question: Look at this series: 53, 53, 40, 40, 27, 27, ... What number should come next?
Options:
(A) 12
(B) 15
(C) 14
(D) 18
(E) 17
answer: Stream of consciousness: In this series, each number is repeated, then 13 is subtracted to arrive at the next number. The answer is (C).

q: A rat is placed at the beginning of a maze and must make it to the end. There are four paths at the start that he has an equal chance of taking: path A takes 5 minutes and leads to the end, path B takes 8 minutes and leads to the start, path C takes 3 minutes and leads to the end, and path D takes 2 minutes and leads to the start.
What is the expected amount of time it will take for the rat to finish the maze?
Options:
(A) 5min
(B) 6min
(C) 7min
(D) 8min
(E) 9min
a: Stream of consciousness: Each path has an equal chance of occurring and if B or D are chosen they will just add 8 or 2 minutes to the time because the rat must restart the maze: time = (1/4)*5 + (1/4)*(8 + time) + (1/4)*(3) + (1/4)*(2 + time). Time = 9 minutes. The answer is (E).

question: A can do a piece of work in 20 days. B in 15 days A and C in 12 days. In how many days can A finish the work if he is assisted by B on one day and C on the next, alternately?
Options:
(A) 2 days
(B) 8 days
(C) 6 days
(D) 8 days
(E) 9 days
answer: Stream of consciousness: A + B = 1/20 + 1/15 = 7/60
A + C = 1/20 + 1/12 = 8/60
7/60 + 8/60 = 15/60 = 1/4
4 days * 2 = 8 days The answer is (B).

q: How much 70% of 100 is greater than 60% of 80?
Options:
(A) 18
(B) 99
(C) 22
(D) 26
(E) 71
a: Stream of consciousness: (70/100) * 100 (60/100) * 80
70- 48 = 22 The answer is (C).

question: Find the odd man out 8,27, 64,216,,512,1000
Options:
(A) 216
(B) 512
(C) 64
(D) 8
(E) 27
answer: Stream of consciousness: 27 is cube of 3 which is odd number where as all others are cubes of even numbers. The answer is (E).

question: The average of first six prime numbers greater than 65 is?
Options:
(A) 55
(B) 77
(C) 56
(D) 67
(E) 98
answer:
Stream of consciousness: 67 + 71 + 73 + 79 + 83 + 89 = 462/6 = 77 The answer is (B).