Comprehension

On the night of October 12th, the "Sunburst Medallion" was stolen from the highly secured display case in the city museum. The theft occurred sometime between the museum closing at 10:00 PM and the night guard, Mr. Hemant, completing his final round at 1:00 AM. Three primary suspects were identified, all of whom had recently been dismissed from their museum positions: Anjali, the former curator; Bharat, the former security expert; and Chitra, the former exhibits designer.

Here are the established facts and their alibis:

  • The security system logs show that the display case was opened using a specific five-digit code, which only Anjali and the museum director (who was out of the country) knew.
  • Bharat's alibi is that he was at a distant relative's birthday party from 8:00 PM to 1:30 AM. Multiple independent witnesses confirmed his presence throughout the entire period.
  • Chitra's alibi is that she was working late at a downtown graphic design studio. A time-stamped security camera from the studio's entrance shows her entering at 7:00 PM and exiting at 11:45 PM. The studio is a 20-minute drive from the museum.
  • Mr. Hemant, the night guard, stated he checked the medallion at 10:30 PM, and it was still there.

Further investigation revealed that a small, distinctive silver button was found near the display case. Anjali is known to frequently wear a coat with similar unique silver buttons. The security expert, Bharat, had previously boasted that he could remotely disable a certain type of magnetic lock—the same type used on the medallion's case—without needing the code, though the log suggests the code was used. (269 words)

Question: 1

Based only on the fact that the five-digit code was used to open the display case, who is the only plausible suspect among the three?

Show Hint

When a question says "based only on" a specific fact, ignore all other information and focus strictly on what that one fact implies.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Anjali
  • Bharat
  • Chitra
  • Both Anjali and Chitra
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Looking only at who could have used the five-digit code, the director was out of the country, so of the three suspects only Anjali had that knowledge, since neither Bharat's claimed workaround nor anything about Chitra involves the code at all. That makes Anjali the only plausible suspect, option (a).
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Question: 2

The theft occurred between 10{:00 PM and 1{:}00 AM, but the night guard saw the medallion at 10{:}30 PM. Given Chitra's alibi, what is the earliest time she could have reached the museum?}

Show Hint

For time-line questions, convert everything to a clear sequence and add/subtract travel or waiting times step by step.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • 11{:}45 PM
  • 12{:}05 AM
  • 12{:}45 AM
  • 10{:}50 PM
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Chitra leaves the studio at \(11{:}45\) PM.
Step 2: The museum is \(20\) minutes away by drive.
Step 3: Adding the travel time, \(11{:}45 \text{ PM} + 20\text{ min} = 12{:}05 \text{ AM}\).
\[ \boxed{12{:}05 \text{ AM}} \]
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Question: 3

If the theft was committed by Bharat, which established fact must be incorrect, based on the provided information?

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When a hypothesis (e.g., “Bharat is the thief”) clashes with established facts, identify which fact must be wrong for the hypothesis to hold.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • The medallion was present at 10{:}30 PM
  • The security logs indicating the code was used
  • The museum closing time of 10{:}00 PM
  • The time frame of his alibi (8{:}00 PM to 1{:}30 AM)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

For Bharat to be guilty he needed to be at the museum during the theft window, but his alibi says he was elsewhere the whole time, confirmed by several witnesses. The facts about the medallion's location, the code log, and the closing time don't depend on Bharat at all, so none of them need to be wrong for him to be guilty, only his alibi's time frame would have to be false. Hence option (d).
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Question: 4

The discovery of the silver button near the display case is the most incriminating evidence against which suspect, and why?

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Physical evidence that uniquely links to one suspect (like a distinctive item of clothing) is usually stronger than general abilities or opportunities.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Bharat, because he had the technical expertise to get close to the case
  • Chitra, because she was near the museum late that night
  • Anjali, because she is known to wear a coat with similar buttons
  • Mr.Hemant, as he was the last person to check the area
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

A piece of physical evidence is most damaging when it directly connects a suspect to the scene. Bharat's skill and Chitra's location are just circumstances, and Mr. Hemant's job duty explains nothing suspicious, but the silver button matches Anjali's own coat style exactly, giving a direct physical link. So the button is most incriminating against Anjali, option (c).
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Question: 5

A detective argues: ``Since Bharat has a confirmed, continuous alibi covering the entire time window of the theft (10{:}30 PM to 1{:}00 AM), he cannot be the thief.'' What principle of logic supports this detective's conclusion?

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Many reasoning questions rely on necessary conditions: if a crime {requires} presence and someone is proven absent, they are logically excluded.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Correlation does not imply causation
  • If an event requires presence, confirmed absence proves innocence
  • The rule of double jeopardy
  • The burden of proof lies with the accuser
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Being at the museum during the theft window is a must for being the thief, so proving you weren't there proves you didn't do it, and this is exactly what Bharat's confirmed alibi does. The other choices don't apply here, there's no cause-effect confusion, no legal retrial involved, and the question isn't about who has to prove what. So option (b) is correct.
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Question: 6

Considering all the facts (the code being used, the silver button, and the confirmed alibis), which is the most reasonable inference?

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When asked for the {most reasonable inference}, weigh all evidence and prefer the option that best fits {all} key facts with the fewest extra assumptions.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • Bharat must have had an accomplice who knew the code
  • Chitra's alibi is false because she had enough time to commit the crime after leaving the studio
  • Anjali is the most likely suspect because the code was used and she has a direct link to the physical evidence (the button)
  • Mr.Hemant is secretly the thief and is trying to frame the former employees
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Checking each option against the facts, an accomplice for Bharat is pure guesswork, Chitra's alibi is backed by a timestamped video so calling it false isn't reasonable, and blaming Mr. Hemant has no basis at all. Only the option pointing to Anjali, based on the code and the button, actually uses the evidence given. So option (c) is the most reasonable inference.
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Question: 7

What condition is necessary for Chitra to have stolen the medallion?

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A {necessary} condition must be true for an event to be possible. Ask: “If this were false, could the event still happen?” If not, then the condition is necessary.
Updated On: Jul 3, 2026
  • She must know the five digit code
  • She must have left the graphic design studio before 11{:}45 PM
  • The theft must have occurred after she left the studio and before 1{:}00 AM
  • She must have worked with Anjali to disable the locks
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Chitra can only be guilty if she actually had the chance to be at the museum during the crime, that means the theft must have happened sometime after she left her studio and before the window closes at 1:00 AM. That overlap is the necessary condition, so option (c) is correct.
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