Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: CPNCBZ
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This coding decoding question uses a simple alphabet shifting rule. Each letter in the original word is replaced by another letter at a fixed distance in the alphabet. You need to identify this shift from the example MADRAS → NBESBT and then apply it to BOMBAY.
Given Data / Assumptions:
We are given:
MADRAS → NBESBT.
We must find the code for BOMBAY using the same rule. We assume the shift is consistent for all letters and does not depend on position.
Concept / Approach:
The natural idea is to compare each letter of MADRAS with the corresponding coded letter in NBESBT and compute the alphabetic shift. If this difference is the same for all positions, the code is a simple Caesar shift, and we can straightforwardly apply it to BOMBAY.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Write down the letters of MADRAS and NBESBT vertically aligned: M→N, A→B, D→E, R→S, A→B, S→T.
For each pair, observe that the coded letter is one step ahead of the original in the alphabet: M becomes N, A becomes B, D becomes E, R becomes S, and S becomes T.
Therefore the rule is: move each letter one position forward in the English alphabet, wrapping after Z if necessary.
Now apply this rule to BOMBAY: B→C, O→P, M→N, B→C, A→B, Y→Z. Thus BOMBAY becomes CPNCBZ.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification is to reverse the shift. If we subtract one step from each letter in CPNCBZ, we should get back BOMBAY. C→B, P→O, N→M, C→B, B→A, Z→Y. This confirms that the rule is consistent and correctly applied.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
CPNCBX and CPOCBZ both differ in one or more letters from the correctly shifted sequence. CQOCBZ introduces an extra shift for some letters that does not match the original example MADRAS → NBESBT. Only CPNCBZ faithfully follows the single step forward pattern for every letter.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes miscount by shifting letters backwards instead of forwards, or they change the shift size halfway through. Another frequent error is forgetting about the last letter Y and not shifting it correctly to Z. Always check the original example carefully and test your discovered rule in reverse as well.
Final Answer:
According to the same code, the word BOMBAY is written as CPNCBZ.
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