Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: PPQ
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This logical reasoning question uses short alphabet sequences to test pattern recognition. Odd one out problems based on letters often rely on whether the letters are consecutive in alphabetical order. Candidates need to check if each group of letters forms a natural sequence or if there is a break in the pattern. The one that does not follow the same rule becomes the answer.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The options are LMN, PPQ, RST, VWX, and DEF.
- Each option consists of three capital letters from the English alphabet.
- Consecutive letters mean that each letter follows directly after the previous one in alphabetical order, such as D, E, F.
- Exactly one group does not form such a simple consecutive sequence of three distinct letters.
Concept / Approach:
The main idea is to see whether each option is of the form X, Y, Z where Y = X plus one letter in the alphabet and Z = Y plus one letter. If all three letters are different and appear one after another in alphabetical order, that option fits the main pattern. Any option that repeats a letter or does not follow this strict ordering of three consecutive letters is the odd one out.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine LMN. The letters L, M, and N follow each other directly in the alphabet, so LMN is a perfect consecutive sequence.Step 2: Examine RST. The letters R, S, and T are again consecutive letters, making another correct alphabetical sequence.Step 3: Examine VWX. The letters V, W, and X follow one another in order, so this is also a correct sequence.Step 4: Examine DEF. The letters D, E, and F are clearly consecutive letters as well.Step 5: Examine PPQ. Here the letters are P, P, and Q. P is repeated and then followed by Q. This does not form a sequence of three distinct consecutive letters.Step 6: Since LMN, RST, VWX, and DEF are all sequences of three distinct consecutive letters, while PPQ has repetition and does not match the pattern, PPQ is the odd one out.
Verification / Alternative Check:
A quick check is to assign positions. L, M, N are 12, 13, 14. R, S, T are 18, 19, 20. V, W, X are 22, 23, 24. D, E, F are 4, 5, 6. In each case, we have a simple pattern of plus 1 between letters. For PPQ, the positions are P = 16, P = 16, Q = 17. The jump from the first P to the second P is zero, not plus 1, and only the last step is plus 1. This breaks the rule and confirms PPQ as the odd group.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
LMN is not odd because it forms a perfect consecutive series of three letters. RST is also fully consistent with the expected pattern. VWX is again a correct set of consecutive letters, so it belongs with the main group. DEF remains another clear example of three letters that follow each other directly. Since all of these match the pattern of three distinct consecutive letters, none of them can be selected as the odd one out.
Common Pitfalls:
Some students may focus only on whether Q appears, thinking it is unusual, but that is not the intended rule. Others may overlook the repetition in PPQ because they are scanning quickly. The correct habit is to check each position carefully and confirm that the sequence is strictly increasing by one letter. Recognising this structure makes similar alphabet based odd one out questions much easier to answer correctly in exams.
Final Answer:
PPQ
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