Question 1

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.  A word and number sorting machine, when given an input of words and numbers, rearranges them in a particular manner step by step, as indicated below, until all the words and numbers are arr…

Accepted Answer

Concept & Pattern Logic: In sequential output tracing, we must first decode the hidden rules applied to numbers and words by analyzing the illustration. 1. Number Logic: In the first 3 steps, numbers are arranged. The highest even number goes to the extreme left, and the highest odd number goes to the extreme right. 2. Word Logic: Once numbers are sorted, words are arranged alphabetically one by one. During arrangement, each word transforms by adding its first letter's predecessor to the front and its last letter's predecessor to the end. Step-by-Step Solution: Let us trace the given input fully based on the decoded logic. Input: ETU 75 GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS 32 MTW 67 FSN 19 CER Sorting Numbers: • Step 1: 32 ETU GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS MTW 67 FSN 19 CER 75 • Step 2: 22 32 ETU GTQ 14 RTV NTS MTW FSN 19 CER 75 67 • Step 3: 14 22 32 ETU GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN CER 75 67 19 Sorting Words: • Step 4 (CER \rightarrow BCERQ): 14 22 32 BCERQ ETU GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN 75 67 19 • Step 5 (ETU \rightarrow DETUT): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN 75 67 19 • Step 6 (FSN \rightarrow EFSNM): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM GTQ RTV NTS MTW 75 67 19 • Step 7 (GTQ \rightarrow FGTQP): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM FGTQP RTV NTS MTW 75 67 19 We look at Step 7: 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM FGTQP RTV NTS MTW 75 67 19. Counting from the left: 1. 14 2. 22 3. 32 4. BCERQ 5. DETUT 6. EFSNM Therefore, 'EFSNM' is the 6th element from the left. Checking from the right (13 elements total): 13 - 6 + 1 = 8th from the right, which is not an option. Exam Strategy & Shortcut: To find the position of a sorted word quickly in a later step, you can simply count the fixed elements. In step 7, we know 3 numbers are fixed on the left, and 4 words have been sorted so far (CER, ETU, FSN, GTQ). FSN is the 3rd sorted word. So its position is 3 (numbers) + 3 (its rank among words) = 6th position from the left. Common Pitfall: A common mistake is forgetting to count the initial numbers that were grouped on the left, resulting in an off-by-three error. Final Answer: Therefore, the correct answer is Sixth from the left.

Question 2

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.  A word and number sorting machine, when given an input of words and numbers, rearranges them in a particular manner step by step, as indicated below, until all the words and numbers are arr…

Accepted Answer

Concept & Pattern Logic: In sequential output tracing, we must first decode the hidden rules applied to numbers and words by analyzing the illustration. 1. Number Logic: In the first 3 steps, numbers are arranged. The highest even number goes to the left, and highest odd to the right. 2. Word Logic: Once numbers are sorted (Step 3), words are arranged alphabetically one by one, adding specific predecessor letters to their front and back as they sort. Step-by-Step Solution: Let us trace the given input fully based on the decoded logic. Input: ETU 75 GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS 32 MTW 67 FSN 19 CER Sorting Numbers: • Step 1: 32 ETU GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS MTW 67 FSN 19 CER 75 • Step 2: 22 32 ETU GTQ 14 RTV NTS MTW FSN 19 CER 75 67 • Step 3: 14 22 32 ETU GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN CER 75 67 19 Sorting Words: In Step 4, the alphabetically first word (CER) is transformed (to BCERQ) and moved right after the sorted numbers on the left. The remaining words shift right. • Step 4: 14 22 32 BCERQ ETU GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN 75 67 19 We look at Step 4: 14, 22, 32, BCERQ, ETU, GTQ, RTV, NTS... The element 'GTQ' is the 6th element from the left. Moving one position to the left gives 'ETU'. Moving a second position to the left gives 'BCERQ'. Exam Strategy & Shortcut: Instead of writing the entire sequence if you only need Step 4, simply determine what is fixed by Step 4. By Step 4, the three even numbers (14, 22, 32) and the first transformed word (BCERQ) are locked in. The remaining original sequence (ETU, GTQ...) simply follows. Locating GTQ immediately reveals BCERQ is two spaces behind it. Common Pitfall: A common error is confusing "left of" with "right of". Remember that the start of the sequence is the left side. Second to the left means moving towards the beginning of the sentence. Final Answer: Therefore, the correct answer is BCERQ.

Question 3

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.  A word and number sorting machine, when given an input of words and numbers, rearranges them in a particular manner step by step, as indicated below, until all the words and numbers are arr…

Accepted Answer

Concept & Pattern Logic: In sequential output tracing, we must first decode the hidden rules applied to numbers and words by analyzing the illustration. 1. Number Logic: In the first 3 steps, numbers are arranged. The highest even number goes to the extreme left, and the highest odd number goes to the extreme right. 2. Word Logic: Once numbers are sorted (Step 3), words are arranged alphabetically one by one. Each transformation of a word constitutes exactly one step, even if the word is already in its correct relative alphabetical position. Step-by-Step Solution: Let us trace the given input fully based on the decoded logic. Input: ETU 75 GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS 32 MTW 67 FSN 19 CER (Total 6 numbers, 7 words) Sorting Numbers (3 Steps): Because there are exactly 3 pairs of even and odd numbers to process, this will strictly take 3 steps. • Step 3: 14 22 32 ETU GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN CER 75 67 19 Sorting Words (7 Steps): Alphabetical order required: CER, ETU, FSN, GTQ, MTW, NTS, RTV. Because every individual word undergoes a unique letter transformation, each word must be processed in its own dedicated step. • Step 4 (CER \rightarrow BCERQ): 14 22 32 BCERQ ETU GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN 75 67 19 • Step 5 (ETU \rightarrow DETUT): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT GTQ RTV NTS MTW FSN 75 67 19 • Step 6 (FSN \rightarrow EFSNM): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM GTQ RTV NTS MTW 75 67 19 • Step 7 (GTQ \rightarrow FGTQP): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM FGTQP RTV NTS MTW 75 67 19 • Step 8 (MTW \rightarrow LMTWV): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM FGTQP LMTWV RTV NTS 75 67 19 • Step 9 (NTS \rightarrow MNTSR): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM FGTQP LMTWV MNTSR RTV 75 67 19 • Step 10 (RTV \rightarrow QRTUV): 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM FGTQP LMTWV MNTSR QRTUV 75 67 19 With all elements fully sorted and transformed, Step 10 is the final step. Exam Strategy & Shortcut: You don't need to write out the entire trace to find the final step count. Count the operations required. There are 3 pairs of numbers requiring 3 sort steps. There are 7 words requiring transformation. Because the rule mandates transformation, no step can be "skipped" even if a word naturally falls into place. Thus, Total Steps = 3 (Number pairs) + 7 (Words) = 10 steps. Common Pitfall: A common mistake is assuming that words already in their correct alphabetical order (like ETU following CER) do not require a step. However, because the machine also *modifies* the word by adding letters, the transformation itself constitutes an inescapable step. Final Answer: Therefore, the correct answer is 10.

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