In this alphabet pair odd one out question, choose the pair of letters that does not follow the pattern of moving backwards by four positions in the alphabet among VR, LH, SW and FB.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: SW

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a verbal reasoning question based on letter pairs. You need to determine which pair of letters does not follow the same movement rule in the alphabet as the others. These types of questions train candidates to recognize positional relationships between letters quickly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The letter pairs are VR, LH, SW and FB.
  • We use A to Z as positions 1 to 26.
  • The suspected pattern involves shifting a fixed number of positions forward or backward in the alphabet.

Concept / Approach:
First, convert each letter into its alphabetical position and then compute the difference between the first and second letters in each pair. If three pairs show the same difference and direction, while one does not, that anomalous pair is the odd one out. Here, most pairs move four positions backward, while one pair moves forward.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: For VR, V is the 22nd letter and R is the 18th letter. Difference = 18 - 22 = -4, which is 4 positions backward.Step 2: For LH, L is the 12th letter and H is the 8th letter. Difference = 8 - 12 = -4, again 4 positions backward.Step 3: For FB, F is the 6th letter and B is the 2nd letter. Difference = 2 - 6 = -4, so this pair also moves 4 positions backward.Step 4: For SW, S is the 19th letter and W is the 23rd letter. Difference = 23 - 19 = +4, which means 4 positions forward, not backward.Step 5: Since VR, LH and FB each show a backward movement of 4 positions, while SW shows a forward movement of 4 positions, SW breaks the pattern and is the odd one out.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can mentally count letters: from V backwards four steps is U, T, S, R; from L backwards four steps is K, J, I, H; from F backwards four steps is E, D, C, B. In contrast, from S forwards four steps is T, U, V, W. This quick check confirms that SW is the only pair moving forward in the alphabet, reinforcing the conclusion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
VR is not the odd one out because it clearly follows the rule of moving four positions backward from the first letter to the second letter.
LH also fits the same backward step of 4 positions and thus belongs with VR and FB.
FB consistently applies the same backward shift of 4 positions, which is the central pattern in this question.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to ignore direction and only count the absolute difference between positions, overlooking whether the movement is forward or backward. Another mistake is miscounting the number of steps between letters, especially when working mentally under time pressure. To avoid confusion, always pay attention to whether the second letter comes before or after the first letter in the alphabet.

Final Answer:
The only pair that moves four positions forward instead of backward is SW, so SW is the odd one out.

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