Boat and River MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Boat and River - Download Free PDF

Last updated on Jul 9, 2025

The boat and stream concept is one of the most common and important topics based on which questions are asked in the numerous significant Government exams conducted in the country. The boat and stream objective questions are asked in the quantitative aptitude section of the Government exams. In this article, Testbook has shortlisted some intermediate levels of the boat and stream MCQ objective questions Quiz with their detailed solutions and in depth explanations.

Latest Boat and River MCQ Objective Questions

Boat and River Question 1:

A cruise ship travels from Kochi to Lakshadweep, covering a distance of "y" km downstream in 8 hours. On its return journey upstream, it takes 24 hours to cover the same distance. If the speed of the ship in still water is 40 km/hr, find the value of "y"?

  1. 480 km
  2. 360 km
  3. 400 km
  4. 320 km
  5. None of these

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 480 km

Boat and River Question 1 Detailed Solution

Given:

Downstream time = 8 hours

Upstream time = 24 hours

Speed of ship in still water = 40 km/h

Let the speed of the current be "c" km/h

Then:

Downstream speed = 40 + c

Upstream speed = 40 - c

Let distance = y km

⇒ y = 8 × (40 + c) … (1)

⇒ y = 24 × (40 - c) … (2)

Equate equations (1) and (2):

⇒ 8 × (40 + c) = 24 × (40 - c)

Expand both sides:

⇒ 320 + 8c = 960 - 24c

Solve for c:

⇒ 8c + 24c = 960 - 320

⇒ 32c = 640 ⇒ c = 20

Put value of c in any equation to find y:

Using equation (1):

⇒ y = 8 × (40 + 20) = 8 × 60 = 480 km

Thus, the correct answer is 480 km.

Boat and River Question 2:

 If Vishal covers 184 km in a boat in 48 hours against the stream and he takes 12 hours with the stream, then find the speed of the stream.

  1. 5.75 km/hr
  2. 14.36 km/hr
  3.  10.64 km/hr
  4. 13.66 km/hr

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 5.75 km/hr

Boat and River Question 2 Detailed Solution

Given:

Distance (D) = 184 km

Time taken against the stream (Tagainst) = 48 hours

Time taken with the stream (Twith) = 12 hours

Formula Used:

Speed = Distance / Time

Speed against the stream (Sagainst) = Speed of boat (Vb) - Speed of stream (Vs)

Speed with the stream (Swith) = Speed of boat (Vb) + Speed of stream (Vs)

Speed of stream (Vs) = (Swith - Sagainst) / 2

Calculations:

Speed against the stream (Sagainst) = 184 / 48

⇒ Sagainst = 3.833 km/hr (approx)

Speed with the stream (Swith) = 184 / 12

⇒ Swith = 15.333 km/hr (approx)

Speed of the stream (Vs) = (15.333 - 3.833) / 2

⇒ Vs = 11.5 / 2

⇒ Vs = 5.75 km/hr

∴ The speed of the stream is 5.75 km/hr.

Boat and River Question 3:

A boat takes 51 minutes to go 10.2 km upstream. The ratio of the speed of the boat in still water to that of the stream is 7 : 6. How much total time (in hours) will the boat take to go 17.7 km upstream and 66.3 km downstream?

  1. 3.4
  2. 0.3
  3. 1.9
  4. 2.1

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 1.9

Boat and River Question 3 Detailed Solution

Given:

Upstream time = 51 minutes = 51 ÷ 60 = 0.85 hours

Upstream distance = 10.2 km

Speed ratio (boat : stream) = 7 : 6

Formula used:

Speed = Distance ÷ Time

Upstream speed = Boat speed − Stream speed

Downstream speed = Boat speed + Stream speed

Calculations:

⇒ Upstream speed = 10.2 ÷ 0.85 = 12 km/hr

Let boat speed = 7x, stream speed = 6x ⇒ upstream = 7x − 6x = x

⇒ x = 12 ⇒ boat speed = 7x = 84 km/hr, stream speed = 6x = 72 km/hr

⇒ Downstream speed = 84 + 72 = 156 km/hr

⇒ Time for 17.7 km upstream = 17.7 ÷ 12 = 1.475 hours

⇒ Time for 66.3 km downstream = 66.3 ÷ 156 = 0.425 hours

⇒ Total time = 1.475 + 0.425 = 1.9 hours

∴ Total time taken = 1.9 hours

Boat and River Question 4:

If Ishwar covers 721 km in a boat in 42 hours against the stream and he takes 15 hours with the stream, then find the speed of the stream.

  1. 15.45 km/hr
  2.  7.38 km/hr
  3.  22.48 km/hr
  4. 19.25 km/hr

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 15.45 km/hr

Boat and River Question 4 Detailed Solution

Given:

Distance against stream = 721 km

Time against stream = 42 hours

Distance with stream = 721 km

Time with stream = 15 hours

Formula used:

Speed = Distance ÷ Time

Speed in still water = (Downstream speed + Upstream speed) ÷ 2

Speed of stream = (Downstream speed - Upstream speed) ÷ 2

Calculation:

Upstream speed = 721 ÷ 42 = 17.166 km/h

Downstream speed = 721 ÷ 15 = 48.066 km/h

⇒ Speed of stream = (48.066 - 17.166) ÷ 2

⇒ Speed of stream = 30.9 ÷ 2 = 15.45 km/h

∴ The correct answer is \(15.45\) km/h.

Boat and River Question 5:

A boat can cover 120 km downstream in 2.5 hours, and the speed of the boat and speed of stream in the ratio 7:5. If the boat can cover d-24 km upstream in 7.5 hours, then find the time taken by the boat to cover d km in still water?

  1. 7
  2. 5
  3. 4
  4. 3.5
  5. 3

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 5 : 3

Boat and River Question 5 Detailed Solution

Given:

Downstream distance = 120 km, Time taken = 2.5 hours

Speed ratio of boat and stream = 7:5

Upstream distance = d - 24 km, Time taken = 7.5 hours

Formula used:

Speed downstream = (Speed of boat + Speed of stream)

Speed upstream = (Speed of boat - Speed of stream)

Speed = Distance / Time

Calculations:

Speed downstream = 120 km / 2.5 hours = 48 km/h

Let the speed of the boat = 7x and speed of stream = 5x

⇒ Speed downstream = 7x + 5x = 12x

⇒ 12x = 48

⇒ x = 4

Speed of boat = 7x = 7 × 4 = 28 km/h

Speed of stream = 5x = 5 × 4 = 20 km/h

Now, Speed upstream = Speed of boat - Speed of stream = 28 - 20 = 8 km/h

Distance upstream = d - 24 km, Time taken = 7.5 hours

Speed upstream = (d - 24) / 7.5

⇒ 8 = (d - 24) / 7.5

⇒ 8 × 7.5 = d - 24

⇒ 60 = d - 24

⇒ d = 84 km

Now, the time taken to cover d km in still water is given by:

Time = Distance / Speed of boat

Time = 84 km / 28 km/h = 3 hours

∴ The time taken by the boat to cover d km in still water is 3 hours.

Top Boat and River MCQ Objective Questions

A boat goes 20 km upstream and 44 km downstream in 8 hours. In 5 hours, it goes 15 km upstream and 22 km downstream. Determine the speed of the boat in still water.

  1. 6 km/h
  2. 10 km/h
  3. 8 km/h
  4. 7 km/h

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 8 km/h

Boat and River Question 6 Detailed Solution

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Concept used:

If upstream speed = U and downstream speed = D, then speed of boat = (U + D)/2

Calculation:

According to the question,

20/U + 44/D = 8  … (i)

15/U + 22/D = 5  … (ii)

Multiply by 2 the equation (ii) then subtract from 1 we get

20/U + 44/D = 8

30/U + 44/D = 10

- 10/U = - 2

⇒ U = 5 km/hr

Putting the value in equation (i), we get D = 11

So, the speed of boat = (U + D)/2 = (5 + 11)/2 = 8 km/hr

∴ The correct answer is 8 km/hr

A man rows a boat a certain distance downstream in 9 hours, while it takes 18 hours to row the same distance upstream. How many hours will it take him to row three-fifth of the same distance in still water?

  1. 9.5
  2. 7.2
  3. 10
  4. 12

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 7.2

Boat and River Question 7 Detailed Solution

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Given:

A man rows a boat a certain distance downstream in 9 hours, while it takes 18 hours to row the same distance upstream. ​

Concept used:

1. Distance = Speed × Time

2. While rowing upstream, the upstream speed is the difference between the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the flow.

3. While rowing downstream, the downstream speed is the addition of the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the flow.

4. Componendo-Dividendo Method

Calculation:

Let the distance, speed of the boat in still water, and speed of the river be D, S, and R respectively.

​According to the concept,

D/(S - R) = 18      ....(1)

D/(S + R) = 9      ....(2)

(1) ÷ (2),

(S + R)/(S - R) = 2

⇒ \(\frac {S + R + S - R}{S + R - S + R} = \frac {2 + 1} {2 - 1}\) (Componendo-Dividendo Method)

⇒ \(\frac {S}{R} = 3\)

⇒ S = 3R

Putting S = 3R in (1), D = 36R

Now, time taken to row three-fifth of the same distance in still water = \(36R \times \frac {3}{5} \div 3R\) = 7.2 hours

∴ It will take 7.2 hours to row three-fifth of the same distance in still water.

Shortcut Trick

Let's assume the total distance be 180 km

So, down-stream speed will be 180/9 = 20 km/hr

So, up-stream speed will be 180/18 = 10 km/hr

Now, speed of the boat will be (20 + 10)/2 = 15 km/hr

So,the boat can row (3/5th of 180km) 108 km in 108/15 = 7.2 hr

A swimmer swims from a point P against the current for 6 min and then swims back along the current for next 6 min and reaches at a point Q. If the distance between P and Q is 120 m then the speed of the current (in km/h) is:

  1. 0.4
  2. 0.2
  3. 1
  4. 0.6

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 0.6

Boat and River Question 8 Detailed Solution

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Given: 

A swimmer swims from point P against the current for 6 min and then swims back along the current for next 6 min and reaches at a point Q.

The distance between P and Q is 120 m.

Concept used:

1. 6 min = 360 seconds

2. While rowing upstream, the upstream speed is the difference between the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the flow.

3. While rowing downstream, the downstream speed is the addition of the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the flow.

4. 1 m/s = 18/5 km/h

5. Distance = Time × Speed

Calculation:

Let's suppose the swimmer started from P and swam 360 seconds to R against the current, then return to Q swimming for 360 seconds.

F2 Savita SSC 1-2-23 D8

Let the speed of the swimmer in still water and the current be U and V m/s respectively.

​According to the question,

PR = 360(U - V)      ....(1)

QR = 360(U + V)      ....(2)

So, PQ = QR - PR

⇒ 120 = 360(U + V - U + V) (From 1 and 2)

⇒ V = 1/6

So, the speed of the current = 1/6 m/s

Now, the speed of the current = 1/6 × 18/5 = 0.6 km/h

∴ The speed of the current is 0.6 km/h.

A motorboat whose speed is 20 km/h in still water takes 30 minutes more to go 24 km upstream than to cover the same distance downstream. If the speed of the boat in still water is increased by 2 km/h, then how much time will it take to go 39 km downstream and 30 km upstream?

  1. 2 h 50 m
  2. 3 h 10 m
  3. 3 h 40 m
  4. 2 h 40 m

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 3 h 10 m

Boat and River Question 9 Detailed Solution

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Given:

The speed of the motorboat in still water = 20 km/h

Concept used:

If the speed of a boat in still water is x km/h and the speed of the stream is y km/h, then

Downstream speed = (x + y) km/h

Upstream speed = (x - y) km/h

Time = Distance/Speed

Calculation:

According to the question, the motorboat takes 30 minutes more to go 24 km upstream than to cover the same distance downstream.

Let, the speed of the water = x km/h

So, 24/(20 - x) = 24/(20 + x) + (1/2)  [∵ 30 minutes = 1/2 hour]

⇒ 24/(20 - x) - 24/(20 + x) = (1/2)

⇒ \(\frac{24(20+x)-24(20-x)}{400-x^2}=\frac{1}{2}\)

⇒ \(\frac{24(20+x-20+x)}{400-x^2}=\frac{1}{2}\)

⇒ \(\frac{24×2x}{400-x^2}=\frac{1}{2}\)

⇒ 400 - x2 = 96x

⇒ x2 + 96x - 400 = 0

⇒ x2 + 100x - 4x - 400 = 0

⇒ x (x + 100) - 4 (x + 100) = 0

⇒ (x + 100) (x - 4) = 0

⇒ x + 100 = 0 ⇒ x = -100 ["-" is neglacted]

⇒ x - 4 = 0 ⇒ x = 4

∴ The speed of the water = 4 km/h

The speed of the motorboat in still water increased 2 km/h = 20 + 2 = 22 km/h

The time for 39 km downstream and 30 km upstream = 39/(22 + 4) + 30/(22 - 4) hours

= (39/26) + (30/18) hours

= 3/2 + 5/3 hours

= 19/6 hours

= (19/6) × 60 minutes

= 190 minutes

= 3 hours 10 minutes

∴ The motorboat will take 3 hours 10 minutes to go 39 km downstream and 30 km upstream

Shortcut TrickValue putting method, 

According to the question, 

30 min = 1/2 hr

x = 20 (Speed in still water)

⇒ 24/(20 - y) - 24/(20 + y) = 1/2

Here the R.H.S is 1/2, so the value of 20 - y must be more than 12

Hence take y = 4 (so that right bracket will become 1 as 20 + 4 = 24) and (left bracket will be more than half)

⇒ 24/(20 - 4) - 24(20 + 4) = 3/2 - 1 = 1/2

Hence the value of Y = 4

Now according to the question, 

⇒ 39/(22 + 4) + 30/(22 - 4) = 39/26 + 30/18

⇒ 19/6 = 3(1/6) = 3 hours and 10 min

∴ The motorboat will take 3 hours 10 minutes to go 39 km downstream and 30 km upstream

A boat can go 60 km downstream and 40 km upstream in 12 hours 30 minutes. It can go 84 km downstream and 63 km upstream in 18 hours 54 minutes. What is the speed (in km/h, to the nearest integer) of the boat in still water?

  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 9
  4. 10

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 9

Boat and River Question 10 Detailed Solution

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Given:

A boat can go 60 km downstream and 40 km upstream in 12 hours 30 minutes.

It can go 84 km downstream and 63 km upstream in 18 hours 54 minutes.

Concept used:

Upstream speed = Boat speed - speed of the current 

Downstream speed = Boat speed + speed of the current

Distance = speed × time

Calculation:

Downstream speed = x km/h

The upstream speed=  y km/h

As per the question,

60 /x + 40/y = 25/2 ...... (1)

Again, 84/x + 63/y = 189/10 ....... (2)

By solving 1 and 2 we get,

x = 40 / 3 and y = 5

So Still water boat's speed is

⇒ (13..33 + 5) / 2 = 9km/hr

∴ The correct option is 3

Alternate Method 

Let the speed of the boat = u

and

speed of current/river = v

So,

upstream speed (US) = u - v

downstream speed (DS) = u + v

according to the question,

60/DS  +  40/US  = 12.5

⇒ 3/DS + 2/US = 0.625 ....(1)

and

84/(u + v)  + 63/(u - v) = 18.9

⇒ 4/DS + 3/US = 0.9 ....(2)

let 

a = 1/DS   and  b = 1/US

then eq(1) and eq(2) will be

⇒ 3a + 2b  = 0.625 ....(3)

⇒ 4a  + 3b = 0.9....(4)

So, multiply eq(3) with 3 and eq(4) with 2:-

⇒ 9a + 6b = 1.875  ...(5)

⇒ 8a + 6b = 1.8 ....(6)

now,  eq(5) - eq(6)

a = 0.075

then DS = 40/3

and from eq(6)

6b = 1.2

⇒ b = 0.2

⇒ US = 5

Boat speed = (DS + US)/2 = 55/6

Hence; u ≈ 9 km/hr

A boat goes 20 km upstream and 30km downstream in 2 hours 32 minutes. If speed of stream is 5 km/h, what is speed of boat in still water in km/h? 

  1. 30
  2. 15
  3. 25
  4. 20

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 20

Boat and River Question 11 Detailed Solution

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Given:

A boat goes 20 km upstream and 30km downstream in 2 hours 32 minutes. 

Fomula Used:

Time of Upstream = Distance/(Speed of boat - Speed of Stream)

Time of Downstream = Distance/(Speed of boat + Speed of stream)

Calculation:

Let the speed of boat be x 

According to the Question,

⇒ 20/(x - 5) + 30/(x + 5) = 2 (32/60)

⇒ 20/(x - 5) + 30/(x + 5) = 38/15

According to the fourth option x = 20 

⇒ 20/15 + 30/25 = 38/15

⇒ (200 + 180)/150 = 38/15

⇒ 38/15 = 38/15

LHS = RHS 

∴ The speed of the boat in still water in 20 km/h.

A man can row a distance of 8 km downstream in a certain time and can row 6 km upstream in the same time. If he rows 24 km upstream and the same distance downstream in \(1\frac{3}{4}\) hours, then the speed (in km/h) of the current is:

  1. \(4\frac{1}{2}\)
  2. 4
  3. 3
  4. \(2\frac{1}{2}\)

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 4

Boat and River Question 12 Detailed Solution

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Given:

Total distance = 24km

Time taken = 7/4 hours

Concept used:

Speed = D/t

D= Distance

t = time

Calculation:

Let the speed of man and current be v and s respectively. 

According to the question,

\({8\over v \;+\;s} = {6\over v \;-\;s}\)

⇒ 8v - 8s = 6v + 6s

⇒ 2v = 14s

⇒ v : s = 7 : 1

Let speed of man = 7x

Speed of current = x

So,

24/8x + 24/6x = 7/4

⇒ 3/x + 4/x = 7/4

⇒ 7/x = 7/4

⇒ x = 4

⇒ speed of the current = 4 km/h

∴ The speed of the current is 4 km/h

A boat can go 16 km downstream and 10 km upstream in 3 hours. It can also go 24 km downstream and 5 km upstream in 2 hours. In how much time (in hours) will it cover a distance of 64 km downstream?

  1. 5 hrs
  2. 6 hrs
  3. 2 hrs
  4. 3 hrs

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 2 hrs

Boat and River Question 13 Detailed Solution

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Given:

A boat can go 16 km downstream and 10 km upstream in 3 hours

It can also go 24 km downstream and 5 km upstream in 2 hours

Formula used:

Time = Distance/ Speed

Calculation:

Let the speed of the boat upstream be U

and the speed of the boat in downstream be D

According to the question:

A boat can go 16 km downstream and 10 km upstream in 3 hours,

Time = 3 hours

 16/D + 10/U = 3 hours       ----(1)

It can also go 24 km downstream and 5 km upstream in 2 hours,

Time = 2 hours

24/D + 5/U = 2        ----(2)

Multiply equation (2) by 2, subtracting from equation (1) from equation (2):

2 × (24/D + 5/U) - (16/D + 10/U) = 4 - 3

48/D - 10/U  - 16/D + 10/U = 1

32/D = 1

D = 32 km/hr

Now, Distance of downstream = 64 km

Time = 64/32 = 2 hrs.

 2 hrs is the total time taken to go 64 km downstream.

Speed of stream is 4 km/hr and the speed of boat is 11 km/hr. In how much time will the boat cover a distance of 21 km upstream and 45 km downstream?

  1. 6 hours
  2. 3 hours
  3. 4 hours
  4. 7 hours

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 6 hours

Boat and River Question 14 Detailed Solution

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Given:

Speed of stream is 4 km/hr.

Speed of boat is 11 km/hr.

Concept Used:

Upstream Speed = Speed of boat - Speed of stream

Downstream Speed = Speed of boat + Speed of stream

Calculation:

Upstream Speed = Speed of boat - Speed of stream

⇒ 11 - 4 = 7 km/h

Upstream distance = 21 km

Time  = 21/7 = 3 hrs

Downstream Speed = Speed of boat + Speed of stream

⇒ 11 + 4 = 15 km/h

Downstream distance = 45 km

Time = 45/15 = 3 hrs

Total time = 6 hrs

Option 1 is the correct answer.

A boat can go 3 km upstream and 5 km downstream in 55 minutes. It can also go 4 km upstream and 9 km downstream in 1 hour 25 minutes. In how much time (in hours) will it go 43.2 km downstream?

  1. 4.4
  2. 4.8
  3. 3.6
  4. 5.4

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 3.6

Boat and River Question 15 Detailed Solution

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Let the speed of boat and current be x km/hr and y km/hr respectively.

Downstream speed = (x + y) km/hr

Upstream speed = (x – y) km/hr

According to the question

3/(x – y) + 5/(x + y) = 55/60 = 11/12

4/(x – y) + 9/(x + y) = 1 + 25/60 = 17/12

Let 1/(x + y) = a and 1/(x – y) = b

3b + 5a = 11/12     ...1)

4b + 9a = 17/12     ...2)

Multiply by 4 in equation (1) and multiply by 3 in equation (2)

12b + 20a = 11/3     ...3)

12b + 27a = 17/4     ...4)

Subtract equation (3) from equation (4)

7a = 17/4 – 11/3

⇒ 7a = 7/12

⇒ a = 1/12

Since,  1/(x + y) = a

⇒ x + y = 1/a = 1/(1/12)

⇒ x + y = 12 km/hr

Speed of downstream = 12 km/hr

∴ Time taken to cover 43.2 km distance in downstream = 43.2/12 = 3.6 hr
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