Verbal Reasoning Questions for Bank Exams

Verbal Reasoning is a key section in most bank exams, including exams like IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B, and others. This section evaluates a candidate’s ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret written information effectively. It is an important part of the reasoning ability section and requires logical thinking. In this article, we will explore the important topics covered under Verbal Reasoning for Bank Exams, the types of questions asked, tips for preparation and sample questions to help you get a better understanding.

Verbal Reasoning for Bank Exams

Verbal Reasoning tests your ability to understand, analyze, and draw logical conclusions from written information. It not only assesses your reasoning skills but also your ability to interpret complex language, make decisions based on given data, and arrive at conclusions. In banking exams, the Reasoning Ability section, which includes verbal reasoning, can be a game-changer, as it often carries a significant weight in both Prelims and Mains.

Key Verbal Reasoning Topics for Bank Exams

Here are some of the most common topics under Verbal Reasoning that are frequently asked in bank exams:

• Syllogism: In syllogism questions, candidates are given a set of statements and conclusions, and they have to determine which conclusions logically follow from the given statements. These questions test logical consistency and the ability to evaluate complex statements.
• Seating Arrangement: Questions on seating arrangement involve arranging individuals or items in a specific order, either in linear or circular patterns. These require strong visualization and logical deduction skills to determine the correct arrangement.
• Puzzles: Verbal reasoning puzzles involve various types of logical puzzles, such as floor-based puzzles, scheduling puzzles, and more. These questions can be complex and require sharp logical skills to solve multiple variables at once.
• Blood Relations: This topic involves determining family relationships based on given information. You might be asked to figure out how two people are related (brother, sister, cousin, etc.) based on a complex set of relationships. These questions test your ability to follow and interpret hierarchical information.
• Direction Sense: Direction sense questions test a candidate’s ability to trace movements in terms of direction (North, South, East, West) and figure out the final position or direction after a series of moves.
• Logical Deductions and Assumptions: These questions involve identifying valid assumptions, conclusions, or inferences that can be drawn from a given statement or passage. Logical deduction and assumption questions require good analytical skills and the ability to identify the relationship between different pieces of information.
• Statement and Conclusion: In this type, you are given a statement followed by several conclusions, and you need to identify which of the conclusions logically follow from the statement. These questions assess your ability to evaluate the soundness of arguments.
• Statement and Argument: These questions provide a statement followed by arguments supporting or opposing the statement. You are required to evaluate the arguments and decide which are strong and which are weak.
• Input-Output: These questions test your ability to understand the flow of data or operations, where a sequence of inputs and outputs is followed in a step-by-step manner. Candidates need to determine the next logical step in the sequence.
• Coding-Decoding: In coding-decoding, information is presented in a coded format, and candidates need to decode the pattern and extract the correct information. These questions are common in the preliminary stages of bank exams.

Verbal Reasoning Questions for Bank Exams

Q01. If it is possible to make a meaningful word from the 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th letters of the word “COMPREHENSIVE“, then which will be the 3^rd letter of that meaningful word? If no such meaningful word is formed, then mark the answer as ‘Y’. If more than one meaningful word is formed, then mark the answer as ‘X’.

(a) Y

(b) O

(c) E

(d) R

(e) X

Q02. Which of the following letter will become the exact middle letter, if all the letters of the word “COPYRIGHT” are arranged in reverse alphabetical order from left to right?

(a) P

(b) H

(c) O

(d) R

(e) None of the above

Q03. If it is possible to make a meaningful word from the 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th and 6^th letters of the word “ANTIFLAME“, then which will be the 3^rd letter of that meaningful word? If no such meaningful word is formed, then mark the answer as ‘Y’. If more than one meaningful word is formed, then mark the answer as ‘X’.

(a) Y

(b) T

(c) A

(d) I

(e) X

Q04. How many pairs of letters are there in the word “ORGANICS” which has as many letters between them in the word as they have in the alphabetical series (both in forward and backward direction)?

(a) One

(b) Two

(c) Three

(d) Four

(e) None of the above

Q05. How many pairs of letters are there in the word “PREMIUM” which has as many letters between them in the word as they have in the alphabetical series (both in forward and backward direction)?

(a) One

(b) Two

(c) Three

(d) Four

(e) None of the above

Directions (06-10): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given below.

Eight people A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H were born in eight different months i.e., January, March, April, May, June, July, September, and November of the same year but not necessarily in the same order. Each of them belongs to different companies i.e., Myntra, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Grofers, Big-basket, Amazon, Lenskart, and Voot but not necessarily in the same order.

C was born immediately before F. One person was born between B and C. B belongs to Voot and was born after May. A was born before E. The one who belongs to Flipkart was born after March in the month of 31 days. Two people were born between the one who belongs to Big-basket and the one who belongs to Grofers. D was born in September. G was born after B but not immediately after. A does not belong to Big-basket and Myntra. E belongs to Lenskart and was born in the month of 31 days. The one who was born in September does not belong to Big-basket. Three people were born between the one who belongs to Grofers and D who does not belong to Snapdeal and Myntra.

Q06. Who belongs to Amazon?

(a) F

(b) C

(c) A

(d) D

(e) None of these

Q07. Who among the following was born in November?

(a) The one who belongs to Myntra

(b) F

(c) The one who belongs to Snapdeal

(d) H

(e) None of these

Q08. If G is related to Big-basket and H is related to Flipkart, in the same way, B is related to ____?

(a) Grofers

(b) Snapdeal

(c) Myntra

(d) Amazon

(e) None of these

Q09. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and hence form a group. Who among the following doesn’t belong to that group?

(a) A, Lenskart

(b) D, Voot

(c) F, Grofers

(d) H, Amazon

(e) B, Flipkart

Q10. How many people are older than the one who belongs to Voot?

(a) One

(b) Three

(c) Five

(d) Four

(e) None of these

Directions (11-15): A word and number arrangement machine when given an input line of words and numbers rearranges them following a particular rule in each step. The following is an illustration of input and rearrangement.

Input: 30 update 56 record 27 economic 23 trending 20 power 15 approval

Step I: 20 30 update 56 record economic 23 trending power 15 approval 27

Step II: power 20 30 56 record economic 23 trending 15 approval 27 update

Step III: 30 power 20 56 record economic trending 15 approval 27 update 23

Step IV: record 30 power 20 56 trending 15 approval 27 update 23 economic

Step V: 56 record 30 power 20 trending approval 27 update 23 economic 15

Step VI: trending 56 record 30 power 20 27 update 23 economic 15 approval

Step VI is the last step of the above arrangement.

As per the rules followed in the steps given above, find out in each of the following questions the appropriate step for the given input.

Input: 48 opinion 66 gallery 89 injury 77 monsoon 22 decide 35 eclipse.

Q11. Which of the following element is 3^rd to the right of 5^th element from the left end in step III?

(a) eclipse

(b) 35

(c) 89

(d) decide

(e) None of these

Q12. What is the position of the word ‘monsoon’ in step IV?

(a) 3^rd from right

(b) 4^th from right

(c) 5^th from left

(d) 6^th from left

(e) None of these

Q13. What is the sum of the element which is second from the left end in step II and sixth from right end in step IV?

(a) 75

(b) 57

(c) 60

(d) 34

(e) None of these

Q14. Which of the following element is exactly between ‘decide’ and ‘77’ in step V?

(a) Eclipse

(b) Monsoon

(c) 89

(d) Opinion

(e) None of these

Q15. Which of the following element is seventh from the right end in step II?

(a) gallery

(b) 77

(c) injury

(d) monsoon

(e) None of these

Directions (16-20): Read the following information carefully to give the answers to the questions.

In a certain code of language,

‘College must close soon’ is coded as ‘jk tr wq pq’

‘Lockdown may extend soon’ is coded as ‘pq in hg vc’

‘Country must imposed night lockdown’ is coded as ‘vz wq dz hg ql’

‘Country extend college imposed’ is coded as ‘ql vz in tr’

Q16. What is the code of ‘may soon’?

(a) hg in

(b) vc hg

(c) pq vc

(d) jk pq

(e) None of the above

Q17. Which of the word is coded as ‘dz’?

(a) Colleges

(b) Country

(c) Close

(d) Night

(e) Lockdown

Q18. What is code of ‘college close’?

(a) hg wq

(b) jk tr

(c) vz dz

(d) vc dz

(e) None of the above

Q19. If the code of ‘imposed lockdown thoroughly’ is ‘vz hg tq’ then what may be the code of ‘delhi country close thoroughly’?

(a) st ql jk tq

(b) tq vz kl tr

(c) vc qr kl bn

(d) ql qt tr vq

(e) st bd mk tr

Q20. What is the code of ‘extend college’?

(a) in vc

(b) vg vc

(c) ql bv

(d) dz vc

(e) in tr

Directions (21-25): In the following questions assuming the given statement to be true, find which of the conclusion(s) among given conclusions is/are definitely true and then give your answers accordingly.

Q21. Statements: Y < E ≤ O, L > X ≤ T < E, K ≥ D > B, U ≤ G < B = N

Conclusions: I. D > U

II. L < O

(a) Only I is true

(b) Only II is true

(c) Either I or II is true

(d) Neither I nor II is true

(e) Both I and II are true

Q22. Statements: C ≥ K < V, X < Y ≥ L = C, L ≤ K ≥ O > M

Conclusions: I. Y > O

II. O > Y

(a) Only I is true

(b) Only II is true

(c) Either I or II is true

(d) Neither I nor II is true

(e) Both I and II are true

Q23. Statements: U > S = D ≤ F, Z < T < D, Q = W ≤ M < Z, L > S = N < R

Conclusions: I. R > T

II. U > W

(a) Only I is true

(b) Only II is true

(c) Either I or II is true

(d) Neither I nor II is true

(e) Both I and II are true

Q24. Statements: A ≤ K, N > M < T, F ≥ N, F = I

Conclusions: I. M < F

II. N < I

(a) Only I is true

(b) Only II is true

(c) Either I or II is true

(d) Neither I nor II is true

(e) Both I and II are true

Q25. Statements: T < I > J = N >L, J < O

Conclusions: I. N > O

II. O > T

(a) Only I is true

(b) Only II is true

(c) Either I or II is true

(d) Neither I nor II is true

(e) Both I and II are true

Directions (26-30): Study the following data carefully and answer the questions accordingly.

5 € 8 % M V ¥ © 4 # µ @ 2 3 Z B N £ β 9 X C $ ∞ 6 7 &*

Q26. How many symbols are there in the series each of which is immediately preceded by a consonant and immediately followed by a symbol?

(a) Three

(b) One

(c) None

(d) Four

(e) More than four

Q27. How many symbols are there in the series each of which is immediately preceded and immediately followed by a consonant?

(a) Four

(b) Five

(c) Three

(d) One

(e) None

Q28. How many elements are there between M and C if all the symbols are dropped down from the given series?

(a) Eleven

(b) Ten

(c) Six

(d) Nine

(e) Three

Q29. Which amongst the following element is 8th to the left of 4th number from right end?

(a) N

(b) V

(c) M

(d) %

(e) None of these

Q30. Which amongst the following element is 15th from left end?

(a) N

(b) V

(c) B

(d) Z

(e) None of these

Directions (31-33): Read the following information carefully and answer the questions which follow.

Kiran started walking from her home towards the north and walked for 10km and reached Point A, then she turned towards her right and walked for 6km and reached Point G, then she walked 6km towards the north and reached Point K after that she turned towards her west and walked for 9km and reached Point B, then she turned towards her south and walked 18km and reached Point X finally she turned towards the west and walked for 12km and reached her school.

Q31. What is the total distance between the final position and starting position of Kiran?

(a) 72km

(b) 61km

(c) 18km

(d) 64km

(e) None of these

Q32. What is the direction of Point B with respect to the Kiran’s home?

(a) North-west

(b) North

(c) North-east

(d) South

(e) South-west

Q33. If Point N is 6km to the south of Point G, then what is the direction of Point A and Point K with respect to Point N respectively?

(a) South-east and South

(b) South-west and South-east

(c) North-west and North

(d) North-west and North-east

(e) None of these

Directions (34-35): Read the following information carefully and answer the questions which follow.

Leena started walking in the north direction and walked 10m. Now, she walked 12m in east direction and turned southwards to walk 15m. From here, she took two consecutive right turns to walk 15m and 5m respectively. Finally, she moved westwards and reached the Club after walking 10m.

Q34. What is the shortest distance between Lenna’s staring point and the Club?

(a) 10m

(b) 20m

(c) 15m

(d) 13m

(e) None of these

Q35. Leena’s second turning point is in which direction of the Club?

(a) North

(b) East

(c) South-West

(d) North-East

(e) None of these

Directions (36-40): In the question below some statements are given followed by the conclusions. You have to take the given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts. Read all the conclusions and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Q36. Statements: No Slim is Smooth.

Only Fast are Slow.

Some Fast are smooth.

Conclusion: I. Some Fast are Slim.

II. No Slow is Slim

(a) Only conclusion I follows

(b) Only conclusion II follows

(c) Either conclusion I or II follows

(d) Both conclusions I and II follow

(e) Neither conclusion I nor II follows

Q37. Statements: All Sheep are Cattles.

Some Cattle are Grazing.

Only a few Cows are Grazing.

Some Sheep are Bleating.

Conclusions: I. All Cow can be Grazing.

II. Some Cattle are Bleating.

(a) Only conclusion I follows

(b) Only conclusion II follows

(c) Either conclusion I or II follows

(d) Both conclusions I and II follow

(e) Neither conclusion I nor II follows

Q38. Statements: Only Fictions are Novel.

Some Story are Fictions.

Only a few Romantics are Story.

Conclusions: I. Some Romantic are not Story.

II. A few Novels are not Story.

(a) Only conclusion I follows

(b) Only conclusion II follows

(c) Either conclusion I or II follows

(d) Both conclusions I and II follow

(e) Neither conclusion I nor II follows

Q39. Statements: All Rules are Methods.

A few Method are Tricks.

Only Tricks are Great.

Conclusions: I. No Great are Rule

II. Some Trick are Rule.

(a) Only conclusion I follows

(b) Only conclusion II follows

(c) Either conclusion I or II follows

(d) Both conclusions I and II follow

(e) Neither conclusion I nor II follows

Q40. Statements: Only a few Hours are Seconds.

All Minutes are Seconds.

No Seconds are Time.

Conclusions: I. All Hours being Seconds is a possibility

II. A few Minutes are not Time

(a) Only conclusion I follows

(b) Only conclusion II follows

(c) Either conclusion I or II follows

(d) Both conclusions I and II follow

(e) Neither conclusion I nor II follows

Solutions
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
d	c	d	a	c	d	a	a	b	d
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
b	d	b	a	c	c	d	b	a	e
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
a	c	e	a	d	a	e	d	b	d
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
b	a	c	d	d	b	b	d	a	b