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Question

Five animals are in their cages in a certain zoo. Their cages are in a row. Monkey is at the extreme end of the row. Cow is at the immediate left of Deer. Lion is at the extreme right end of the row. Fox is exactly between Deer and Lion. Which animal is at the second position from the left?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2019 Previous Year Paper (24-Dec-2020) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

Cow

Solving the Animal Arrangement Puzzle

This question asks us to determine the position of different animals placed in a row of cages based on specific clues. There are five animals and five cages in a row. We need to use the given information to figure out the exact order of the animals from left to right.

Analyzing the Clues for Animal Positions

Let's represent the five cages as positions P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 from left to right.

We are given the following clues:

  • Clue 1: Monkey is at the extreme end of the row.
  • Clue 2: Cow is at the immediate left of Deer.
  • Clue 3: Lion is at the extreme right end of the row.
  • Clue 4: Fox is exactly between Deer and Lion.

Step-by-Step Deduction of Animal Arrangement

Using the clues, let's deduce the position of each animal:

  1. According to Clue 3, Lion is at the extreme right end. In a row of five cages (P1 to P5), the extreme right end is P5.
    • So, Position 5 (P5) = Lion.

    Current arrangement: \_ \_ \_ \_ Lion

  2. According to Clue 1, Monkey is at the extreme end. Since Lion is at the right extreme end (P5), Monkey must be at the left extreme end. The left extreme end is P1.
    • So, Position 1 (P1) = Monkey.

    Current arrangement: Monkey \_ \_ \_ Lion

  3. Now we have three empty positions: P2, P3, and P4. Clue 2 states that Cow is immediately left of Deer. This means Cow and Deer are next to each other in that specific order (Cow followed by Deer). Possible pairs for (Cow, Deer) are (P2, P3) or (P3, P4).
  4. Clue 4 states that Fox is exactly between Deer and Lion. We know Lion is at P5. The positions between Deer and Lion are P3 and P4. For Fox to be *exactly* between Deer and Lion, there must be the same number of positions between Fox and Deer as there are between Fox and Lion.
    • If Deer is at P3, then the positions are Deer(P3), \_, Lion(P5). The spot between P3 and P5 is P4. If Fox is at P4, then P4 is one spot away from P3 and one spot away from P5. This fits "exactly between". This places Fox at P4.
    • If Deer is at P4, then the positions are \_, Deer(P4), Lion(P5). The spot between P4 and P5 would require another position which doesn't exist. Fox cannot be exactly between P4 and P5 in this arrangement with only 5 spots.

    Therefore, Deer must be at P3, and Fox is at P4.

    • So, Position 3 (P3) = Deer.
    • So, Position 4 (P4) = Fox.
  5. Now we use Clue 2 again: Cow is at the immediate left of Deer. Since Deer is at P3, the position immediately to its left is P2.
    • So, Position 2 (P2) = Cow.

Final Arrangement of Animals in Cages

Based on the deductions, the final arrangement of animals in the cages from left to right is:

Position P1 (Left End) P2 P3 P4 P5 (Right End)
Animal Monkey Cow Deer Fox Lion

Identifying the Animal at the Second Position from the Left

The question asks which animal is at the second position from the left. Looking at our final arrangement:

  • The first position from the left is P1 (Monkey).
  • The second position from the left is P2 (Cow).

Therefore, the animal at the second position from the left is Cow.

Revision Table: Key Clues and Deductions

Clue Deduction Current Arrangement Status
Lion at extreme right (P5) P5 = Lion \_ \_ \_ \_ Lion
Monkey at extreme end (P1) P1 = Monkey Monkey \_ \_ \_ Lion
Fox exactly between Deer & Lion (P5) Deer at P3, Fox at P4 (as P4 is exactly between P3 & P5) Monkey \_ Deer Fox Lion
Cow immediate left of Deer (P3) P2 = Cow Monkey Cow Deer Fox Lion

Additional Information on Logic Puzzles

This type of question is a common form of a logic puzzle or spatial reasoning problem. These puzzles test your ability to understand relationships between objects or people and use given constraints to determine a specific arrangement or outcome. Key strategies often involve:

  • Identifying fixed points (like extreme ends here).
  • Using clues that link two or more items together directly (like "immediate left of").
  • Using clues about relative positions or distances ("exactly between").
  • Considering all possible arrangements that fit a clue and then eliminating those contradicted by other clues.
  • Drawing diagrams or using tables to visualize the positions and fill them in as you make deductions.

Practicing these types of puzzles helps improve logical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are useful in many areas.

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Similar Questions

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Important Questions from Linear Arrangement

  1. Seven people, A, B, C, D, E, F and G, are sitting in a straight row facing the north. Only two people sit to the left of C. Only two people sit between A and B. B sits to the left of A. E is an immediate neighbour of A to the right. Only one person sits to the right of D. F is not an immediate neighbour of B. Who sits at the centre?

  2. P, Q, R and S are sitting on a bench and facing in the same direction. P sits next to Q but not next to R. S, who is sitting on the extreme right, does not sit next to either Q or R. How many of them each have two neighbors?

  3. 5 boys A, B, C, D and E are sitting in a row. E is sitting between D and A, B is to the right of A, C is at one of the extreme ends and C and D are sitting next to each other. Which of the following statement is false?

  4. Five friends Ram, Priya, Raunak, Aditya and Shyam are sitting in a row facing north. Raunak is to the right of Shyam and Priya is to the left of Shyam but to the right of Rama. Raunak is to the left of Aditya. Who is fourth from the left end?

  5. Seven friends P, Q, R, S, T, U, and V are sitting in a straight line facing north. Q sits fifth to the right of T. Q does not sit at any of the extreme ends. Two people sit between U and R. S sits third to the left of V. S sits exactly in the middle. U is not an immediate neighbour of P.

    How many people sit between R and V?

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