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CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR · Set 2 of 5Logical ReasoningModerate DifficultyQ5–Q8 · 3 MCQ + 1 TITA

CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR Set 2: Arrangements (4 Questions) with Solutions

The Arrangements set from the official CAT 2025 Slot 1 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 2025 Slot 1 DILR · Questions 5–8
A round table has seven chairs around it. The chairs are numbered 1 through 7 in a clockwise direction. Four friends, Aslam, Bashir, Chhavi, and Davies, sit on four of the chairs. In the starting position, Aslam and Chhavi are sitting next to each other, while for Bashir as well as Davies, there are empty chairs on either side of the chairs that are sitting on. The friends take turns moving either clockwise or counterclockwise from their chair. The friend who has to move in a turn occupies the first empty chair in whichever direction (s)he chooses to move. Aslam moves first (Turn 1), followed by Bashir, Chhavi, and Davies (Turns 2, 3, and 4, respectively). Then Aslam moves again followed by Bashir, and Chhavi (Turns 5, 6, and 7, respectively). The following information is known.
1
The four friends occupy adjacent chairs only at the end of Turn 2 and Turn 6.
2
Davies occupies Chair 2 after Turn 1 and Chair 4 after Turn 5, and Chhavi occupies Chair 7 after Turn 2.

In the exam this set competed with 4 others for 40 minutes. Budget about 8 minutes if you attempt it.

Q5. Arrangements

TITA · +3 / 0
What is the number of the chair initially occupied by Bashir?
Correct Answer
4
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Start from the fixed positions (Davies on chair 2, Chhavi on chair 7) and use the two starting conditions to place Aslam and Bashir.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
Davies is on chair 2 after Turn 1. Only Aslam has moved by then, so Davies started on chair 2.
2
Chhavi is on chair 7 after Turn 2. Only Aslam and Bashir have moved by then, so Chhavi started on chair 7.
3
Davies has empty chairs on both sides, so chairs 1 and 3 are empty at the start. Aslam sits next to Chhavi (chair 7), which means chair 6 or chair 1. Chair 1 is empty, so Aslam started on chair 6.
4
Bashir cannot be on chairs 1 or 3, and chairs 2, 6 and 7 are taken. That leaves chair 4 or chair 5.
5
Chair 5 is next to Aslam on chair 6, but Bashir needs empty chairs on both sides. So Bashir started on chair 4. Chairs 3 and 5 are empty, which fits.
Quick Check
Starting positions are Aslam 6, Bashir 4, Chhavi 7, Davies 2. Davies and Bashir each have empty chairs on both sides, and Aslam is next to Chhavi.
Correct Answer: 4

Q6. Arrangements

MCQ · +3 / −1
Who sits on the chair numbered 4 at the end of Turn 3?
  1. A) Bashir
  2. B) Chhavi
  3. C) Davies
  4. D) No one
Correct Answer
D) No one
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Fix the starting seats from the clues, trace each move, and use Davies's final seat (chair 4 after Turn 5) to decide Chhavi's Turn 3 move.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
Davies is on chair 2 after Turn 1. Only Aslam has moved by then, so Davies started on 2. Chhavi is on chair 7 after Turn 2. Only Aslam and Bashir have moved by then, so Chhavi started on 7.
2
Aslam starts next to Chhavi. Davies needs empty chairs on both sides, so chair 1 must be empty, and Aslam therefore starts on chair 6.
3
Bashir must have empty chairs on both sides. Chair 1 touches Davies and Chhavi, chair 3 touches Davies, and chair 5 touches Aslam. That leaves only chair 4. The start is Aslam 6, Bashir 4, Chhavi 7, Davies 2.
4
Turn 1: Aslam goes clockwise to chair 1, because 7 is taken, or counterclockwise to chair 5. Turn 2: Bashir moves from 4, and all four must then sit on four consecutive chairs.
If Aslam is on 5, Bashir can only reach 3 or 6. Neither gives four adjacent chairs together with 2, 5 and 7.
If Aslam is on 1, Bashir moving counterclockwise reaches 3, giving chairs 7, 1, 2, 3 in a row. Bashir moving clockwise reaches 5, which breaks the adjacency.
So Aslam is on 1 and Bashir is on 3.
5
After Turn 2: Chhavi 7, Aslam 1, Davies 2, Bashir 3.
6
Turn 3: Chhavi moves from 7. Clockwise, chairs 1, 2 and 3 are occupied, so she would land on 4. Counterclockwise she lands on 6.
7
Clue 2 puts Davies on chair 4 after Turn 5. Aslam moves in Turn 5 and Davies does not, so Davies reaches 4 in Turn 4. From chair 2 the only way is clockwise: chair 3 is occupied by Bashir, so he takes the next chair, 4. This needs chair 4 to be empty, so Chhavi cannot have taken it in Turn 3.
8
Chhavi therefore moved counterclockwise to chair 6 in Turn 3. At the end of Turn 3 the seats are Aslam 1, Davies 2, Bashir 3, Chhavi 6, and chair 4 is empty.
Why Not the Others
A) Bashir is on chair 3.
B) Chhavi would be on 4 only if she went clockwise, but that blocks Davies from reaching 4 in Turn 4.
C) Davies is still on chair 2 and moves to 4 only in Turn 4.
Quick Check
Turn 4: Davies moves clockwise past Bashir on 3 into the empty chair 4, which matches clue 2.
Correct Answer: D

Q7. Arrangements

MCQ · +3 / −1
Which of the chairs are occupied at the end of Turn 6?
  1. A) Chairs numbered 4, 5, 6, and 7
  2. B) Chairs numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4
  3. C) Chairs numbered 2, 3, 4, and 5
  4. D) Chairs numbered 1, 2, 6, and 7
Correct Answer
A) Chairs numbered 4, 5, 6, and 7
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Continue the turn-by-turn trace. The condition that the friends are adjacent again at the end of Turn 6 decides Aslam's and Bashir's moves.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
After Turn 3 the positions are Aslam 1, Bashir 3, Chhavi 6, Davies 2.
2
In Turn 4, Davies moves from 2. Clockwise he passes Bashir on 3 and lands on 4. Counterclockwise he passes Aslam on 1 and lands on 7.
3
Davies is on chair 4 after Turn 5. If he had gone to 7 in Turn 4, he would not move again before Turn 5 ends. So he went to 4.
4
In Turn 5, Aslam moves from 1. He lands on 2 (clockwise) or 7 (counterclockwise).
5
If Aslam is on 2, Bashir (Turn 6, from 3) lands on 5 or 1. That gives chairs 2, 4, 5, 6 or chairs 1, 2, 4, 6, and neither is a block of four adjacent chairs.
6
So Aslam is on 7. Bashir then moves clockwise from 3, passes Davies on 4 and lands on 5.
7
The occupied chairs after Turn 6 are Davies 4, Bashir 5, Chhavi 6, Aslam 7. They are adjacent, as the clue requires.
Why Not the Others
B, C, D: none of these sets has all four friends adjacent in the way the trace requires; chairs 4, 5, 6 and 7 are the only occupied set.
Correct Answer: A

Q8. Arrangements

MCQ · +3 / −1
Which of the following BEST describes the friends sitting on chairs adjacent to the one occupied by Bashir at the end of Turn 7?
  1. A) Chhavi and Davies
  2. B) Chhavi only
  3. C) Aslam and Chhavi
  4. D) Davies only
Correct Answer
D) Davies only
Step-by-step solution
📌 Core Concept
Find Bashir's final chair, then check where Chhavi lands in Turn 7, the last move.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
At the end of Turn 6 the positions are Davies 4, Bashir 5, Chhavi 6, Aslam 7. Bashir does not move in Turn 7, so he stays on chair 5.
2
Chhavi moves in Turn 7 from chair 6. Clockwise, chair 7 (Aslam) is occupied, so she lands on chair 1. Counterclockwise, chair 5 (Bashir) and chair 4 (Davies) are occupied, so she lands on chair 3.
3
Either way Chhavi leaves chair 6, so the chair clockwise of Bashir is empty.
4
Bashir's neighbours are chairs 4 and 6. Davies is still on chair 4, and chair 6 is empty. Aslam is on chair 7, which is not next to Bashir.
5
Only Davies is adjacent to Bashir.
Why Not the Others
A and B: Chhavi moves away from chair 6, so she is not next to Bashir.
C: Aslam is on chair 7, two chairs from Bashir, and Chhavi has moved away.
Correct Answer: D
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CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR at a Glance

Sets in this section5
Questions in this section22
Section time40 minutes
Convenor IIMIIM Kozhikode

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