Except for one face of a given cube, identical cubes are glued through their faces to all the other faces of the given cube. If each side of the given cube measures 3 cm, then what is the total surface area of the solid body thus formed ?

Answer: Option B

Clearly, each of the 5 faces of the given cube are glued to a face of another cube
∴ Total surface area of the solid :
= 5 × 5a² + a² = 26a²
= (26 × 3²) cm²
= 234 cm²