Question

Which of the following persons is definitely not seated next to a person of the same sex?

• A. Maqbool
• B. Madhuri
• C. Jackie
• D. Shobha

Hint:

In such questions, “definitely” means 100% certainty from the given constraints — avoid assuming more than what’s logically forced.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The problem states that each person must be seated such that at least on one side there is a person of the opposite sex. This does not mean that every person is guaranteed two neighbours of opposite sex — only at least one.
We analyze each option based on the derived seating arrangement:
1. Maqbool — Sits opposite Shobha. Depending on placements, he could have one male and one female neighbour, so we cannot say for sure he is not seated next to a same-sex person.
2. Madhuri — Her position ensures that on both sides she has men as neighbours, due to the gender alternation rule in her specific row. Therefore, she is definitely not next to a same-sex person.
3. Jackie — Could have one male neighbour depending on arrangement, so not definite.
4. Shobha — Same reasoning as Jackie; cannot be confirmed without ambiguity.
Thus, Madhuri is the only one who can be confirmed to have no neighbour of the same sex.