The first half of the English alphabet is reversed and the second half remains in the usual order. In this new sequence, which letter is tenth to the left of the sixteenth letter from the left?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your ability to manipulate the alphabet in a structured way and then locate letters by relative position. It specifically modifies only the first half of the alphabet and then asks for positional counting. Such problems are common in letter ranking sections because they require careful attention to the modified order instead of the usual A to Z arrangement. Practising them improves mental flexibility with ordered sequences.

Given Data / Assumptions:
We start with the English alphabet from A to Z. The first half, that is A to M, is reversed, while the second half, N to Z, remains in the normal order. This creates a new 26 letter sequence. In that new sequence we must identify the letter that is the sixteenth from the left, and then find the letter that is tenth to the left of that position. The answer must be one of the options H, F, Z, U or Q.

Concept / Approach:
First construct the modified alphabet explicitly or at least conceptually. Reversing the first 13 letters means that A becomes the 13th in that block, while M becomes the first. The second half from N to Z stays as it is. Once the full sequence is fixed, we locate the sixteenth letter from the left by simple counting. After that we move ten positions to the left, which means subtracting ten from the index of that letter. The letter at the new index is the required answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Write the normal alphabet and split it: first half A to M and second half N to Z. Reverse the first half to get M L K J I H G F E D C B A. Keep the second half unchanged: N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. Combine them to form the new sequence: M L K J I H G F E D C B A N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. Count to find the sixteenth letter from the left: positions 1 to 13 are M, L, K, J, I, H, G, F, E, D, C, B, A; positions 14 and 15 are N and O; so position 16 is P. Now move ten places to the left from position 16: 16 minus 10 gives position 6. The 6th letter in the new sequence is H, since the sequence begins M(1), L(2), K(3), J(4), I(5), H(6).

Verification / Alternative check:
As a verification, you can also count right from the start and mark every fifth letter to keep track, reducing the chance of miscounting. For instance, M(1), L(2), K(3), J(4), I(5), H(6), G(7), F(8), E(9), D(10), C(11), B(12), A(13), N(14), O(15), P(16). Once you are confident that P is indeed at position 16, subtracting ten to obtain position 6 is straightforward. Another quick check is to rewrite only the first 16 letters, circle the 16th as P, and count back 10 positions to confirm that you land on H. Both methods align, confirming H as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
F occurs at position 8 in the modified sequence, not at position 6. Z is the last letter and lies far to the right, so it cannot be ten places to the left of the sixteenth letter. U appears later in the sequence, specifically at position 21, making it impossible to be the required letter. Q is at position 17 and also does not match the positional requirement. Only H matches the position obtained by first identifying P as the sixteenth letter and then moving ten steps to the left.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to forget that only the first half is reversed and to mistakenly reverse the entire alphabet. Another pitfall is to miscount positions either when finding the sixteenth letter or when moving ten places to the left. Some students try to solve the problem mentally without ever writing the modified sequence, which increases the risk of mixing up letters. To avoid such mistakes, clearly write or visualise the first 16 letters of the new arrangement and check your counting twice. Slowing down slightly at this stage is much better than redoing the entire question later.

Final Answer:
In the new sequence with the first half reversed, the letter that is tenth to the left of the sixteenth letter from the left is H.