A series of three letter groups is given with one term missing. Select the alternative that correctly completes the pattern: VWX, BCD, HIJ, ?

Introduction / Context:
This question presents a sequence of three letter clusters and asks you to identify the next cluster. The pattern involves cyclic movement through the alphabet, with a consistent shift applied to each letter. Understanding such patterns is a key part of letter based reasoning in aptitude exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Given groups: VWX, BCD, HIJ, ? • Each group contains three consecutive letters in alphabetical order. • Movements between groups may wrap around from Z back to A. • The same numeric shift is applied to each letter position when moving from one group to the next.

Concept / Approach:
We map letters to their positions and observe how the starting letters of each group transform: V to B to H and so on. Because each group appears to be a block of three consecutive letters, once we know the starting letter pattern, we can reconstruct the entire missing group. The key is to spot a constant step size in these starting letters.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the starting letters of each group. VWX starts at V (22), BCD starts at B (2), HIJ starts at H (8). Step 2: Compute the movement between starting letters using modular arithmetic. From V (22) to B (2), we add 6 if we wrap around: 22 + 6 = 28, 28 − 26 = 2. From B (2) to H (8), we again add 6: 2 + 6 = 8. Step 3: Apply the same +6 pattern to H. H is position 8, so 8 + 6 = 14, which corresponds to N. Step 4: Build the full group starting at N. Since each group uses three consecutive letters, the next group is NOP.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check that the rule works for all letters in each group. VWX is V, W, X (22, 23, 24). Adding 6 yields B, C, D (2, 3, 4). Adding 6 again gives H, I, J (8, 9, 10). One more application yields N, O, P (14, 15, 16). This confirms a consistent pattern of +6 applied to each letter, with cyclic wrap around the alphabet, and validates NOP as the only correct continuation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• MOQ: The letters are not three consecutive positions following the +6 transformation from HIJ, so the pattern breaks. • GHI: This simply repeats part of an earlier sequence and does not follow the starting letter shift from H to N. • TUV: This does not result from the established +6 offset from H, and therefore cannot be the next term.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus only on the visible alphabetical order inside each group and ignore how groups evolve relative to one another. Some test takers may also forget to consider wrap around arithmetic, which is essential whenever letters near Z are involved. Always check the consistent numeric shift across the entire sequence.

Final Answer:
The group that correctly completes the series is NOP.