Pointing to a photograph, a man said, "I have no brother or sister but that man’s father is my father’s son." Whose photograph was it?

Appeared in: DSSSB 6 September 2024

Explanation

The core of the puzzle is to correctly identify who "my father's son" is.
The speaker states, "I have no brother or sister," which is a critical clue.
This clue means the speaker is an only child, so "my father's son" can only be the speaker himself.
The statement simplifies to: "The father of the man in the photograph is me (the speaker).".
Therefore, the man in the photograph must be the speaker's son.

Option A: The photograph is of the speaker's son, not himself. The statement describes the relationship between the man in the photo's father and the speaker.
Option C: This is incorrect. If the photo were of his father, the statement would be logically inconsistent. The man's father (speaker's father) would be the speaker's father's son (the speaker), which is impossible.
Option D: A nephew is the son of one's sibling. The speaker explicitly states, "I have no brother or sister," making it impossible for him to have a nephew.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning and Blood Relations as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, this type of logical reasoning is a foundational skill for nurses.
Nurses use deductive reasoning daily to analyze patient symptoms, interpret lab results, and determine the most likely cause of a patient's condition.
Problem-solving skills are essential for prioritizing care, managing complex situations, and making sound clinical judgments under pressure.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the entire statement carefully to understand all the relationships mentioned.
Break the complex sentence into smaller, manageable parts. The key phrase here is "my father's son."
Identify and use the most critical piece of information, which is the condition: "I have no brother or sister."
Solve the nested part of the puzzle first. Use the condition to determine who "my father's son" is.
Substitute this simplified identity back into the main sentence to reveal the final relationship.
If you find it confusing, draw a simple diagram or family tree to visualize the connections between the individuals.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Logical Reasoning and Blood Relations
Stem keywords: photograph, man said, no brother or sister, man's father, my father's son
Lead-in keywords: Whose photograph was it?

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Practise the full DSSSB 6 September 2024

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