Read both the statements and give the answer:
Among A, B, C, D and E, who is the third from the top when arranged in the descending order of their weights?
I. C is heavier than A and E, and is lighter than B, who is not the heaviest.
II. E is heavier than only A.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → If the data in statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the data in statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question.
Each statement is tested on its own: does it alone fix who is third from the top?
Statement I alone:
C is heavier than A and E, so A and E are below C.
B is heavier than C, but B is not the heaviest. Of the five, only D is left to be heavier than B, so D is the heaviest.
Order from the top: D, B, C, then A and E, so C is third. Statement I is sufficient.
Statement II alone:
E is heavier than only A, so A is the lightest and E is fourth.
Nothing is said about how B, C and D compare, so the third place cannot be fixed. Statement II is not sufficient.