Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: FXV
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This is a fairly straightforward three letter alphabet series: CUS, DVT, EWU, ?. The aim is to determine the next group of three letters that continues the pattern. In many such problems, each letter position (first, second and third) follows the same simple rule, such as increasing by one in the alphabet. Because the given terms appear consecutive in the first letters and similarly aligned in the second and third letters, we expect a clean, uniform pattern here.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The natural approach is to treat each column of letters as its own numeric series. When we see that letters move up by one position in the alphabet each time, this suggests that all three columns may follow the same +1 rule. That makes predicting the next term a matter of adding one step in each position. We then match the predicted term to the correct option among the choices provided.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: First letters: C, D, E.Positions: C=3, D=4, E=5.Step 2: Differences: 4 − 3 = 1 and 5 − 4 = 1; the first letters increase by +1 each time.Step 3: The next first letter is 5 + 1 = 6, which is F.Step 4: Second letters: U, V, W.Positions: U=21, V=22, W=23.Step 5: Differences: 22 − 21 = 1 and 23 − 22 = 1; second letters also increase by +1 each time.Step 6: The next second letter is 23 + 1 = 24, which is X.Step 7: Third letters: S, T, U.Positions: S=19, T=20, U=21.Step 8: Differences: 20 − 19 = 1 and 21 − 20 = 1; third letters increase by +1 as well.Step 9: The next third letter is 21 + 1 = 22, which is V.Step 10: Combining these results, the next term is FXV.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by writing the complete series: CUS, DVT, EWU, FXV. Each column now clearly shows consecutive letters: C, D, E, F for the first column; U, V, W, X for the second; and S, T, U, V for the third. This is exactly what we expect from a simple alphabet progression with a constant step size of +1. Among the options given, FXV is the one that matches this pattern in all three positions.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options VXF, XFV and XVF all rearrange the letters or put them in different positions. For example, VXF has V as the first letter rather than F, which does not continue the sequence C, D, E. XFV and XVF shift X or V into the wrong column, breaking the clean +1 progressions. Since the rule applies separately and consistently to each letter position, any misplacement violates the structure of the series and disqualifies that option as an acceptable continuation.
Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be tempted to only look at the first letters, notice the sequence C, D, E, and then choose an option whose first letter is F without confirming the behaviour of the second and third letters. Others might get distracted by the positions of U, V and W, which appear at the end of the alphabet, and overlook that the same +1 pattern holds there as well. The proper method is to analyse all three columns carefully and ensure that each follows the same rule before selecting an answer.
Final Answer:
FXV
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