(a) Going by the options.
Let us assume that option (a) is true – that is Ankita
got the third position.
First student’s guess – A B C D E
Second student’s guess – D A E C B
We start with the orders as →
— — A — —In the guess of the second student DAECB, we have 4 blocks–
DA, AE, EC, CB ; out of which 2 blocks will come in the actual rank order.
Case I : Let us take two blocks i.e.
DA & AE.
_
D A E _
Here, either Ist or fifth position can be occupied by B or C. In any case, it will violate the condition that the second student had got two positions correct. So this is not the case.
Case II : Let us take another blocks i.e. DA & EC.
B D A E CThis also violates the guess of second student. So this is also not the case.
Case III : Let us take blocks DA & CB.
E D A C BThis order satisfies all the conditions mentioned in thequestion.
So, Ankita got the third position.