If, in a certain code language, the word HEROISM is written as SVILRHN, then according to the same coding rule how will the word ALP be written?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests coding and decoding based on a letter transformation rule applied consistently to all letters of a word. The example shows how the word HEROISM is converted into a coded form, and we are asked to apply the same rule to the shorter word ALP. Such questions build comfort with alphabet positions and symmetric patterns in verbal reasoning, and they are frequently used in many aptitude tests.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Original word: HEROISM.
• Coded word: SVILRHN.
• Target word: ALP.
• The same rule that converts HEROISM to SVILRHN must be used for ALP.
• All letters are from the English alphabet, and their relative positions are important.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to understand how each letter of HEROISM transforms into the corresponding letter in SVILRHN. If we look at the alphabet positions, we notice that H and S, E and V, R and I, O and L, I and R, S and H, M and N form reflective pairs around the middle of the alphabet. This is known as an Atbash type mapping, where A pairs with Z, B with Y, C with X, and so on. Once we recognise that HEROISM and SVILRHN are Atbash counterparts, we can apply the same reflection rule directly to each letter of ALP to find its coded form.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the alphabet from A to Z and pair A with Z, B with Y, C with X, continuing until M with N.Step 2: Check the mapping for the example: H pairs with S, E with V, R with I, O with L, I with R, S with H, M with N. This confirms the Atbash style reflection.Step 3: For the target word ALP, find Atbash pairs. A pairs with Z, L pairs with O, and P pairs with K.Step 4: Therefore ALP is encoded as ZOK.Step 5: Compare ZOK with the given answer options and select the matching option.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a quick check, take any other letter pair from the example such as M and N. M is the 13th letter and N is the 14th, and in the Atbash mapping 13 pairs with 14, which matches the transformation from M to N. Similarly, S maps back to H, again consistent with reflection around the centre of the alphabet. Applying the same rule to A, L, and P gives Z, O, and K respectively, so ZOK is fully consistent with the established pattern and therefore the code for ALP is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
LTV, ZSX, and SGD do not follow the Atbash mapping for ALP. For example, if A mapped to L as in option LTV, that would contradict the mapping that sends A to Z in the HEROISM example. The option XQO is also inconsistent because it does not match the standard reflected partners of A, L, or P. Only ZOK preserves the reflection rule for all three letters, so the other options must be rejected as incorrect decodings.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to look for simple forward or backward shifts in the alphabet, such as plus two or minus three, rather than checking for a full reflection around the alphabet centre. Another mistake is to guess based on visual similarity of options instead of systematically verifying the mapping against the example. Learners may also wrongly assume that each letter moves by a fixed number of positions, which fails here because the pattern is symmetric rather than a constant shift. Working with explicit alphabet positions and checking at least three or four letter pairs helps to avoid such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The correct code for the word ALP, using the same Atbash style reflection rule that maps HEROISM to SVILRHN, is ZOK, which corresponds to the correct option given in the problem.