UPSC CSE Prelims 2013
Consider the following figures:
Which one of the following figures would logically come in the 7th position indicated above by a question mark?
EXPLANATION
Correct Option
The sequence of figures follows a consistent alternating pattern for each of its three distinct elements:
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Outer Arrows: The orientation of the outer arrows alternates in each subsequent figure.
- Figures 1, 3, and 5 display the top arrow pointing right and the bottom arrow pointing left.
- Figures 2, 4, and 6 display the top arrow pointing left and the bottom arrow pointing right.
- Following this established pattern, the 7th figure should revert to the configuration seen in figures 1, 3, and 5, with the top arrow pointing right and the bottom arrow pointing left.
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Inner Circle Shading: The shading of the inner circle alternates between figures.
- Figures 1, 3, and 5 have a shaded inner circle.
- Figures 2, 4, and 6 have an unshaded inner circle.
- Following this pattern, the 7th figure should have a shaded inner circle.
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Square Shading: The shading of the square also alternates between figures.
- Figures 1, 3, and 5 have a shaded square.
- Figures 2, 4, and 6 have an unshaded square.
- Following this pattern, the 7th figure should have a shaded square.
Option 1 is the only figure that aligns with all three derived characteristics for the 7th position: top arrow pointing right and bottom arrow pointing left, a shaded inner circle, and a shaded square.
Incorrect Options
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Option 2: This figure displays the top arrow pointing left and the bottom arrow pointing right, an unshaded inner circle, and an unshaded square. These characteristics correspond to the pattern observed in the 2nd, 4th, and 6th figures of the sequence, not the 7th.
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Option 3: While the outer arrows (top right, bottom left) and the square (shaded) match the expected pattern for the 7th figure, the inner circle is unshaded. This contradicts the alternating pattern which dictates a shaded inner circle for the 7th position.
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Option 4: This figure features the top arrow pointing left and the bottom arrow pointing right, and an unshaded square. Both of these elements contradict the alternating pattern established for the 7th position. Although the inner circle is shaded, the other components do not conform to the logical progression of the sequence.