Raven's Progressive Matrices Positional Changes and Motion Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sequence shows a black dot moving within a 3x3 grid. The first frame shows the dot in the top-left corner. The second frame shows it in the top-center. The third frame shows it in the middle-center. The fourth frame shows it in the middle-right. Which frame correctly shows the fifth position in the sequence?
- A grid with the dot in the bottom-right cell. (Correct answer)
- A grid with the dot in the bottom-center cell.
- A grid with the dot in the top-right cell.
- A grid with the dot in the middle-left cell.
Correct answer: A grid with the dot in the bottom-right cell.
The pattern of movement is an alternating sequence: one step to the right, followed by one step down. The sequence is Top-Left -> (move right) -> Top-Center -> (move down) -> Middle-Center -> (move right) -> Middle-Right. The next move must be one step down, placing the dot in the bottom-right cell.
Question 2: In a 3x3 matrix, a figure (an arrow within a circle) changes from cell to cell. Moving left-to-right across any row, the arrow rotates 90 degrees clockwise. Moving top-to-bottom down any column, the entire figure moves to the next cell down without rotating. If the top-left cell contains an arrow pointing up (↑) inside a circle, what does the center cell (row 2, column 2) contain?
- An arrow pointing left (←) in a circle.
- An arrow pointing right (→) in a circle. (Correct answer)
- An arrow pointing up (↑) in a circle.
- An arrow pointing down (↓) in a circle.
Correct answer: An arrow pointing right (→) in a circle.
To find the center cell (2,2), one can first determine an adjacent cell. For example, moving from the top-left cell (1,1) one step right to cell (1,2) rotates the arrow 90 degrees clockwise, resulting in a right-pointing arrow (→). Then, moving from cell (1,2) one step down to the center cell (2,2) applies the column rule, which is a positional change only. Thus, the center cell contains a right-pointing arrow.
Question 3: A sequence consists of a box divided vertically in half. The first image shows the letter 'L' in the left half. The second image shows a horizontally reflected 'L' in the right half. Which image logically continues the sequence as the third image?
- A horizontally reflected 'L' in the left half.
- A standard 'L' in the right half.
- A standard 'L' in the left half. (Correct answer)
- A vertically reflected 'L' in the left half.
Correct answer: A standard 'L' in the left half.
The rule is a two-part transformation: 1. Reflect the figure horizontally. 2. Move the figure to the opposite half of the box. Applying this rule to the second image (a reflected 'L' on the right side): 1. Reflecting it horizontally returns it to a standard 'L'. 2. Moving it to the opposite half places it in the left half. This results in an image identical to the first in the sequence.
Question 4: In a 3x3 matrix, each cell contains a small black square and a small white circle within its four quadrants. The rule for moving across a row (left to right) is that the two shapes swap their horizontal positions. The rule for moving down a column is that the two shapes swap their vertical positions. If the top-left cell has the square in the top-left quadrant and the circle in the bottom-right quadrant, what is the configuration of the bottom-right cell?
- Square in the bottom-left, circle in the top-right.
- Square in the top-right, circle in the bottom-left.
- Square in the bottom-right, circle in the top-left.
- Square in the top-left, circle in the bottom-right. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Square in the top-left, circle in the bottom-right.
Let's trace the transformations. Moving from the top-left cell to the top-right cell involves two horizontal swaps, which results in the shapes returning to their original horizontal positions. Similarly, moving from the top-right cell to the bottom-right cell involves two vertical swaps, which returns the shapes to their original vertical positions. Therefore, the figure in the bottom-right cell is identical to the one in the top-left cell.
Question 5: A sequence is displayed in a 1x4 horizontal grid. A single dot moves three cells to the right in each step. If a move goes past the fourth cell, it 'wraps around' to the first cell and continues. If the first frame shows the dot in the first (leftmost) cell, which frame shows the dot in the second cell?
- The second frame.
- The third frame.
- The fourth frame. (Correct answer)
- The fifth frame.
Correct answer: The fourth frame.
The movement sequence is as follows: Frame 1 starts at position 1. For Frame 2, moving 3 cells right places the dot in position 4. For Frame 3, moving 3 cells right from position 4 results in landing on position 3 (one step to wrap to 1, then two more steps to 3). For Frame 4, moving 3 cells right from position 3 results in landing on position 2 (one step to 4, one step to wrap to 1, one more step to 2).
Question 6: A sequence of figures shows a pointer that can be in one of five discrete positions, labeled 1 (far-left) through 5 (far-right). The sequence of observed positions is: 3 (center), 4 (mid-right), 5 (far-right), 4 (mid-right), 3 (center). What is the next position in this oscillating sequence?
- Position 2 (mid-left) (Correct answer)
- Position 5 (far-right)
- Position 1 (far-left)
- Position 4 (mid-right)
Correct answer: Position 2 (mid-left)
The pointer demonstrates an oscillating or swinging motion. It starts at the center (3), moves to the right extreme (5), and then returns to the center (3). The logical continuation of this pattern is for the swing to proceed towards the left extreme. The very next step after the center (3) in that direction is the mid-left position (2).
