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GATE 2024 EE GA Q.2: solution and answer

GATE 2024 · EEGA Q.2 · 1 mark · MCQ

P and Q have been allotted a hostel room with two beds, a study table, and an almirah. P is an avid bird-watcher and wants to sit at the table and watch birds outside the window. Q does not mind that as long as his bed is close to the ceiling fan.

Which one of the following arrangements suits them the most?

GATE 2024 EE GA question 2: Each option is a top-view floor plan of the same rectangular room, wider than it is tall.Tap to open full size
Figure from the GATE 2024 EE paper. It is part of the question.
Figure description

Each option is a top-view floor plan of the same rectangular room, wider than it is tall. In every option the Window is a small rectangle on the outside of the top wall, left of centre (about one third of the way from the left), and the Door is a small rectangle on the outside of the bottom wall, right of centre. The Fan is a labelled circle inside the room. Only the positions of Table, Almirah, Bed P and Bed Q change. (A) Table: small rectangle on the inside of the top wall, directly below the window. Almirah: rectangle in the top-right corner. Bed Q: rectangle on the left wall, a little below the top-left corner. Fan: circle just to the right of Bed Q and just below the table. Bed P: rectangle in the bottom-left corner, below Bed Q. (B) Table: small rectangle directly below the window. Almirah: tall rectangle standing along the left wall in the top-left corner (label written vertically). Fan: circle directly below the table. Bed Q: rectangle in the top-right corner, far from the fan. Bed P: rectangle in the bottom-left corner. (C) Table: tall rectangle standing along the left wall in the top-left corner (label written vertically), not below the window. Almirah: rectangle on the inside of the top wall, right of the window. Bed Q: tall rectangle along the right wall in the top-right corner (label written vertically). Bed P: rectangle on the left wall just below the table. Fan: circle just to the right of Bed P, left of centre. (D) Bed P: tall rectangle along the left wall in the top-left corner (label written vertically). Bed Q: rectangle on the inside of the top wall, directly below the window. Fan: circle directly below Bed Q. Table: tall rectangle along the right wall in the top-right corner (label written vertically), far from the window. Almirah: rectangle in the bottom-left corner.

  1. (A)

    Figure — Table directly below the window; Bed Q on the left wall with the Fan immediately beside it; Bed P in the bottom-left corner; Almirah in the top-right corner.

  2. (B)

    Figure — Table directly below the window with the Fan below it; Bed Q in the top-right corner, away from the Fan; Almirah upright along the left wall at the top-left corner; Bed P in the bottom-left corner.

  3. (C)

    Figure — Table upright along the left wall at the top-left corner, away from the window; Almirah on the top wall right of the window; Bed Q upright along the right wall at the top-right corner; Bed P on the left wall beside the Fan.

  4. (D)

    Figure — Bed Q directly below the window with the Fan below it; Bed P upright along the left wall at the top-left corner; Table upright along the right wall at the top-right corner, away from the window; Almirah in the bottom-left corner.

Answer and solution

ANSWER

Option (A) is correct. It is the only plan where the table is at the window, for P, and Bed Q is next to the ceiling fan, for Q.

Official answer: ASource: Official answer key, GATE 2024 EE (IISc Bengaluru)

  1. Turn the passage into two conditions that the arrangement must meet. Condition 1 (P): P wants to sit at the table and watch birds outside, so the table must be at the window. Condition 2 (Q): Q is fine with that as long as his bed is close to the ceiling fan, so Bed Q must be close to the fan. Nothing is said about the almirah, the door or Bed P, so they can be anywhere.

  2. Check option (A). The table is right below the window, so Condition 1 holds. Bed Q is right next to the fan, so Condition 2 holds. Both conditions are met.

  3. Check option (B). The table is below the window, so Condition 1 holds. But Bed Q is in the far top-right corner and the fan is left of centre, so Condition 2 fails.

  4. Check option (C). The table stands against the left wall in the top-left corner, not at the window, so Condition 1 fails. The bed next to the fan is Bed P, not Bed Q. Bed Q is against the far right wall, away from the fan, so Condition 2 fails too.

  5. Check option (D). Bed Q is below the window and next to the fan, so Condition 2 holds. But the window spot is taken by Bed Q, and the table is in the far top-right corner, so Condition 1 fails.

  6. (A) is the only plan that meets both conditions, so it is the arrangement that suits them the most. Answer: (A)

KEY IDEA

Turn the story into firm conditions: the table must be at the window, and Bed Q must be close to the fan. Then strike out every plan that breaks either one. The almirah, the door and Bed P don't affect the answer.

WATCH OUT FOR

Checking only one condition, or checking the wrong bed. (B) puts the table at the window but leaves Bed Q far from the fan. (D) puts Bed Q next to the fan but gives the window to Bed Q instead of the table. (C) has a bed next to the fan, but it is Bed P, not Bed Q.

From the GATE 2024 EE paper. Every question of this paper · Download the full paper · All 41 Reasoning questions, with notes

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