Pointing to a man, Rina said, “He is the only son of my mother’s husband.” Who is he?

Appeared in: NORCET 2 -2021 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The phrase 'my mother’s husband' directly translates to the speaker's (Rina's) father.
The statement then simplifies to 'He is the only son of my father'.
The only son of one's father is one's brother, assuming the speaker is female or has a brother.

Visual 1: Family Tree Diagram - A simple family tree showing Rina, her mother, her father, and her brother. This visually maps out the relationships described in the puzzle, making the connection clear.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Blood Relations Logic Puzzle as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Logical reasoning puzzles are a common component of aptitude tests for nursing entrance exams, designed to assess problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
The skill of breaking down complex statements into smaller, manageable parts is fundamental for both solving logic puzzles and for clinical problem-solving in nursing.
What if? - If the statement was 'He is the son of my mother’s only son', the answer would change. 'My mother's only son' would be Rina's brother, and 'the son of [Rina's brother]' would be Rina's nephew.

How to Approach the Question

Start from the end of the statement and work backward. Identify the relationship closest to the speaker ('my').
In this case, decode 'my mother's husband' first. This person is your father.
Substitute this decoded relationship back into the main sentence: 'He is the only son of my father'.
Analyze the final relationship: The 'only son' of your father is your brother.
Compare your conclusion with the given options to select the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 2 -2021 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.