Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: WUSQ
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question is a classic letter coding analogy from verbal reasoning. The pair EGIK : VTRP represents a particular transformation applied to each letter using positions in the English alphabet. Your task is to understand the hidden rule in the first pair and then apply exactly the same pattern to the second group of letters DFHJ in order to find the missing term from the options.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to think of each letter as a number. There is a very common reasoning pattern called mirror or reverse coding, where each letter is replaced by its mirror image with respect to the alphabet. In that scheme, A pairs with Z, B with Y, C with X, and so on. Mathematically, the sum of the positions of such a mirror pair is always 27. If we test this on the first pair EGIK and VTRP, we find that each pair of corresponding letters adds up to 27, which confirms that an alphabet mirror pattern is being used.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write positions for E, G, I, K. They are E = 5, G = 7, I = 9, K = 11.
Step 2: Write positions for V, T, R, P. They are V = 22, T = 20, R = 18, P = 16.
Step 3: Add each pair: 5 + 22 = 27, 7 + 20 = 27, 9 + 18 = 27, 11 + 16 = 27. So each letter is replaced by its mirror such that first position plus new position equals 27.
Step 4: Now apply the same mirror rule to DFHJ. Positions are D = 4, F = 6, H = 8, J = 10.
Step 5: For each letter, find 27 minus the position. For D, 27 - 4 = 23 which is W. For F, 27 - 6 = 21 which is U. For H, 27 - 8 = 19 which is S. For J, 27 - 10 = 17 which is Q.
Step 6: Putting these letters together, DFHJ becomes WUSQ.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to verify is to apply the same mirror logic directly using the A Z, B Y, C X pattern. The mirror of D is W, mirror of F is U, mirror of H is S and mirror of J is Q. This agrees perfectly with the numeric method, so the result WUSQ is stable. Now we compare it with the given answer choices and see that WUSQ appears exactly as option C. No other option respects the mirror sum 27 rule for all four positions, which confirms that the pattern has been correctly identified and applied.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
WSQU and WSUQ mix the letters in a different order and therefore cannot match the precise mirror positions of D, F, H and J. WUSP changes the last letter from Q to P, which breaks the mirror rule because J pairs with Q and not with P when we use the 27 sum property. Any option that does not maintain the exact mirror relationship for every letter must be rejected.
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners initially try random additions or subtractions for each position without spotting the constant 27 sum mirror pattern. Others may identify the mirror relation for some letters but then guess the remaining ones. The right approach is systematic: convert all letters to numbers, check for a common relation such as fixed sum, and then apply it carefully. Recognising the very common mirror coding trick will save time on many similar questions in reasoning exams.
Final Answer:
Using the mirror image coding where each letter and its code partner sum to 27, DFHJ is coded as WUSQ, so WUSQ is the correct answer.
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