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 arranged. Given below is an illustration of this arrangement. Input: 37 50 FGN KZU 74 YNS 51 100 ORS 17 HPBM Step 1: 100 37 50 FGN KZU 74 YNS ORS 17 HPBM 51 Step 2: 74 100 50 FGN KZU YNS ORS 17 HPBM 51 37 Step 3: 50 74 100 FGN KZU YNS ORS HPBM 51 37 17 Step 4: 50 74 100 EFGNM KZU YNS ORS HPBM 51 37 17 Step 5: 50 74 100 EFGNM GHPBML KZU YNS ORS 51 37 17 Step 6: 50 74 100 EFGNM GHPBML JKZUT YNS ORS 51 37 17 Step 7: 50 74 100 EFGNM GHPBML JKZUT NORSR YNS 51 37 17 Step 8: 50 74 100 EFGNM GHPBML JKZUT NORSR XYNSR 51 37 17 And, step 8 is the last step of the above input, as per the rules followed in the steps given above; find out in each of the following questions the appropriate step for the given input. Input: ETU 75 GTQ 14 RTV 22 NTS 32 MTW 67 FSN 19 CER How many elements are there between 'RTV' and 'NTS' in the step prior to the penultimate step?

### 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. In subsequent steps, the next highest even number pushes in from the left, and the next highest odd number pushes in from the right. **2. Word Logic:** Once numbers are sorted (Step 3), words are arranged alphabetically one by one immediately after the numbers. During arrangement, each word transforms: the first letter is replaced by its preceding letter in the alphabet (e.g., F $\rightarrow$ E), the original word is kept, and the last letter is replaced by its preceding letter (e.g., N $\rightarrow$ M). So, FGN becomes EFGNM. ### 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:** Evens (descending): 32, 22, 14 Odds (descending): 75, 67, 19 * **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:** Alphabetical order required: CER, ETU, FSN, GTQ, MTW, NTS, RTV. * **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 The penultimate step is Step 9. The step prior to it is Step 8. In Step 8, the arrangement is: 14 22 32 BCERQ DETUT EFSNM FGTQP LMTWV RTV NTS 75 67 19. The elements 'RTV' and 'NTS' are immediately next to each other. ### Exam Strategy & Shortcut Generate the full trace table once on your scratchpad before attempting any of the sub-questions. Do not try to visualize the steps in your head, as the transformation rule adds cognitive load and increases the risk of transcription errors. ### Common Pitfall A frequent mistake is assuming that if a word is already in the correct alphabetical position (like ETU in Step 4 to Step 5), the machine skips a step. The illustration proves that transformation itself constitutes a distinct mechanical step. ### Final Answer Therefore, the correct answer is **None**.