Question

Read the following instructions and answer the question:
Eleven friends M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are sitting in the first row of the stadium watching a cricket match.
(A) T is to the immediate left of P and third to the right of U.
(B) V is the immediate neighbour of M and N and third to the left of S.
(C) M is the second to the right of Q, who is at one of the ends.
(D) R is sitting next to the right of P and P is second to the right of O.
If Q and P, O and N, M and T, and W and R interchange their positions then which of the following pairs of friends is sitting at the ends?

• A. P and Q
• B. Q and R
• C. P and W
• D. W and R

Hint:

Only the swaps touching seat 1 (Q-P) and seat 11 (W-R) matter for the ends.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Instead of rewriting the whole row, just track what happens to the two end seats, position 1 and position 11, since only they decide the answer.
Step 2: Position 1 originally holds Q. The interchange list swaps Q with P, so position 1 now holds P.
Step 3: Position 11 originally holds R. The interchange list swaps W with R, so position 11 now holds W.
Step 4: None of the other swaps (O with N, M with T) touch positions 1 or 11 at all, so they do not affect the ends.
Step 5: Therefore after all the interchanges, the left end holds P and the right end holds W.
\[\boxed{\text{Ends} = P \text{ and } W}\]