CAT logical reasoning: Learn how to Crack LR problems on Blood Relations in CAT 2014

By MBA universe

The difficulty level as well as the number of questions based on Logical Reasoning has increased in CAT and same pattern is expected to be repeated in CAT 2014. Almost all the reputed MBA entrance examinations have made Logical reasoning as one of its important parts. If an aspirant gives a quick glimpse on the past record, he will find out that LR which had a separate section with DI till 2010 has been split and CAT, since then, has two sections only i.e. DI and LR have been clubbed with Quantitative Ability and Verbal Ability respectively.

Number of LR questions since 2006 have been increased from 5 to 10 with higher level of Difficulty. Number of topics and sub topics are covered to form questions in Logical Reasoning. Questions on the concept of Blood Relations are the important part of Logical Reasoning and understanding of family tree is very important to crack them.

While earlier Article covered the concept of Seating Arrangements this article brings out the importance of questions based on Blood Relations.

Types of Questions- Try to remember good old childhood days when we spent our summer vacation with the grandparents or the hot summer noon and cool nights, where the process of exchange of Riddles based on various hypothetical situations with Blood Relations continued which gave the small brain a good storming but made us understand the logical coherence of relations. Alas! It happens no more and we remain glued to the electronic media, social sites etc. forgetting the importance of such invaluable value additions in life. Now we have to study the pattern and system to follow such problems. Such questions could come in singles or in sets. They may be statement based or puzzle based

 

1. Statement Based questions – They are usually presented with a single question

Q1. A is the father of B, but B is not the Son of A

Q2. Radhe and Sunita were going on foot from one village to another on a summer afternoon. Sunita felt thirsty and wished to have some water to quench her thirst. Radhe found out a well with sweet water and asked Sunita to accompany him to the well. The other ladies who were drawing water from the well gave water and some eatables to Sunita. One of them askedSunita the relationship between her and Radhe to which Sunita replied that Radhe’s mother-in-law and her mother-in-law were mother and daughter. What could be the relationship between Radhe and Sunita.

i) Father and daughter 

ii) Husband and wife  

iii) Father in law and Daughter in Law 

iv) Brother in law and sister in law

 

Q3. How is Anil’s mother’s husband’s mother’s grand-daughter related to Anil?

a) Daughter      b) Aunt                      c) Sister                     d) Cannot be determined

 

Q4. A man goes to a park and sees a girl who he recognized to be his relative. The girl was the daughter of his sister’s husband’s wife. How is the girl related to the man?

a) Sister              b) Niece         c) Aunt                      d) Sister-in-law

 

2) Puzzle Based Questions – Usually such questions are presented in sets. Look at one of the questions –

Direction for questions 5 to 8 – Answer the questions that follow the information given in the undernoted paragraph.

C, the only daughter of B was celebrating her sixth birthday. A total of 6 members attended the party. All except G who was the close friend of C, were her close relatives. ‘A’ was the daughter-in-law of F who was the wife of E. D was the son of A and brother of C.

Q5. How is the F related to B?

a) Mother                      b) Mother-in-Law  c) Aunt                      d) Grand-Mother

Q6. How is G related to D?

a) Friend                        b) Brother                c) Father       d) Not Related

Q7. Who is the grandfather of C?

a) B                      b) F                             c) D                 d) None of these

Q8. How is A related to E?

1. Daughter-in-law    

2. Grand-Daughter

3. Daughter

4. None of these

Answers

Q.1 Very simple – answer is daughter.

Q.2 iii) Father in Law and Daughter in law. Eliminate the first option as it indicates mothers not mother in law; second option can’t be true; ivth option again does not establish any blood relation. Although easy to solve – yet difficult to solve unless you follow the – Family tree of relations.

Q.3 – C. Know the family tree. Anil’s mother’s husband is Anil’s father and mother of his father is his grandmother so her granddaughter is his sister

Q.4 – B. His sister’s husband is his brother in law and his wife is his sister whose daughter is his niece.

 

How to figure out the answers –( 5 to 8) To get the answers we should prepare the family tree as follows. The set of information can be better understood if you read it backwards.

C and D are sibling. A(female) mother of C; F (Female) mother in law of A; E husband of F and father in law of A. Since A is the mother of C and C is daughter of B also, B has got to be her father.  G has no blood relation with C. Now the picture is clear

Q.5 a. F is the mother of B

Q.6 d. G is not related to D

Q.7 d. Since E is the grandfather of C, the answer option is d.

Q.8 a. A is the daughter in law of E as E and F are husband and wife.

 

Strategy to solve -Questions based on Blood Relations are, although a little complex, can be solved faster, if one has the understanding of Family Tree. The irony of the present modern world is that we have to devise various ways and means to solve them whereas; solutions to such questions are on the tips of illiterate old aged people. However, the basic strategy to solve such questions is to know the various relations among family members. Spread out the understanding and follow the relations to at least three four generations like Great Grand parents and children, Aunts, uncles, cousins.

Don’t be afraid even when the simple relation is described in a circuitous manner; just place the layers of relationship above or below each of them. This will help you to form the family tree in the easiest manner. 

 

Know the family tree: Who’s is who

Below is given a small chart to clear the picture on Blood Relations. It will help aspirants to crack the LR questions. Although native languages other than English, in all probability have different names for different relations-even on paternal or maternal sides. But English has one Uncle, Brother in Law, sister in Law etc. So please read carefully the information given in the question before proceeding to solve it.

1. Grandfather (Maternal or paternal)  -  Father’s or mother’s father

2. Grandmother(Maternal or Paternal) -   Mother’s or father’s mother

3. Father-in-law                      -   Husband’s or wife’s father

4. Mother-in-law                     -   Husband’s or wife’s mother

5. Daughter-in-law                   -   Son’s wife

6. Son-in-law                        -   Daughter’s husband

7. Brother-in-law                    -   Husband’s or wife’s brother

8. Sister-in-law                      -   Husband’s or wife’s sister

9. Nephew                          -   Brother’s or sister’s son

10. Niece                            -    Brother’s or sister’s daughter

11. Uncle                            -    Mother’s or Father’s brother

12. Aunt                             -    Mother’s or father’s sister

14. First cousin or cousin            -    Uncle’s of Aunt’s son or daughter

15. Second cousin                   -    Son or daughter of the first cousin

16. Sibling                           -    real brother or sister