RRB Group D Parallel Row Puzzle — Study Material & 3 Practice MCQs | ZestExam
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RRB Group D Parallel Row Puzzle
Study Material · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
This page covers RRB Group D Parallel Row Puzzle with complete concept notes, 3 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.
In parallel row puzzles, you arrange people in two rows based on given conditions. The key challenge is tracking who sits where and their facing directions. Most commonly, people in Row 1 face south and people in Row 2 face north, so they look at each other
💡Key Rules
Always establish the facing direction first. If Row 1 faces south and Row 2 faces north, then left-right positions are opposite when viewed from each person's perspective. When someone in Row 1 looks at Row 2, their left corresponds to the right side of people in Row 2. Distance relationships work normally - adjacent means next to each other, and counting positions follows the established direction.
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Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks 3-5 questions from one parallel row puzzle. Questions focus on who sits opposite to whom, who sits at ends, counting positions from left or right, and identifying neighbors. The puzzle usually involves 6-10 people with 3-4 people in each row.
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Shortcuts
Use these to save 30–60 seconds per question
1
Draw two horizontal lines and mark positions as 1,2,3,4 in Row 1 and 1,2,3,4 in Row
2
When Row 1 faces Row 2, position 1 of Row 1 faces position 1 of Row 2 directly. Use arrows to show facing directions. This visual method prevents confusion about left-right orientations.
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Worked Example
Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Draw two rows. Row 1 faces north, Row 2 faces south (given A faces north in Row 1).
2
Step 2
D sits at left end of Row 1, so D is at position 1.
3
Step 3
A sits second from left in Row 1, so A is at position 2.
4
Step 4
B sits opposite to A, so B is at position 2 in Row 2.
5
Step 5
C sits immediate right of B. Since Row 2 faces south, C's right means position 1 in Row 2.
6
Step 6
Who sits opposite to C? C is at position 1 in Row 2, so the person opposite is at position 1 in Row 1, which is D.
Answer: D sits opposite to C.
Common Mistake: Students confuse left-right directions when people face different directions. Always remember that when two people face each other, their left-right sides are opposite. Draw diagrams with clear direction arrows to avoid this confusion. Another mistake is not establishing the total number of positions in each row before placing people.
Six friends — Aman, Bhavna, Chetan, Divya, Esha, and Farhan — sit in two parallel rows of three seats each. Row 1 faces Row 2. The following conditions must be satisfied:
1. Aman sits in Row 1, middle seat.
2. Bhavna sits directly opposite to Aman in Row 2.
3. Chetan sits to the left of Aman in Row 1.
4. Divya sits to the right of Bhavna in Row 2.
5. Esha does not sit in Row 2.
6. Farhan sits in the right seat of Row 1.
Who sits in the left seat of Row 2?
Practice 2medium
Six friends — Arun, Bina, Chetan, Divya, Esha, and Farhan — are seated in two parallel rows of three seats each. Row 1 faces Row 2. The following conditions apply:
1. Arun sits in Row 1, middle seat.
2. Bina sits directly opposite to Arun.
3. Chetan sits in Row 1, left seat.
4. Divya sits in Row 2, left seat.
5. Esha sits to the right of Chetan in Row 1.
6. Farhan sits opposite to Esha.
Who sits in the middle seat of Row 2?
Practice 3medium
Six friends—A, B, C, D, E, and F—sit in two parallel rows of three seats each. Row 1 faces Row 2. The following conditions must be satisfied:
1. A sits in Row 1, middle seat.
2. B sits directly opposite to A (Row 2, middle seat).
3. C sits to the left of A in Row 1.
4. D sits to the right of B in Row 2.
5. E sits in Row 1, right seat.
6. F sits in Row 2, left seat.
Who sits directly opposite to E?
60-Second Revision — Parallel Row Puzzle
Remember: Draw two lines with direction arrows first
Formula: Opposite positions have same numbers across rows
Trap: Left-right confusion when people face each other
Key: Establish total positions in each row before solving
Trick: Use position numbers 1,2,3,4 instead of left-right terms
Pattern: SSC asks who sits opposite, at ends, and neighbors
Speed tip: Mark known positions first, then use given relationships