Which of the following terms will replace the question mark (?) in the given series? HKPT, JLNS, LMLR, ?, POHP

Correct — A. Rule: the four letter-columns move independently — +2, +1, −2, −1.

Column 1: H, J, L, N, P (+2 each)
Column 2: K, L, M, N, O (+1 each)
Column 3: P, N, L, J, H (−2 each)
Column 4: T, S, R, Q, P (−1 each)

Reading the missing term down the columns gives NNJQ, option (a). The given last term POHP confirms all four steps.

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  NNIQ — NNIQ needs column 3 to fall by three (L to I). The column is falling in twos and has to land on J to reach H in POHP.
• (c)
  NNKQ — NNKQ takes column 3 down by only one (L to K), which then cannot reach H two terms later.
• (d)
  NNQJ — NNQJ has the right letters in the wrong slots: Q belongs to column 4 (T, S, R, Q, P) and J to column 3.

A four-letter series is four separate sequences printed side by side, not one word.

Write the given terms one under another, number the alphabet A=1 to Z=26, and subtract down each column. Here the columns read +2, +1, −2, −1 — two rising, two falling.

Once each column has a constant step the missing term writes itself, and the term printed after the gap checks your work for free.

Key facts

• H=8, J=10, L=12, N=14, P=16 is the +2 chain in column 1.
• T=20, S=19, R=18, Q=17, P=16 is the −1 chain in column 4.
• The final term POHP is given, so the answer is verifiable from both sides of the gap.

Common traps

• Treating the four letters as one word instead of four independent columns
• Choosing an option that fits the forward step but contradicts the printed last term
• Confusing NNJQ with NNQJ, which holds the same letters in swapped columns

No directly related past PYQ was found.