Which of the following terms will replace the question mark (?) in the given series? FHVQ, IJSO, LLPM, ONMK, ?

Correct — B. Rule: the four positions move independently — +3, +2, −3, −2.

Position 1: F(6), I(9), L(12), O(15) → R(18)
Position 2: H(8), J(10), L(12), N(14) → P(16)
Position 3: V(22), S(19), P(16), M(13) → J(10)
Position 4: Q(17), O(15), M(13), K(11) → I(9)

Reading the four answers down the columns gives RPJI, option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  ROJI — ROJI takes the second letter as O(15). Column 2 runs H, J, L, N, climbing by +2 each step, so its next value is P(16), not O.
• (c)
  QPJI — QPJI takes the first letter as Q(17). Column 1 runs F, I, L, O, climbing by +3, so the fifth term must begin with R(18).
• (d)
  RPKJ — RPKJ gets the first two letters right and then ends K, J. Columns 3 and 4 fall by −3 and −2, giving J and I, so both of RPKJ's last letters are one place too high.

A four-letter series is four separate one-letter series printed side by side. Do not read the terms as words. Write the four columns out and find each column's step.

Convert to positions (A = 1 … Z = 26). Two columns here climb and two fall, which is why the terms look random as words — FHVQ and IJSO share no letter at all.

Once the four steps are known the answer is arithmetic. Work every column even after two of them have narrowed the options to one, because a column you skipped is where a keying error hides.

Key facts

• Column 1 steps +3: F, I, L, O, R.
• Column 2 steps +2: H, J, L, N, P.
• Column 3 steps −3: V, S, P, M, J.
• Column 4 steps −2: Q, O, M, K, I.

Common traps

• Reading the four-letter groups as words and hunting for a whole-cluster rule
• Assuming all four columns move in the same direction
• Stopping after two columns because only one option still fits

No directly related past PYQ was found.