Question

Directions: Each group of questions in this section is based on a set of conditions. In answering some of the questions, it may help to draw a rough diagram. Choose the response that most accurately and completely answers each question.

Questions 97 to 101: A company launches eight products, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y, and Z, in one of the four metros of India. The products were launched one after the other over a period of six months in 2006. The order in which the products were launched is consistent with the following conditions:

• V is launched before both Y and Q.
• Q gets launched after Z.
• T gets launched before V but after R.
• S gets launched after V.
• R gets launched before W.

97. Which one of the following could be true?

• A. Y is the second product to be launched.
• B. R is the third product to be launched.
• C. Q is the fourth product to be launched.
• D. S is the fifth product to be launched.

Hint:

Chain the conditions together (R before T before V before S, and V before Y and Q, with Z before Q) to find the minimum number of products that must sit before or after each item.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Write down the ordering chains hidden in the conditions.
The five conditions are: R is launched before T, T before V, V before S, V before Y, V before Q, and Z before Q. Combining "R before T" and "T before V" gives the chain R, then T, then V, in that order. Combining this with "V before S" extends it to R, then T, then V, then S, a chain of 4 products where each must come strictly before the next. Separately, V must also come before both Y and Q, and Z must come before Q.

Step 2: Use the chain to test option 2 (R is third).
Everyone in the chain R, T, V, S must come strictly after R, so T, V, S, along with W (since R is before W too), all sit somewhere after R, that is 4 distinct products that must follow R. The real block is what comes BEFORE R: only Y, Q, or Z could possibly sit before R, since T, V, S, W are all forced after R. But Q and Y must both come after V, and V itself comes after R, so Q and Y are also stuck after R. That leaves only Z as a candidate to sit before R, giving at most 1 slot before R. So R can be 3rd only if exactly 2 things sit before it, which is impossible since just 1 (Z) is available. R cannot be 3rd.

Step 3: Test option 3 (Q is fourth).
Q needs both V before it and Z before it. Since R, T, V is itself a chain of 3, V being before Q means R, T, V all come before Q too, so R, T, V, Z (4 distinct products) must all sit before Q. That needs at least 4 slots before Q, but the 4th position only has 3 slots before it. So Q cannot be 4th; the earliest Q can be launched is 5th.

Step 4: Test option 5 (V is sixth).
V must come before Y, Q, and S, three separate products, so at least 3 slots must remain after V. If V were 6th, only 2 slots (7th and 8th) would remain, not enough room for 3 products. So V cannot be 6th; the latest V can be launched is 5th.

Step 5: Test option 1 (Y is second).
Y must come after V, and V must come after the chain R, T. So R, T, V must all sit before Y, needing at least 3 slots before Y. If Y were 2nd, only 1 slot would exist before it, nowhere near enough. So Y cannot be 2nd.

Step 6: Test option 4 (S is fifth) by building a full valid order.
Try: R first, T second, V third, W fourth, S fifth, Y sixth, Z seventh, Q eighth. Check every rule: V (3rd) is before Y (6th) and Q (8th); Q (8th) is after Z (7th); T (2nd) is before V (3rd) and after R (1st); S (5th) is after V (3rd); R (1st) is before W (4th). Every condition is satisfied, and S sits in the 5th slot.

Final Answer:
Only option 4 survives, S can be the fifth product launched, so that is the correct choice.