Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: IBCJUBU
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question is about a simple letter-shift coding pattern in which each alphabetic character in the original word is moved forward by a fixed number of positions. We are shown how HARBOUR is transformed into IBSCPVS and must apply the same rule to HABITAT.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To decode the pattern, we compare each letter of HARBOUR with the corresponding letter in IBSCPVS. If every letter is shifted by the same amount, we can treat this as a Caesar cipher where we simply add that fixed offset to each letter's position.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Compare H to I.
H is the 8th letter and I is the 9th letter, so H has been shifted forward by 1.
Step 2: Confirm this with the remaining letters:
A (1) → B (2), R (18) → S (19), B (2) → C (3), O (15) → P (16), U (21) → V (22), R (18) → S (19).
Step 3: The rule is consistent: every letter is shifted forward by 1 position in the alphabet.
Step 4: Apply this rule to HABITAT.
H → I, A → B, B → C, I → J, T → U, A → B, T → U.
Step 5: Put the coded letters together: I B C J U B U.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can quickly check that no letter violates the “plus one” rule. Each original letter, when moved one step forward, matches exactly the letters in IBCJUBU. Therefore, this is the only consistent code for HABITAT under the given pattern.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The other alternatives change one or more letters incorrectly. For example, some options alter the J in the middle or misplace the final U. They do not maintain a uniform shift of +1 for every character, so they cannot represent the correct coding pattern.
Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to assume different shifts for consonants and vowels or to shift backward instead of forward. Another is to miscount alphabet positions. Always check several positions to ensure the shift is uniform.
Final Answer:
According to the same coding rule, HABITAT is written as IBCJUBU in that code language.
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