If India ranks seventh by area, how many countries are larger than it?

Correct answer: Six

The direct answer is option B: six. A rank tells us how many positions come before an item. If India is seventh by area, then six countries occupy ranks 1 through 6 and are larger than India. The calculation is simple: number of countries larger than India = rank − 1 = 7 − 1 = 6. Option A, seven, mistakenly repeats India’s own rank and counts India as one of the countries larger than itself. Option B, six, is correct because only the six positions before seventh place represent larger countries. Option C, eight, adds an unnecessary extra country and does not follow the meaning of rank. Option D, five, leaves out one of the six positions before India. This reasoning applies when the ranking is arranged from largest to smallest and ties or special definitions are not changing the list. The question clearly uses that ordinary ranking meaning. A useful exam rule is: “rank one means zero larger; rank seven means six larger.” Never answer with the rank itself when the question asks how many are ahead.