Non-verbal reasoning is integral to the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, which no student should avoid. You can take a good lead in this section with practice. One common and very important topic of Non-Verbal reasoning is paper cutting, which involves analyzing, visualizing, and mentally manipulating the folding and cutting of paper to determine the final shape. In this article, we will explore the concept of paper cutting in non-verbal reasoning for SSC CGL, and provide step-by-step guidance on how to solve paper cutting questions effectively.

In non-verbal reasoning, paper-cutting questions typically include a figure or shape that represents a sheet of paper and a series of diagrams that show how the paper is folded and/or cut. Finding the paper’s final shape after the specified order of folding and cutting operations is the task. These questions call for strong spatial visualization abilities, logical thinking, and meticulousness. Let’s dig into the step-by-step guide on how to solve paper-cutting questions with detailed examples that give you a better understanding.

How to solve Paper Cutting Questions?

1. Step 1: Understand the Given Sequence: Carefully look at the sequence of diagrams, and note down the way how paper is folded and/or cut. Pay attention to the direction and orientation of the fold and cut.
2. Step 2: Visualize the Folding and Cutting Operations: Mentally visualize the folding and/or cutting pattern. Try to visualize how the paper will look at each step. 
3. Step 3: Determine the Final Shape: After visualization of each step, determine the final shape. Pay good attention to the sides, and corners of the shapes. 
4. Step 4: Compare your visualization of the final shape with the options provided in the question, and select the one that matches your result.
5. Step 5: Verify Your Answer: Cross-verify your answer, do double-check because a minor cut can play a big role in such types of questions.

Paper Cutting: Non-Verbal Reasoning Questions and Answers

We will now discuss the paper-cutting-related questions with detailed solutions. By following the step-by-step guide, you will be able to solve any question related to paper cutting.

Direction: Each of the following questions consists of a set of three figures X, Y, and Z showing a sequence of folding of a piece of paper. Figure (Z) shows the manner in which the folded paper has been cut. These three figures are followed by four answer options from which you have to choose a figure that would most closely resemble the unfolded form of figure (Z).

Q 1. Choose the figure from 1, 2, 3, or 4 which closely resembles figure Z.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

Visualizing the cutting Z -> start unfolding the figure Z -> From Z, move to Figure Y -> Then move to figure X.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Q 2.  Choose the figure from 1, 2, 3, or 4 which closely resembles figure Z.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

When we unfold Z, try to keep an eye on the pointed side of the cut. As the pointed side is facing the center then in all 4 quarters it should point to the center. 

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Q 3. Choose the figure from A, B,C, and D which closely resembles Figure Z.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

Visualizing the cutting Z -> start unfolding the figure Z -> From Z, move to Figure Y -> Then move to figure X.

Keep and eye on the corner triangle, and on circle. These two will be present only on the two sides, then the central triangle will give a rhombus shape after opening.

Option D is the correct answer.

Q 4. Choose the figure from 1,2,3 or 4 which closely resembles figure Z.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Refer the above image, from figure Z follow the arrows and keep on visualizing the figure in your mind.

You will find Option 1 is the right answer.

Q 5. Choose the figure from 1,2,3 or 4 which closely resembles figure Z. 

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

Try following the corners and the middle of the sides. You will observe, the missing corners of the final square.

Option 1 is the Correct.

Q 6. Choose the figure from A, B, C, and D that closely resembles the last figure Z after being cut.  

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution: 

When the paper is unfolded, we will witness 2 hearts. This rules out options C and D for the answer.

Since the paper was folded diagonally, the second heart must also be flipped vertically and rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

This further disqualifies option A for an answer. Option B is the correct answer.

Q 7. Choose the figure from A, B, C, and D that closely resembles the last figure Z after being cut.  

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution: 

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Visualize the image one by one as shown in the above image, you will easily be able to find the right answer.

Option C is the right answer.

Q 8. Find a completely unfolded figure of Z.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

Firstly, concentrate on circle, then from Z go to Y and X.

Then concentrate on Center Rhombus.

Option 3 is the right answer.

Q 9. A square sheet of paper is folded and cut as shown below in the question figures. How it will appear when open, choose the correct option.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

By doing the careful examination, we can see there is no pattern at the corner. So, use the elimination method.

D is the right answer.

Q 10. A triangular sheet of paper is folded and cut as shown below in the question figures. How it will appear when open, choose the correct option.

Non-verbal Reasoning Questions

Solution:

In the last figure, we can visualize that pattern will be in center only and that too triangular figures only.

Option A is the correct answer.

Paper Cutting Non Verbal Reasoning – FAQs

What is the objective of paper cutting?

The main objective behind paper cutting questions are to encourage creativity, concentration and judge the visualization power.

How do you solve paper-cutting questions?

Solving the paper cutting questions is a mind game, its all about imagination, visualization. 

Visualize the pattern step by step.

What are the types of paper cutting?

Most common types of paper cutting is tessellation, tiling, pattern cutting, silhouette cutting, and freeform.

Who invented paper cutting?

Roots of the paper cutting is from China, Cai Lun of the Eastern Han Dynasty in China.