Study the facts: 11 Plus verbal reasoning practice
Use the clues to work out who chose what.
OftenIn many papers, especially GL AssessmentAbout 35 seconds a question in the test
The big idea
A few children each chose something different, and the clues tell you a little about each choice. Some clues say what someone chose; most say what someone did not choose.
Nobody solves these in their head. Draw a small grid with the names down the side and the choices along the top, and cross out what each clue forbids.
Tips that save marks
Fill in the certain clues first (“Chloe chose swimming”), then cross that choice out for everyone else.
When a row or a column has one box left, fill it in, then cross out again.
Read the question last: it may ask about someone the clues never name directly.
A worked example
Three children, Maya, Ben and Zara, each chose a different pet. Maya chose the cat. Ben did not choose the dog. Who chose the dog?
Maya has the cat, so cross the cat out for Ben and Zara.
Ben did not choose the dog, and the cat is gone, so Ben has the fish.
Only Zara is left for the dog. Answer: Zara.
Now try five
Try each one before you look at the answer: answering from memory is what makes it stick. Tap an option to check it. Most children get three or four right at first; five out of five means move on to the next topic.
Question 1Aim for about 35 seconds
Four children, Ben, Daniel, Zara and Ethan, each chose a different pet. Read the clues. Who chose the dog?
Daniel chose the dog.
Ethan did not choose the hamster.
Zara did not choose the rabbit.
The hamster was chosen by a boy.
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, Daniel
How to work it out
Start with what is certain: Daniel chose the dog.
Then cross out what the other clues forbid.
Zara must have chosen the parrot: it is the only one left for she.
Ethan must have chosen the rabbit: it is the only one left for he.
Ben must have chosen the hamster: it is the only one left for he.
So Daniel chose the dog.
Why the other options are wrong
A (Ben): Ben chose the hamster: it is the only choice left for Ben.
C (Zara): Zara chose the parrot: it is the only choice left for Zara.
D (Ethan): Ethan chose the rabbit: it is the only choice left for Ethan.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds
Four children, Priya, Hamza, Daisy and Freya, each chose a different instrument. Read the clues. Who chose the flute?
Priya chose the flute.
The violin was chosen by a girl.
Daisy chose neither the piano nor the drum.
The piano was chosen by a girl.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, Priya
How to work it out
Start with what is certain: Priya chose the flute.
Then cross out what the other clues forbid.
Hamza must have chosen the drum: it is the only one left for he.
Daisy must have chosen the violin: it is the only one left for she.
Freya must have chosen the piano: it is the only one left for she.
So Priya chose the flute.
Why the other options are wrong
B (Hamza): Hamza chose the drum: it is the only choice left for Hamza.
C (Daisy): Daisy chose the violin: it is the only choice left for Daisy.
D (Freya): Freya chose the piano: it is the only choice left for Freya.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Four children, Ben, Chloe, Priya and Jack, each chose a different instrument. Read the clues. Who chose the piano?
Chloe chose neither the piano nor the guitar.
Priya chose neither the trumpet nor the piano.
The guitar was chosen by a girl.
Ben chose neither the trumpet nor the guitar.
The violin was chosen by a girl.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, Ben
How to work it out
Then cross out what the other clues forbid.
Ben must have chosen the piano: it is the only one left for he.
Jack must have chosen the trumpet: it is the only one left for he.
Only Priya can have the guitar, so she did.
Chloe must have chosen the violin: it is the only one left for she.
So Ben chose the piano.
Why the other options are wrong
B (Chloe): Chloe chose the violin: it is the only choice left for Chloe.
C (Priya): Priya chose the guitar: no one else can have the guitar.
D (Jack): Jack chose the trumpet: it is the only choice left for Jack.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds
Four children, Nadia, Amira, Zara and Yusuf, each chose a different colour. Read the clues. Which colour did Zara choose?
Amira did not choose the yellow.
Nadia chose neither the orange nor the yellow.
Nadia chose neither the orange nor the blue.
Yusuf chose neither the blue nor the orange.
Amira chose neither the green nor the blue.
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, blue
How to work it out
Then cross out what the other clues forbid.
Nadia must have chosen the green: it is the only one left for she.
Amira must have chosen the orange: it is the only one left for she.
Yusuf must have chosen the yellow: it is the only one left for he.
Zara must have chosen the blue: it is the only one left for she.
So Zara chose the blue.
Why the other options are wrong
A (green): The green was chosen by Nadia: it is the only choice left for Nadia. Zara chose the blue.
B (orange): The orange was chosen by Amira: it is the only choice left for Amira. Zara chose the blue.
D (yellow): The yellow was chosen by Yusuf: it is the only choice left for Yusuf. Zara chose the blue.
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds
Four children, Daniel, Sam, Sofia and Kai, each chose a different fruit. Read the clues. Who chose the mango?
The banana was chosen by a boy.
Sam did not choose the mango.
Sam chose the banana.
Daniel chose the plum.
Sofia did not choose the mango.
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, Kai
How to work it out
Start with what is certain: Sam chose the banana.
Daniel chose the plum.
Then cross out what the other clues forbid.
Sofia must have chosen the pear: it is the only one left for she.
Kai must have chosen the mango: it is the only one left for he.
So Kai chose the mango.
Why the other options are wrong
A (Daniel): Daniel chose the plum: clue 4 says so.
B (Sam): Sam chose the banana: clue 3 says so.
C (Sofia): Sofia chose the pear: it is the only choice left for Sofia.
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