Mastering relationship-based puzzles is crucial for excelling in the Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation sections of competitive exams like the CAT. These questions test your ability to systematically decipher familial connections and deduce seating arrangements based on these relationships. This module will guide you through the art of decoding relationship clues.

The foundation of solving these problems lies in a clear understanding of common kinship terms. Familiarize yourself with terms like 'paternal,' 'maternal,' 'sibling,' 'cousin,' 'uncle,' 'aunt,' 'nephew,' 'niece,' and their implications.

The most effective strategy for decoding relationship clues is to draw a family tree. This visual representation helps in tracking connections and avoiding confusion. Use standard symbols: a square for males, a circle for females, and a line connecting siblings. A horizontal line connecting two individuals indicates marriage, with a vertical line extending from it to represent their children.

1. Identify the individuals: Note down all the people mentioned in the puzzle.
2. Note the gender: Assign symbols (e.g., □ for male, ○ for female) as you deduce genders.
3. Establish direct relationships: Start with the most explicit statements (e.g., 'A is the father of B').
4. Infer indirect relationships: Use clues like 'B is the sister of C' to establish connections between individuals.
5. Combine information: Link different statements to build a comprehensive family structure.
6. Verify: Double-check your deductions against all given clues.

Relationship puzzles often involve scenarios with multiple generations, siblings, and extended family members. They might also integrate seating arrangements, requiring you to place individuals based on their familial positions relative to others.

Let's consider a scenario: 'P is the father of Q. Q is the sister of R. R is the son of S. S is married to T. T is the mother of U.'

To solve this:

1. P is father of Q (P □, Q ○ or □).
2. Q is sister of R (Q ○, R □ or ○).
3. R is son of S (R □, S □ or ○).
4. S is married to T (S □/○, T ○/□).
5. T is mother of U (T ○, U □ or ○).

From (2) and (3), Q and R are siblings. Since Q is sister of R, and R is son of S, S must be the parent of both Q and R. From (5), T is mother of U. If S and T are married (4), and T is mother, then S must be the father. Also, since T is mother of U, and Q and R are siblings of U (as they share parents S and T), T is also mother of Q and R.

This systematic approach helps build the family tree accurately.