Question: A king has unflinching loyalty from eight of his ministers M1 to M8, but he has to select only four to make a cabinet committee. He decides to choose these four such that each selected person shares a liking with at least one of the other three selected. The selected persons must also hate one of the likings of any of the other three persons selected.
A. M1 likes fishing and smoking, but hates gambling.
B. M2 likes smoking and drinking, but hates fishing.
C. M3 likes gambling, but hates smoking.
D. M4 likes mountaineering, but hates drinking.
E. M5 likes drinking, but hates smoking and mountaineering.
F. M6 likes fishing, but hates smoking and mountaineering.
G. M7 likes gambling and mountaineering, but hates fishing.
H. M8 likes smoking and gambling, but hates mountaineering.
Who are the four people selected by the king?
M1 hates gambling but no one in the group likes it.
∴ Option 1 cannot be the answer.
In this group nobody has a common liking.
∴ Option 2 cannot be the answer.
In this group also, nobody has a common liking.
∴ Option 3 cannot be the answer.
∴ Only option remaining is 4.
Hence, option (d).