists of consecutive letters.
• PQR → consecutive letters
• BDC → B, C, D are consecutive letters, but the order is B-D-C.

The intended distinction is that BDC is not arranged in consecutive alphabetical order, unlike XYZ and PQR.

Note: MON contains the consecutive letters M, N and O, with O and N interchanged. Thus this item is less straightforward if strict ordering is used. The intended odd-one-out answer in the given question is based on the arrangement pattern.

Answer: (A) BDC

Question 5

(A) 110    (B) 363    (C) 265    (D) 396

Solution:

Check divisibility by 11.

• 110 ÷ 11 = 10
• 363 ÷ 11 = 33
• 396 ÷ 11 = 36
• 265 is not divisible by 11

Thus 110, 363 and 396 are divisible by 11, but 265 is not.

Answer: (C) 265

Question 6

(A) Car    (B) Bicycle    (C) Motorcycle    (D) Jeep

Solution:

Car, motorcycle and jeep are motor vehicles powered by an engine. A bicycle does not have an engine and is generally powered by the rider's pedalling.

Answer: (B) Bicycle

Question 7

(A) May    (B) August    (C) June    (D) January

Solution:

May, August and January each have 31 days. June has only 30 days. Therefore, June is different from the other three months.

Answer: (C) June

Question 8

(A) 2 – 8    (B) 4 – 32    (C) 3 – 27    (D) 6 – 216

Solution:

Check whether the second number is the cube of the first number.

• 2³ = 8 ✓
• 4³ = 64, not 32 ✗
• 3³ = 27 ✓
• 6³ = 216 ✓

Therefore, 4 – 32 does not follow the common pattern.

Answer: (B) 4 – 32

Question 9

(A) AOT    (B) REB    (C) WIT    (D) CPA

Solution:

Consider the alphabetical positions of the letters.

• AOT → 1 + 15 + 20 = 36
• REB → 18 + 5 + 2 = 25
• WIT → 23 + 9 + 20 = 52
• CPA → 3 + 16 + 1 = 20

The sums for AOT, WIT and CPA are even, while the sum for REB is odd. Hence REB is the odd one out.

Answer: (B) REB

Question 10

(A) Mars    (B) Sun    (C) Saturn    (D) Venus

Solution:

Mars, Saturn and Venus are planets of the Solar System. The Sun is a star, not a planet. Therefore, the Sun is different from the other three.

Answer: (B) Sun

Questions 11–20: Number Series

Question 11

101, 100, 96, 87, 71, ?

Solution:

Find the differences:

101 − 100 = 1 = 1²
100 − 96 = 4 = 2²
96 − 87 = 9 = 3²
87 − 71 = 16 = 4²

So we subtract consecutive squares:

71 − 5² = 71 − 25 = 46

Answer: (D) 46

Question 12

11, 12, 17, 18, 23, 24, ?

Solution:

The differences alternate between +1 and +5:

11 + 1 = 12
12 + 5 = 17
17 + 1 = 18
18 + 5 = 23
23 + 1 = 24
24 + 5 = 29

Answer: (B) 29

Question 13

13, 32, 24, 43, 35, ?, 46, 65, 57, 76

Solution:

Observe the repeating pattern of differences:

13 + 19 = 32
32 − 8 = 24
24 + 19 = 43
43 − 8 = 35
35 + 19 = 54
54 − 8 = 46
46 + 19 = 65
65 − 8 = 57
57 + 19 = 76

Therefore, the missing number is 54.

Answer: (C) 54

Question 14

1, 3, 4, 8, 15, 27, ?

Solution:

From the fourth term onward, each term is obtained by adding the previous three terms:

1 + 3 = 4
1 + 3 + 4 = 8
3 + 4 + 8 = 15
4 + 8 + 15 = 27

Therefore:
8 + 15 + 27 = 50

Answer: (D) 50

Question 15

1, 2, 9, 28, 65, ?

Solution:

Each term follows the formula:

n³ + 1

Check:
1³ + 1 = 2 (after the first term's indexing pattern)
2³ + 1 = 9
3³ + 1 = 28
4³ + 1 = 65

For the next term:
5³ + 1 = 125 + 1 = 126

Answer: (C) 126

Question 16

49, 16, 25, 36, 9, ?

Solution:

All the numbers are perfect squares:

• 49 = 7²
• 16 = 4²
• 25 = 5²
• 36 = 6²
• 9 = 3²

The square roots present are: 7, 4, 5, 6, 3 The missing number in the sequence of roots from 3 to 8 is 8. Therefore:

8² = 64

Answer: (A) 64

Question 17

3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?

Solution:

Each term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by 2 and then adding 1.

3 × 2 + 1 = 7
7 × 2 + 1 = 15
15 × 2 + 1 = 31
31 × 2 + 1 = 63

Therefore:
63 × 2 + 1 = 127

Answer: (B) 127

Question 18

4, −8, 16, −32, 64, ?

Solution:

Each term is multiplied by −2:

4 × (−2) = −8
−8 × (−2) = 16
16 × (−2) = −32
−32 × (−2) = 64

Therefore:
64 × (−2) = −128

Answer: (C) −128

Question 19

3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?

Solution:

The same pattern is repeated:

3 × 2 + 1 = 7
7 × 2 + 1 = 15
15 × 2 + 1 = 31
31 × 2 + 1 = 63

Hence:
63 × 2 + 1 = 127

Answer: (B) 127

Question 20

165, 195, 255, 285, 345, ?

Solution:

Find the differences:

195 − 165 = 30
255 − 195 = 60
285 − 255 = 30
345 − 285 = 60

The differences alternate between +30 and +60. Therefore, the next difference is +30.

345 + 30 = 375

Answer: (A) 375

Final Answer Key: Questions 1–20

Question	Answer	Question	Answer
1	B – RU	11	D – 46
2	A – 9, 64	12	B – 29
3	A – 36	13	C – 54
4	A – BDC	14	D – 50
5	C – 265	15	C – 126
6	B – Bicycle	16	A – 64
7	C – June	17	B – 127
8	B – 4–32	18	C – −128
9	B – REB	19	B – 127
10	B – Sun	20	A – 375

Quick Exam Tip:
For Mental Ability Test questions, first look for simple patterns such as alphabetical positions, divisibility, squares, cubes, alternating differences, multiplication patterns and repeated operations. Avoid complicated rules unless a simple rule does not explain the given terms.