Study the given diagram carefully and answer the question. The numbers in different sections indicate the number of persons worki…

Question

Study the given diagram carefully and answer the question. The numbers in different sections indicate the number of persons working in an organisation. (NOTE: You have to take the given data to be true even if it seems to be at variance from commonly known facts.)

How many such employees are there who also speak German?

1. A. 43
2. B. 45 (Correct answer)
3. C. 41
4. D. 28

Correct Answer

Option B — 45

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is 45.

Key Points

• The question asks for employees who also speak German — that is, everyone lying in the overlap of the Employees and German Speakers circles, whether or not they are also Male.
• Two regions satisfy that description:
  • Employees and German Speakers only = 28
  • Employees, Male and German Speakers = 17
• Total $= 28 + 17 = \textbf{45}$.

Additional Information

• The three-way overlap must be included. People in the central region are employees *and* German speakers, so leaving them out gives 28 — which is offered as option D precisely to catch that omission.
• Distractor 43 is the "Male only" figure and 41 is a near-miss; neither corresponds to any meaningful combination of the regions asked about.
• The reliable method is to shade every region satisfying the condition, then add. Reasoning verbally about overlaps is where errors creep in.
• The full organisation totals $54 + 25 + 43 + 28 + 17 + 26 + 15 = 208$ persons, a useful check that every region has been accounted for.
• Read the qualifier carefully. "Employees who also speak German" places no condition on gender, whereas "male employees who speak German" would isolate the central region alone.