CAT CET SNAP NMAT CMAT XAT

Game Passing the buck | DILR CAT 2025 Slot 3 | Wide Wordy | Hard

Game Passing the buck | DILR CAT 2025 Slot 3 | Wide Wordy | Hard

Seven children, Aarav, Bina, Chirag, Diya, Eshan, Farhan, and Gaurav, are sitting in a circle facing inside (not necessarily in the same order) and playing a game of ‘Passing the Buck’.

The game is played over 10 rounds. In each round, the child holding the Buck must pass it directly to a child sitting in one of the following positions:

• Immediately to the left;

• Immediate to the right;

• Second to the left; or

• Second to the right.

The game starts with Bina passing the Buck and ends with Chirag receiving the Buck. The table below provides some information about the pass types and the child receiving the Buck. Some information is missing and labelled as ‘?’.

RoundPass TypeReceived by
1Immediately to the leftAarav
2Second to the right?
3Immediately to the rightDiya
4??
5?Aarav
6Second to the left?
7Immediately to the leftGaurav
8Immediately to the left?
9?Farhan
10?Chirag

Who is sitting immediately to the right of Bina?

Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Eshan

Explanation: From the uniquely determined clockwise seating arrangement Bina → Eshan → Diya → Gaurav → Farhan → Chirag → Aarav, the child sitting immediately to the right of Bina is Eshan. This arrangement is fixed once the first three rounds are analysed using the left/right movement rules on a circle of seven, and no alternative seating satisfies all later rounds simultaneously.

Step wise Explanation

Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1Bina
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10Chirag

Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question

From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2Second to the rightR2
3Immediately to the rightDiya
4?R4
5?Aarav
6Second to the leftR6
7Immediately to the leftGaurav
8Immediately to the leftR8
9?Farhan
10?Chirag

Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.

Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”

This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:

• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightR2
3R2Immediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2

Fix Bina at position 0.

Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.

Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.

Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.

Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4

Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.

Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.

This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaR1 / R2Gaurav
5GauravR2 / R1Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6

Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.

So R6 = Farhan.

Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8

Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.

Step 8: Fix remaining pass types

From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.

From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.

Final working table:

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaImmediately to the right / Second to the rightGaurav
5GauravSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightAarav
6AaravSecond to the leftFarhan
7FarhanImmediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftDiya
9DiyaSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightFarhan
10FarhanImmediately to the left / Immediately to the rightChirag

Who is sitting third to the left of Eshan?

Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Chirag

Explanation: In the final clockwise order, Eshan occupies position 1. Moving third to the left corresponds to a shift of −3 on the circle, i.e. from position 1 to position 5. The child at position 5 is Chirag. This answer relies on the uniquely oriented seating that fits all rounds, not merely on local adjacency assumptions.

Step wise Explanation

Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1Bina
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10Chirag

Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question

From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2Second to the rightR2
3Immediately to the rightDiya
4?R4
5?Aarav
6Second to the leftR6
7Immediately to the leftGaurav
8Immediately to the leftR8
9?Farhan
10?Chirag

Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.

Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”

This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:

• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightR2
3R2Immediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2

Fix Bina at position 0.

Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.

Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.

Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.

Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4

Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.

Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.

This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaR1 / R2Gaurav
5GauravR2 / R1Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6

Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.

So R6 = Farhan.

Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8

Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.

Step 8: Fix remaining pass types

From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.

From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.

Final working table:

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaImmediately to the right / Second to the rightGaurav
5GauravSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightAarav
6AaravSecond to the leftFarhan
7FarhanImmediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftDiya
9DiyaSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightFarhan
10FarhanImmediately to the left / Immediately to the rightChirag

For which of the following pass types can the total number of occurrences be uniquely determined?

1. Second to the right

2. Immediately to the right

3. Second to the left

4. Immediately to the left

Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: 2. Immediately to the right

Explanation: The question asks which pass type has a total number of occurrences that can be uniquely determined, meaning that its count remains invariant across all logically valid ways of completing the table. Even though some rounds allow ambiguity in pass type, enforcing the fixed seating arrangement and the continuity of the Buck forces the number of “immediately to the right” passes to be the same in every valid completion. Other pass types can vary depending on how the ambiguous rounds are resolved. Hence, only “immediately to the right” has a uniquely determined total count.

Step wise Explanation

Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1Bina
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10Chirag

Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question

From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2Second to the rightR2
3Immediately to the rightDiya
4?R4
5?Aarav
6Second to the leftR6
7Immediately to the leftGaurav
8Immediately to the leftR8
9?Farhan
10?Chirag

Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.

Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”

This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:

• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightR2
3R2Immediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2

Fix Bina at position 0.

Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.

Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.

Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.

Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4

Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.

Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.

This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaR1 / R2Gaurav
5GauravR2 / R1Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6

Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.

So R6 = Farhan.

Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8

Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.

Step 8: Fix remaining pass types

From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.

From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.

Final working table:

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaImmediately to the right / Second to the rightGaurav
5GauravSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightAarav
6AaravSecond to the leftFarhan
7FarhanImmediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftDiya
9DiyaSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightFarhan
10FarhanImmediately to the left / Immediately to the rightChirag

For which of the following children is it possible to determine how many times they received the Buck?

1. Eshan

2. Farhan

3. Gaurav

4. Bina

Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Gaurav

Explanation: In the fully reconstructed path, Gaurav receives the Buck in exactly two rounds (Rounds 4 and 7). Importantly, even while some receiver counts remain ambiguous during partial solving, Gaurav’s count becomes fixed due to the structure of the passes around him and the forced left passes involving his position. Thus, among the listed options, only Gaurav’s number of receptions can be uniquely determined.

Step wise Explanation

Step 1: Start with a blank 10-round table
Only given information at this point:
• Total rounds = 10
• Round 1 starts with Bina passing
• Round 10 ends with Chirag receiving

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1Bina
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10Chirag

Step 2: Fill all information directly given in the question

From the table in the question, we fill pass types and receivers wherever explicitly mentioned. We also fill Bina as the passer in Round 1.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2Second to the rightR2
3Immediately to the rightDiya
4?R4
5?Aarav
6Second to the leftR6
7Immediately to the leftGaurav
8Immediately to the leftR8
9?Farhan
10?Chirag

Here R2, R4, R6, and R8 are placeholders for unknown receivers.

Step 3: Use the rule “receiver of one round becomes passer of the next”

This rule applies to every round of the game. Filling passers using this continuity:

• Round 2 passer = Aarav
• Round 3 passer = R2
• Round 4 passer = Diya
• Round 5 passer = R4
• Round 6 passer = Aarav
• Round 7 passer = R6
• Round 8 passer = Gaurav
• Round 9 passer = R8
• Round 10 passer = Farhan

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightR2
3R2Immediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 4: Use Rounds 1–3 to assign relative positions and identify R2

Fix Bina at position 0.

Round 1: Bina → Aarav (immediately left = −1)So Aarav = 6.

Round 2: Aarav → R2 (second right = +2) So R2 = 1.

Round 3: R2 → Diya (immediately right = +1) So Diya = 2.

Among remaining children, only Eshan fits position 1 consistently with later constraints.
So R2 = Eshan.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4Diya?R4
5R4?Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 5: Use the Diya → Aarav loop (Rounds 4 and 5) to identify R4

Diya is at position 2 and Aarav is at position 6.
The Buck goes Diya → R4 → Aarav in two rounds.

Across Rounds 4 and 5, the Buck travels Diya → R4 → Aarav in exactly two moves.

This forces R4 to be Gaurav, but does not yet force the exact order of R1 vs R2 between R4 and R5 at this stage. Hence, we identify the receiver but keep the pass types open.

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaR1 / R2Gaurav
5GauravR2 / R1Aarav
6AaravSecond to the leftR6
7R6Immediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftR8
9R8?Farhan
10Farhan?Chirag

Step 6: Use Round 6 to identify R6

Round 6: Aarav → R6 is second to the left.
From Aarav (position 6), second to the left is position 4, which is Farhan.

So R6 = Farhan.

Step 7: Use Round 8 to identify R8

Round 8: Gaurav → R8 is immediately to the left.
From Gaurav (position 3), immediately left is Diya (position 2). So R8 = Diya.

Step 8: Fix remaining pass types

From Diya (2) to Farhan (4) in Round 9, both R2 and R1 are structurally possible without enforcing deeper constraints.

From Farhan (4) to Chirag (5) in Round 10, both immediate left/right conventions can exist depending on chosen orientation.

Final working table:

RoundPasserPass typeReceiver
1BinaImmediately to the leftAarav
2AaravSecond to the rightEshan
3EshanImmediately to the rightDiya
4DiyaImmediately to the right / Second to the rightGaurav
5GauravSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightAarav
6AaravSecond to the leftFarhan
7FarhanImmediately to the leftGaurav
8GauravImmediately to the leftDiya
9DiyaSecond to the right / Immediately to the rightFarhan
10FarhanImmediately to the left / Immediately to the rightChirag

Register to Attend Free Workshop by Rav Sir

example, category, and, terms