In a letter value code where T has a value of 20 and the word MEDIA has a total value of 32, each based on the positions of letters in the English alphabet, what is the corresponding coded value of the word ELICIT?

Introduction / Context:
This coding and decoding question uses a very common verbal reasoning idea where each letter is assigned a numerical value equal to its position in the English alphabet. The coded value of a word is then obtained by summing these individual letter values. You are given the values of T and MEDIA and asked to extend the same logic to find the value of ELICIT.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The letter T has a code value of 20.
• The word MEDIA has a total code value of 32.
• The word for which the code must be found is ELICIT.
• We assume that A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, up to Z = 26.
• The total code of a word is the sum of the positional values of its letters.

Concept / Approach:
Under the alphabet position system, each letter is replaced by its ordinal position number. For example, M is the 13th letter, E is the 5th and so on. We first confirm that the provided examples match this rule, then confidently apply the same technique to the new word. This ensures that the pattern is correct and not a coincidence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Confirm the code for T. In the alphabet, T is the 20th letter. So T = 20, which matches the given data.Step 2: Confirm the code for MEDIA. Compute M = 13, E = 5, D = 4, I = 9 and A = 1.Step 3: Add these values: 13 + 5 + 4 + 9 + 1 = 32. This matches the given code for MEDIA, so the rule is verified.Step 4: Now apply the same idea to ELICIT. Find the position of each letter: E = 5, L = 12, I = 9, C = 3, I = 9, T = 20.Step 5: Add the values: 5 + 12 + 9 + 3 + 9 + 20.Step 6: First add 5 + 12 = 17, then 17 + 9 = 26, 26 + 3 = 29, 29 + 9 = 38 and finally 38 + 20 = 58.Step 7: Therefore, the coded value of ELICIT under this scheme is 58.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can quickly cross check one more word, for example T itself or some other small word, to see whether the computed sum matches an expected pattern. Since both T and MEDIA fit perfectly, and the calculation for ELICIT is a direct application of the same principle, the answer 58 is highly reliable. Recalculating the addition step by step also confirms that there is no arithmetic slip.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The option 57 would require the total sum to be one less, which means some letter value would need to be reduced incorrectly. The option 59 and 60 similarly overshoot the correct sum and do not correspond to the real alphabetical positions. The option 61 is even further away from the computed result. Only 58 exactly equals the sum of 5, 12, 9, 3, 9 and 20.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students misremember the position of certain letters, especially in the second half of the alphabet, or they add the numbers too quickly and introduce small calculation errors. Others may mistakenly try to multiply or average the letter values instead of summing them. Writing down the alphabet with positions or mentally grouping additions in small steps helps to avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
Using the alphabet position sum code, the correct value corresponding to ELICIT is 58.