ThinkCAT Logo
ThinkCAT
Sign up
QuestionsMocksResourcesAnalytics
CAT 2018 Slot 2 DILR · Set 4 of 8Logical ReasoningEasy DifficultyQ13–Q16 · 4 MCQ

CAT 2018 Slot 2 DILR Set 4: Arrangements (4 Questions) with Solutions

The Arrangements set from the official CAT 2018 Slot 2 DILR paper: the caselet, all 4 questions, the official answer key and a step-by-step solution for each. 100% free, no sign-up.

The Set: Read the Caselet First

CAT 2018 Slot 2 DILR · Questions 13–16
Seven candidates, Akil, Balaram, Chitra, Divya, Erina, Fatima, and Ganeshan, were invited to interview for a position. Candidates were required to reach the venue before 8 am. Immediately upon arrival, they were sent to one of three interview rooms: 101, 102, and 103. The following venue log shows the arrival times for these candidates. Some of the names have not been recorded in the log and have been marked as '?'.
Time7:10 am7:15 am7:25 am7:30 am7:40 am7:45 am
PersonAkil, ???ChitraFatima?
Additionally here are some statements from the candidates: Balaram: I was the third person to enter Room 101. Chitra: I was the last person to enter the room I was allotted to. Erina: I was the only person in the room I was allotted to. Fatima: Three people including Akil were already in the room that I was allotted to when I entered it. Ganeshan: I was one among the two candidates allotted to Room 102.

In the exam this set competed with 7 others for 60 minutes. Budget about 8 minutes if you attempt it.

Q13. Arrangements

MCQ · +3 / −1
What best can be said about the room to which Divya was allotted?
  1. A) Definitely Room 101
  2. B) Either Room 101 or Room 102
  3. C) Definitely Room 103
  4. D) Definitely Room 102
Correct Answer
A) Definitely Room 101
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Count room sizes from the statements, then place each person by elimination.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
The log has 7 arrivals: Akil and one other at 7:10, then single arrivals at 7:15, 7:25, 7:30 (Chitra), 7:40 (Fatima) and 7:45.
2
Fatima's statement says three people including Akil were already in her room at 7:40, so her room holds at least 4 people.
3
Erina is alone in her room, and Ganeshan's room, 102, has exactly 2 people. With 7 people in total, the sizes must be 1 + 2 + 4. Fatima's room is therefore the 4-person room.
4
Balaram was the third person to enter Room 101, so 101 has at least 3 people. Only the 4-person room fits, so Fatima is in 101, and Erina is alone in 103.
5
Chitra arrived at 7:30, before Fatima. If Chitra were in 101, she could not be the last to enter, because Fatima enters later. Chitra cannot be in 103 (Erina is alone there), so she is in 102 with Ganeshan.
6
Room 101 therefore has Akil, Balaram, Fatima and one more person. The unplaced people are Divya, Balaram, Erina and Ganeshan, and Erina is in 103 and Ganeshan in 102. The fourth person in 101 is Divya.
Quick Check
Rooms: 101 = Akil, Balaram, Divya, Fatima; 102 = Chitra, Ganeshan; 103 = Erina. This satisfies every statement.
Correct Answer: A

Q14. Arrangements

MCQ · +3 / −1
Who else was in Room 102 when Ganeshan entered?
  1. A) A) Divya
  2. B) B) No one
  3. C) C) Chitra
  4. D) D) Akil
Correct Answer
B) B) No one
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Fix the room sizes, then use Chitra's "last to enter" statement to find who was already in Room 102.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
Fatima's statement means her room has at least 4 people. Erina is alone in her room, and Room 102 has exactly 2 people (Ganeshan's statement). The sizes must be 4, 1 and 2.
2
Balaram was the third to enter Room 101, so 101 is the 4-person room that includes Fatima, and Erina is alone in 103.
3
Chitra arrived at 7:30 and Fatima arrived later at 7:40. If Chitra were in 101, Fatima would enter after her, so Chitra could not be the last to enter. Chitra cannot be in 103 either, so she is in Room 102 with Ganeshan.
4
Chitra is the last to enter 102, so Ganeshan entered before her. Ganeshan was the first to enter 102, so the room was empty when he entered.
Why Not the Others
Divya: she is in Room 101 (Akil, Balaram, Divya, Fatima), not 102.
Chitra: she entered 102 after Ganeshan, not before.
Akil: he is in Room 101 with Fatima.
Correct Answer: B

Q15. Arrangements

MCQ · +3 / −1
When did Erina reach the venue?
  1. A) 7:45 am
  2. B) 7:15 am
  3. C) 7:25 am
  4. D) 7:10 am
Correct Answer
A) 7:45 am
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Work out the rooms, then use the arrival order inside Room 101 to find the 7:45 arrival.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
The room sizes are 4 (Fatima's room), 2 (Room 102) and 1 (Erina's room). Balaram being third into Room 101 makes 101 the 4-person room, so Erina is alone in 103.
2
Chitra arrived at 7:30, before Fatima. Chitra is last to enter her room, so she cannot be in 101 or 103. She is in 102 with Ganeshan.
3
The fourth person in 101 is Divya. Room 101 is Akil, Balaram, Divya and Fatima.
4
Akil entered 101 at 7:10. Fatima, at 7:40, was fourth. Balaram was third, so Divya and Balaram both arrived before 7:40.
5
Ganeshan entered 102 before Chitra, so he arrived before 7:30.
6
The unassigned slots are 7:10 (second place), 7:15, 7:25 and 7:45. Divya, Balaram and Ganeshan all arrived before 7:40, so they fill three of the first three slots. Erina is left with 7:45.
Correct Answer: A

Q16. Arrangements

MCQ · +3 / −1
If Ganeshan entered the venue before Divya, when did Balaram enter the venue?
  1. A) 7:45 am
  2. B) 7:25 am
  3. C) 7:10 am
  4. D) 7:15 am
Correct Answer
B) 7:25 am
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Order the arrivals using the room placements, then apply the extra condition that Ganeshan came before Divya.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
From the statements, the rooms are 101 = Akil, Balaram, Divya, Fatima; 102 = Ganeshan, Chitra; 103 = Erina.
2
Fatima is fourth into 101 and Balaram is third, so Divya entered 101 before Balaram. Both arrived before 7:40.
3
Ganeshan entered 102 before Chitra, so he arrived before 7:30.
4
The remaining slots are 7:10 (with Akil), 7:15, 7:25 and 7:45. Divya, Balaram and Ganeshan arrived before 7:40, so they fill 7:10, 7:15 and 7:25. Erina arrived at 7:45.
5
The condition says Ganeshan came before Divya, and Divya came before Balaram. So the order is Ganeshan (7:10), Divya (7:15), Balaram (7:25).
Quick Check
In 101 the order is Akil (7:10), Divya (7:15), Balaram (7:25), Fatima (7:40), which makes Balaram third.
Correct Answer: B
Timed Practice

Attempt all of CAT 2018 Slot 2 DILR under the clock

The whole section, 60 minutes, in the TCS iON-style simulator. Free, no sign-up.

Start Free Test

CAT 2018 Slot 2 DILR at a Glance

Sets in this section8
Questions in this section32
Section time60 minutes
Convenor IIMIIM Calcutta

More CAT DILR Sets with Solutions