Select the letter-cluster from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series: H L P T, H O U A, H R Z H, H U E O, ?
- (a)H X J V
- (b)H X I T
- (c)H W J T
- (d)H V K U
Answer
Why
Correct — A.
Rule: the 1st letter stays H, and the other three step +3, +5 and +7.
2nd letters: L, O, R, U → X (+3)
3rd letters: P, U, Z, E → J (+5, wrapping Z → E)
4th letters: T, A, H, O → V (+7, wrapping T → A)
The next cluster is H X J V → option (a).
Why the others are wrong
- (b)H X I T — H X I T gets H and X right, then slips. I is E + 4 where the 3rd letters step +5, and T is O + 5 where the 4th letters step +7.
- (c)H W J T — H W J T slips in the 2nd place: W is U + 2, but the 2nd letters step +3 (L, O, R, U). Its T is O + 5, not O + 7.
- (d)H V K U — H V K U keeps only the H. V is U + 1, K is E + 6 and U is O + 6, none of them the +3, +5 and +7 steps.
Concept
Treat a four-letter cluster as four columns. Read each column downwards and find its step. A column may not move at all, as the H does here.
The 3rd and 4th columns run past the end of the alphabet. When a position passes 26, subtract 26: Z (26) + 5 = 31 → E, and T (20) + 7 = 27 → A.
A wrap can look like a break in the pattern. Check the step across it by counting: five letters on from Z are A, B, C, D, E.
Key facts
- Column 2 steps +3: L, O, R, U, X.
- Column 3 steps +5: P, U, Z, E, J.
- Column 4 steps +7: T, A, H, O, V.
Study next
Common traps
- Reading the wrap Z → E as a break and looking for a different rule
- Applying the 2nd column's +3 to every moving column
17 Sep 2024, 09:00, Reasoning Q.13 is also a four-letter series read column by column, with wraps in two columns: BKUZ, ENWB, ?, KTAF, NWCH, keyed HQYD (b).
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.