What comes next? AZA, BYB, CXC, DWD, ?
- (a)EVE
- (b)FUF
- (c)EUE
- (d)EXE
Answer
Why
Correct — A.
Rule: first and last letters move +1, the middle letter moves −1.
Outer letters: A, B, C, D → next E
Middle letters: Z, Y, X, W → next V
Check: each middle letter is the opposite of the outer one, and E (5) + V (22) = 27, like A (1) + Z (26).
Next term: EVE → option (a).
Why the others are wrong
- (b)FUF — FUF jumps two letters on both sides. After D the outer letter is E, not F, and after W the middle letter is V, not U.
- (c)EUE — EUE gets the outer E right but moves the middle back two, W → U. The middle falls one letter per term, so W → V.
- (d)EXE — EXE moves the middle letter up from W to X. The middle falls one letter per term, Z, Y, X, W, so it must be V.
Concept
A three-letter series can run a separate rule in each position, so read the terms column by column. Here the outer letters step forward from A, and the middle letter steps backward from Z.
The two rules are linked. Each middle letter is the opposite letter of the outer one, the pair whose positions add to 27: A–Z, B–Y, C–X, D–W, and next E–V.
The first and last letters of each term are the same, so the series is really two sequences: A, B, C, D, E and Z, Y, X, W, V.
Key facts
- Opposite letters add to 27: A–Z, B–Y, C–X, D–W, E–V.
- V is the 22nd letter of the alphabet and W the 23rd.
- Reading a letter series column by column separates the rule for each position.
Study next
Common traps
- Moving the middle letter forward like the outer letters
- Stepping the middle letter back two (W → U) instead of one
The item gives four terms and asks for the fifth, so each position's rule can be checked on four letters before you commit.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.