Directions: Read the information and answer the given questions. Six persons,…
2025
Directions: Read the information and answer the given questions.
Six persons, namely, A, B, C, D, E, and F, like different colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Black, and White, and they are showcasing their work in a painting exhibition on two different dates, either 9 or 16, of three different months: March, June, and August of the same year, but not necessarily in the same order.
The one who likes Yellow showcases immediately before D. E likes neither Red nor Green. A showcases in the month that has an even number of days. A showcases two persons after the one who likes Red. F showcases on an odd-numbered date, but after A. C showcases three persons before the one who showcases immediately after the one who likes Black. C does not showcase on an even-numbered date. A does not like Black. The one who likes Green showcases in the same month as E. Neither C nor B likes Yellow and White.
Which of the following colors does D like?
- A.
Green
- B.
Yellow
- C.
White
- D.
Blue
- E.
Red
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept:
Compound scheduling-and-attribute puzzles are solved by first collapsing the two independent scheduling axes into one linear order of slots, using any calendar/parity clue to anchor that order; relative-position clues (offsets, immediately-before/after, n-before) then pin each person to one slot, and exclusion or co-occurrence clues fix each person's remaining attribute by elimination once every slot is fixed.
Application to this puzzle:
List the six month-date combinations in chronological order: March 9, March 16, June 9, June 16, August 9, August 16 — call these positions 1 to 6.
Among March, June, and August, only June has an even number of days (30, versus 31 for the other two), so the clue placing a person in the even-days month fixes that person in June, i.e., at position 3 or 4.
Testing position 3 for that person forces the Red-liker two slots earlier, at position 1; the odd-date restriction then forces another fixed person into position 1 as well, which in turn forces the Black-liker onto position 3 itself — but that person is barred from liking Black, so this branch is impossible.
So that person sits at position 4 (June 16), which places the Red-liker two slots earlier, at position 2 (March 16).
The clue placing one specific person on an odd-numbered date after position 4 leaves only position 5 (August 9) available for them.
The odd-date restriction on a second fixed person allows only position 1, 3, or 5; position 5 is already taken, and testing position 3 collapses the Yellow-before-D ordering (no slot then keeps every clue consistent), so that person sits at position 1 (March 9).
With that person at position 1, the three-before-successor clue tied to Black places the Black-liker at position 3 (June 9).
Only positions 2, 3, and 6 remain for the three unplaced people; the Yellow-immediately-before-D clue is satisfied only when D takes position 6 and Yellow sits at position 5 — the sole pairing that keeps every other clue intact.
One of the two remaining people cannot like Red, so that person cannot occupy position 2 (Red); they must occupy position 3 (Black, June 9), leaving the last person at position 2 (Red, March 16).
Since the Black-liker's month is June, the Green-liker (who shares that month) must also fall in June — the only other June slot is position 4, so the person there likes Green.
Only Blue and White remain, split between position 1 and position 6 (D); the clue barring the position-1 person from White leaves them with Blue, so White is left for D.
Cross-check:
Checking the full layout against every clue confirms it holds without exception: the Yellow-liker (August 9) sits immediately before D (August 16); the person excluded from Red and Green (June 9) holds neither; the even-days-month person (June 16) is exactly two slots after Red (March 16); the person restricted to an odd date after that slot lands on August 9; the odd-date, three-before-successor person (March 9) correctly precedes Black's successor by three slots; that same person avoids Black; Green (June 16) shares its month with the June-9 person; and neither the March-9 person nor the March-16 person holds Yellow or White. Every constraint is met by exactly one arrangement, so D's color is fixed uniquely as White.