Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: QSPDMBJN
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This is a classic letter coding question in which each character of the word is shifted forward in the alphabet by a fixed number of positions. The example LOYALTY is transformed into MPZBMUZ, and you must first deduce the pattern and then apply it to the new word PROCLAIM. Such questions are standard in coding decoding topics and help test observation of alphabet positions and consistent application of letter shifts.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The straightforward way is to compare each letter in LOYALTY with the corresponding letter in MPZBMUZ and compute the shift in terms of alphabet positions. If all letters move forward by the same amount, the pattern is a simple Caesar shift. Once we confirm the shift, we apply it letter by letter to PROCLAIM. Careful attention to each letter avoids off by one mistakes, which are very common in alphabet based puzzles.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the letters of LOYALTY and MPZBMUZ in parallel.
L → M, O → P, Y → Z, A → B, L → M, T → U, Y → Z.
Step 2: Convert to positions: L(12) → M(13), O(15) → P(16), Y(25) → Z(26), A(1) → B(2), T(20) → U(21).
Step 3: In every case, the letter moves forward by 1 position in the alphabet.
Step 4: Therefore, the rule is: replace each letter by the next letter in the alphabet (Z would wrap to A, though that is not used here).
Step 5: Now apply the same +1 shift to PROCLAIM.
P → Q, R → S, O → P, C → D, L → M, A → B, I → J, M → N.
Step 6: Combine these coded letters: Q S P D M B J N, which is written as QSPDMBJN.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick consistency check is to decode QSPDMBJN back by shifting each letter one step backward: Q → P, S → R, P → O, D → C, M → L, B → A, J → I, N → M. This reconstructs PROCLAIM correctly, confirming that the applied shift is precise. You can also recheck the example LOYALTY by performing the same type of forward shift to see that it produces MPZBMUZ, which further validates the pattern.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options A, B, D and E all differ from QSPDMBJN in at least one position. For example, some options introduce an extra repeated letter D or change the order of M and B in the middle. These variations would require different shifts for different letters or an inconsistent rule, which contradicts the simple and uniform +1 pattern established by LOYALTY to MPZBMUZ. The code must be obtained by the same rule for every letter, so only QSPDMBJN is acceptable.
Common Pitfalls:
Common mistakes include shifting letters in the wrong direction (subtracting 1 instead of adding 1) or miscounting positions near the ends of the alphabet. Another pitfall is to overlook that all letters follow the same rule and instead try to fit different shifts to different letters, which complicates the pattern unnecessarily. Writing the alphabet row and marking positions can help maintain accuracy in exam conditions.
Final Answer:
Using the same one step forward coding rule, PROCLAIM is written as QSPDMBJN in the given code language.
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