Three of the following four are alike in a certain way and thus form a group. Which is the one that does NOT belong to that group? The odd one out is not based on the number of consonants/vowels or their position in the letter cluster

Correct — D. Convert each cluster to alphabet numbers and read the two gaps.

Rule: +5 and then +3 between successive letters.

JOR = 10, 15, 18 — gaps of 5 and 3.
AFI = 1, 6, 9 — gaps of 5 and 3.
MRU = 13, 18, 21 — gaps of 5 and 3.
LQS = 12, 17, 19 — gaps of 5 and 2.

LQS is the cluster that breaks the shared pattern — option (d).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  JOR — JOR runs 10, 15, 18, a +5 step followed by a +3 step, which is the shared pattern, so it belongs with the group.
• (b)
  AFI — AFI runs 1, 6, 9 — +5, +3 as well. Its two vowels are a deliberate distraction, and the printed rider rules vowels and consonants out.
• (c)
  MRU — MRU runs 13, 18, 21, again +5, +3. Starting deep in the alphabet changes nothing, because only the gaps matter.

Odd-one-out on letter clusters is settled by whatever is shared by three of the four. The usual candidates are the gaps between successive letters, the vowel and consonant pattern, and the positions of the letters in the alphabet.

Here the question closes one of those doors itself: the rider states that the answer does not turn on vowels, consonants or their positions in the cluster. That leaves the gaps, and the gaps decide it in one line.

Key facts

• JOR, AFI and MRU all have gaps of 5 and 3 between successive letters.
• LQS has gaps of 5 and 2, which is what sets it apart.
• The printed rider removes vowel and consonant reasoning, leaving the gaps as the rule.

Common traps

• Testing the first gap only, which is +5 in all four clusters.
• Counting vowels after the question has ruled that out in print.
• Miscounting a gap that crosses no obvious landmark, such as Q to S.

No directly related past PYQ was found.