GATE 2026 CY – Question 9
Four hills H1, H2, H3, and H4 are present in an area. The following observations are made about them:
i. Neither H2 nor H3 is the easternmost hill.
ii. Neither H2 nor H3 is the westernmost hill.
iii. Neither the easternmost hill nor the westernmost hill is the southernmost hill.
iv. Two hills are located to the west of H2.
v. The southernmost hill has at least two hills to its east.
The southernmost hill is ________.
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Correct answer: (C) H3
Explanation
Name the positions from west (W) to east (E): 1, 2, 3, 4.
**Clues (i) and (ii).** Neither H2 nor H3 is the easternmost or the westernmost hill. So H2 and H3 are in the middle positions (2 and 3), and H1 and H4 are the two end hills.
**Clue (iv).** Two hills are located to the west of H2, so H2 is in position 3. Therefore H3 is in position 2.
Order from west to east: $(\text{end hill}),\ H3,\ H2,\ (\text{other end hill})$.
**Clue (iii).** The southernmost hill is neither the easternmost nor the westernmost, so it is H3 or H2.
**Clue (v).** The southernmost hill has at least two hills to its east. H2 (position 3) has only one hill to its east. H3 (position 2) has two (H2 and the east end hill). So the southernmost hill is **H3** (option C).