Five persons P, Q, R, S and T are sitting in a row, facing the same direction.
S is to the immediate left of R, who is to the right of T.
P is sitting between T and R.
Who among the following cannot be at the middle of the row?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Assume all five persons are facing North (Left to Right):
• S is to the immediate left of R: This forms the block (S, R).
• P is between T and R, and R is to the right of T: Since S is immediately left of R, no one can sit between S and R. Thus, the relative order of these four persons from left to right must be T – P – S – R.
Now, placing the fifth person, Q, in different valid positions (keeping S immediately to the left of R):
• Q, T, P, S, R → Middle person is P
• T, Q, P, S, R → Middle person is P
• T, P, Q, S, R → Middle person is Q
• T, P, S, R, Q → Middle person is S
Thus, P, Q, or S can be in the middle of the row, but T can never be in the middle.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D).