Blood Relations – Quick Study Guide
(A simple, everyday‑friendly look at family relationships for reasoning ability tests)
1. Why It Matters
In reasoning tests you often see questions like:
- “If Anna is Bob’s sister, who is Bob to Carol?”
- “Who is the uncle of Dave?”
Getting the basic terms right saves time and avoids confusion.
2. Core Family Words
| Term | Who is it? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | Mother or father | “Sam’s mother is Lisa.” |
| Sibling | Brother or sister | “Mia is Alex’s sister.” |
| Grandparent | Mother’s or father’s mother/father | “Grandma is Karen’s grandmother.” |
| Grandchild | Daughter’s or son’s child | “Tom is Lily’s grandson.” |
| Aunt/Uncle | Your parent’s sister or brother | “Nina is my aunt.” |
| Cousin | Children of your aunts/uncles | “Ben is my cousin.” |
| Niece/Nephew | Child of your sibling | “Ravi is my nephew.” |
Every word has a “direction” in the family tree:
- Up = parent, grandparent, great‑grandparent
- Side = sibling, aunt/uncle, cousin
- Down = child, grandchild, nephew/niece
3. Building a Tiny Family Tree
Grandpa
|
┌────┴────┐
| |
Dad Aunt
| |
(You) Cousin
|
Your Kid
- Grandpa → Dad → You → Your Kid
- Grandpa → Aunt → Cousin
Use arrows to trace who is related to whom.
- “Your Aunt’s son is your cousin.”
- “Your cousin’s daughter is your first cousin once removed.”
(We won’t use “removed” in this guide – it’s a bit advanced.)
4. Everyday Analogies
| Relationship | Everyday Analogy | Quick Thought |
|---|---|---|
| Sibling | Two kids playing together | They share the same parents. |
| Aunt/Uncle | Friend of your parents | They’re your parents’ sibling. |
| Cousin | Friend’s child | They share a grandparent with you. |
| Grandparent | “Grand” means great in the family | They’re two steps above you. |
5. Quick Practice Problems
-
If Anna is Bob’s sister, who is Bob to Carol?
- Answer: Bob is Carol’s brother (if Carol is Anna’s sister).
-
Mia’s mother is Lisa. Lisa’s brother is Tom. Who is Tom to Mia?
- Answer: Tom is Mia’s uncle.
-
Your father’s cousin is Sara. Who is Sara to you?
- Answer: Sara is your first cousin once removed.
(You can skip “removed” and say: “Sara is your cousin’s cousin.”)
6. Tips for Rapid Reasoning
- Identify the “direction” – up, down, side.
- Count the steps – one step up = parent, two = grandparent, etc.
- Remember the “sibling” rule – siblings share the same parents.
- Use the tree diagram in your head – draw it mentally if needed.
7. Summary
| What you learned | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Basic family terms | Quickly label relationships |
| Direction in the tree | Decide who is “above” or “next to” |
| Simple reasoning steps | Solve short family‑relation questions |
Keep this sheet handy for quick reference. Practice with a few more puzzles, and you’ll master blood‑relation reasoning in no time!