Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question given below.

Six individuals—P, Q, R, S, T, and U—are of different heights. P is the second tallest person among them. Exactly two people are shorter than P but taller than R. Q is immediately taller than S. T is taller than Q. The height of the second tallest person is 180 cm.

Who among the following is the shortest person?

The correct answer is U.

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given that six individuals — P, Q, R, S, T, and U — have different heights. Let us arrange them in descending order of height from 1 (tallest) to 6 (shortest):
Position 1 > Position 2 > Position 3 > Position 4 > Position 5 > Position 6

Step 1: Place P and record its height.
• P is the second tallest person, and the height of the second tallest person is 180 cm.
• Therefore, Position 2 = P (180 cm).

Step 2: Determine the position of R.
• Exactly two people are shorter than P but taller than R. This means two individuals occupy the slots between P (Position 2) and R.
• Therefore, R must be at Position 5.
Current arrangement:
Position 1 (_) > Position 2 (P - 180 cm) > Position 3 (_) > Position 4 (_) > Position 5 (R) > Position 6 (_)

Step 3: Place Q, S, and T.
• Q is immediately taller than S, so Q and S must occupy two consecutive adjacent positions (Q directly above S).
• The available open slots are Position 1, Position 3, Position 4, and Position 6. The only consecutive empty slots are Position 3 and Position 4.
• Therefore, Position 3 = Q and Position 4 = S.
• We are also told that T is taller than Q. Since Q is at Position 3, T must be placed at Position 1.
• Therefore, Position 1 = T.

Step 4: Identify the remaining person.
• The only remaining empty slot is Position 6, and the only unplaced individual is U.
• Therefore, Position 6 = U.

Final Order (Tallest to Shortest):
1. T (Tallest)
2. P (180 cm)
3. Q
4. S
5. R
6. U (Shortest)

Thus, U is the shortest person.