Five aerospace test engineers—$P, Q, R, S,$ and $T$—are seated in a single row facing North in the telemetry control room: 1. $S$ is seated immediately between $P$ and $Q$. 2. $Q$ is to the immediate right of $S$. 3. $T$ is seated at the extreme left end. 4. $R$ is to the immediate right of $Q$. Who is seated at the exact middle position of the row?

(A) S

(B) P

(C) Q

(D) R

Answer Key:

Verified in official key

### 1. Strategy & Theoretical Principles Using 1D linear position tracking facing North (Left to Right positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5): - Clue 3: $T$ is at extreme left $\implies$ Position 1 = $T$. - Clue 1 & 2: $S$ is between $P$ and $Q$, with $Q$ to the immediate right of $S$. Thus the group is ordered as: $[P, S, Q]$. - Clue 4: $R$ is to the immediate right of $Q$. Thus the contiguous group is: $[P, S, Q, R]$. ### 2. Complete Layout Synthesis Placing $[P, S, Q, R]$ into the remaining positions 2, 3, 4, 5: - Position 1: $T$ - Position 2: $P$ - Position 3: $S$ - Position 4: $Q$ - Position 5: $R$ Position 3 is the exact center of the 5-seat row, occupied by **$S$**. ### 3. Distractor Forensics - Candidate placing $P$ at center fails clue 1. ### 4. Exam Trap & Standard Reference - **Trap Alert:** Always anchor the fixed end first ($T$ at extreme left). - **Standard Reference:** GATE General Aptitude Official Syllabus - Analytical Reasoning.

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