In the following letter analogy question, NP is related to HJ in a certain way. Using the same alphabetical pattern based on positions in the English alphabet, SY will be related to which of the following pairs of letters?

Introduction / Context:
This question is a classic example of a letter analogy problem in verbal and reasoning based aptitude tests. The objective is to observe how the first pair of letters NP is converted into HJ, and then apply the same transformation or logic to the second pair SY in order to identify the correct related pair among the given options. Such questions test a student's familiarity with alphabetical positions, pattern recognition, and the ability to generalise a rule from one example and transfer it to another.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are given the analogy NP : HJ :: SY : ?
• The English alphabet has 26 letters, with A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, and so on up to Z = 26.
• No extra symbols, skipping, or wrapping rules are explicitly stated, so we assume simple arithmetic shifts on letter positions.
• Only one of the options must match the exact pattern used from NP to HJ.

Concept / Approach:
The main approach is to convert each letter into its numerical position in the alphabet, compare the positions in the first pair NP and HJ, and determine the shift. Once the shift is known, we apply the same arithmetic shift to the second pair SY. If the transformation is consistent, the resulting letters will match one of the options. This method ensures a systematic and error free way to solve letter analogy problems.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the positions of N and P. N is the 14th letter and P is the 16th letter of the alphabet. Step 2: Write the positions of H and J. H is the 8th letter and J is the 10th letter of the alphabet. Step 3: Compare the positions. From 14 to 8, the shift is minus 6. From 16 to 10, the shift is again minus 6. So each letter in NP is shifted 6 places backward to get HJ. Step 4: Now apply the same shift to S and Y. S is the 19th letter of the alphabet. Subtracting 6 gives 19 - 6 = 13, which corresponds to M. Step 5: Y is the 25th letter. Subtracting 6 gives 25 - 6 = 19, which corresponds to S. Step 6: Therefore SY becomes MS when the pattern minus 6 is applied to each letter.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify the pattern by checking that both letters in each pair follow the same shift. NP to HJ involves subtracting 6 from each letter. SY to MS also uses subtracting 6 from each letter. There is no inconsistency or need for a special rule. Since MS appears exactly as one of the given options, this confirms the correctness of the transformation and the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
NT would correspond to shifts that are not equal to minus 6 for both letters when starting from S and Y, so it does not follow the same rule. MT and NS also require different shifts for the two letters or do not match the minus 6 pattern at all. The option labelled as none of these letter pairs is incorrect because a valid pair MS that follows the exact pattern is already present among the options.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to look only at the difference between N and H, and then guess an answer without checking the second letter. Another frequent error is to count the number of letters between them rather than using the actual numerical positions. Some students also consider mixed operations, such as adding on one letter and subtracting on another, which does not match this question. It is important to ensure that the same mathematical operation is applied consistently to both letters in the pair.

Final Answer:
The correct related pair of letters that follows the same alphabetical shift pattern as NP to HJ is MS.