In a certain code language, FIGURE is coded as ‘VSUGJW’ and COPIED is coded as ‘YMLSWX’. What will be the code for BLANKET?

Correct — D. Convert both words to numbers and look at the sums rather than the shifts.

F(6) → V(22), I(9) → S(19), G(7) → U(21), U(21) → G(7), R(18) → J(10), E(5) → W(23).

Rule: letter position + code position = 28, every letter. COPIED confirms it: C 3 + Y 25 = 28, O 15 + M 13 = 28, P 16 + L 12 = 28.

Apply 28 − position to BLANKET:
B 2 → 26 = Z, L 12 → 16 = P, A 1 → 27, which wraps to 1 = A
N 14 → 14 = N, K 11 → 17 = Q
E 5 → 23 = W, T 20 → 8 = H

That gives ZPANQWH — option (d).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  ZPMNQHW — The third letter must be A, because 28 − 1 = 27 wraps back to 1. M would require A to sit at position 15.
• (b)
  ZPANQHW — The first five letters are right and the last two are swapped. E is BLANKET's sixth letter and gives W, T is the seventh and gives H.
• (c)
  ZPNAQWH — N and A are transposed in the third and fourth places. BLANKET has A third, which codes to A, and N fourth, which codes to N.

When a coding item resists a constant shift, test a constant sum. Write each letter and its code as alphabet positions and add them: if every pair gives the same total, the code is a reflection of the alphabet.

A sum of 27 is the plain opposite-letter code (A-Z, B-Y, C-X). This one sums to 28, which is that reflection moved one place on, so it behaves like the opposite-letter rule with a one-step correction.

The wrap matters. When 28 minus the position exceeds 26, subtract 26. Only A is affected here, and it maps to itself, which is precisely the letter the options disagree about.

Key facts

• A = 1 through Z = 26, and the plain opposite-letter pair sums to 27.
• This code sums to 28, which is the opposite-letter rule shifted one place forward.
• When the sum exceeds 26, subtract 26 — A at position 1 gives 27, which is 1, so A codes to A.
• BLANKET codes letter by letter to Z, P, A, N, Q, W, H.

Common traps

• Assuming a constant shift because the first letter appears to fit one — F to V looks like +16, but I to S is +10.
• Forgetting to wrap when the sum passes 26, which is exactly what the A in BLANKET tests.

No directly related past PYQ was found.