*Mudra* Life Sciences For NET & SLET Exams Of UGC-CSIR

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Section A, General Aptitude, Vol-01


Joint CSIR-UGC NET for JRF and Eligibility for Lectureship
Section-A
General Aptitude
Volume-1

Contents

01. Introduction 1
02. Alphabet Test 10
03. Verbal Reasoning 12
04. Non-verbal Reasoning 24
05. Series Test 43
06. Coding & Decoding Test 51
07. Directional Test 53
08. Blood Relation Test 57
09. Sitting-arrangement Test 59
10. Ranking Test 60
11. Puzzles 61
12. Time & Calendar Test 85
13. Venn Diagram and Chart Type Test 95
14. Statement & Their Components Relations Test 113
15. Cube Relations Test 120
16. Dice Relations Test 121


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Section A, General Aptitude, Vol-01
General Aptitude
1. INTRODUCTION
Mental ability is a complex capability developed over the years and having definite
interrelated aspects like content or structure of mental ability and application of these in different
persons. This interrelationship can be best explained by the following Table:
These terms require some explanation.
Mental Ability

Contents Applications

Figural Symbolic Semantic Behavioral Compre- Retention Reasoning Evaluation
Relations ability ability ability sion

Verbal ability Numerical ability

Contents of Mental Ability
1. The ability for figural relations means the capacity to understand and manipulate
objects. People used to dealing with machines parts, tools, puzzle completions,
graphs, diagrams, etc. or working fast with their hands, will excel in this. This is also
called concrete intelligence and performance IQ by psychologists.
2. The ability to deal with symbols means basically a mental exercise. The capacity to
think effectively with words as symbols as well a numbers as symbols is included.
This is also called verbal ability and numerical ability. Experienced teachers,
writers, journalists and linguists are likely to excel in verbal ability. On the other
hand, mathematicians, statisticians, scientists and astrologists are likely to excel in
numerical ability. The best combination of verbal and numerical ability is called
abstract intelligence by psychologists.
3. Semantic ability is the capacity to deal with meanings or to read between lines. This
includes originality, flexibility, foresight and shifting of meaning from the material
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Section A, General Aptitude, Vol-01
at hand towards brevity and conciseness. This could also be called insight into
written material with originality. Semantic ability is also at the abstract level but is
different from verbal ability. While verbal ability deals with the relation between
words and letters, semantic ability deals with ideas their analysis and construction
of new and original ideas.
4. Behavioral ability is also known as social intelligence. This is the ability to deal
effectively with other people, to evaluate and judge the behavior of persons or groups
of persons. It includes the capacity to understand emotions, actions, interactions and
outcomes of reactions of persons to each other.
This is an absolutely essential ability because we are social beings. Effectiveness in the
relationships between parents and children, students and teachers, employers and employees,
management and workers, leaders and followers, interviewers and interviewees all these depend
on the ability to understand and judge human behavior.
Applications of Mental Ability
Individuals differ in their styles of application of intellect. Some excel in one while others
excel in other styles. The various applications of intellect are:
(a) Comprehension: This includes grasp and understanding of the given material only
without going beyond the material provided. This can also be called cognitive style.
Recognition of familiar objects, sounds, melodies, etc., is included here but analytical ability is
not.
(b) Retention: After comprehension, some individuals are able to transfer the material
into retention and are able to recall it quickly. Recalling the right mater at the right time, with
accuracy and speed, is a key to success. This is also called memory ability.
(c) Reasoning: This includes the logical application of comprehended and retained
material. The ability to grasp object relations, relations of ideas, ability of analysis and synthesis,
and convergent and divergent thinking are included in this area. Reasoning is a style of higher
order complex mental ability.
(d) Evaluation: This means reaching an outcome, conclusion, and implication, after
reasoning, analysis and logical thinking have been applied. The evaluative style helps the
individuals problem-solving ability, and insight and foresight regarding problems. This is most
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Section A, General Aptitude, Vol-01
helpful usually while dealing with other persons and social situations like group conflicts and
communal tensions.
Hints for Solving Questions of various Types
Figural Relations: Reasoning and Application: This is concerned with the ability to
deal with the size, shape contour and direction of various figures and objects. It includes the
relationship between series of objects and figures, clockwise or anticlockwise direction of
changes in shape and size of objects, and spatial relation between the figures and objects.
Examples with clues:
Q.1. Spot the odd one out from the following figures.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

a) 1 b) 2 c) 5 d) 4
Answer: Here (c) is the correct answer because in all the given figures, circle is the
outermost figure while in (c), i.e. 5, it is a square.
Q.2. Of the given figures state the one which will follow next?
A B C D

a) b) d) c)

Answer: (c) is the correct answer. Observe that A shows two rectangles joining each
other on the left and right sides. B shows two circles, and C shows two squares joining together
sideways. A, B, C, therefore, show that two figures of the same type have to join together to
form D. This leaves us with alternative (b) and (c). Note that in (b) the two triangles (same
figures) are joining top to bottom whereas we need the same figures joining sideways which is
shown only in (c).



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Q.3. Complete the series:

A B C D

a) b) d) c)

Answer: (c) is the correct alternative. Comprehending the relationship between A and B
is very easy, i.e., B is four times A. A being a small triangle, four triangles joining together from
all sides to give rise to the figure as given in B. C shows the segment of a circle and joining four
such segments gives us the figure of a full circle. Full circle are represented by alternatives (b)
and (c). But note carefully that the four segments of the circle given in (b) are not of equal size as
is the case suggested by figure B. In (c) all the four segments are equal. So (c) is the correct
alternative.
Q.4. Following are some words depicting our various body parts and their functions. Try
to visualize them together in terms of their functions A. Eyes B. Ears C. Nose D. Limbs.
The following combinations go together.
a) Only A and B b) A, B, C and D c) Only C and D d) A, B and C
Answer: The combination suggested by alternative (d) is the correct answer. A, B and C
are sense-organs and their function is to provide awareness about our environment by sensing
and perceiving it. D i.e., limbs help us in movement. So limbs cannot be clubbed with the other
sense organs like the eyes, ears and nose.
Q.5. What do the two flags A and B represent?
A B

(a) A was the flag of Indian National Congress before independence and B was adopted
as the National Flag of India after Independence.
Continued with Page 5 Onwards.