Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: GED
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This reasoning question is based on patterns in sequences of letters from the English alphabet. Odd one out questions like this test a candidate ability to notice directions of movement in the alphabet and consistent differences between consecutive letters. They are common in aptitude and competitive exams where quick recognition of letter patterns is very important.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Five letter groups are given as options: WVU, QPO, GED, LKJ, and RQP.
- Each group contains exactly three capital letters in sequence.
- We assume standard English alphabetical order from A to Z.
- Only one group should break a clear pattern that is followed by the remaining groups.
Concept / Approach:
The natural way to approach such questions is to look at how letters move in the alphabet from left to right within each group. In many exam problems, three of the options show letters in strict alphabetical order, either forward or backward with a fixed step. We need to check whether the letters in each group move forward or backward and whether the size of the step remains consistent. The group that violates this consistent pattern will be the odd one out.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider WVU. W, V, and U are consecutive letters in reverse order, moving backward by 1 step each time.Step 2: In QPO, Q goes to P and then to O. These letters are also in reverse order, again moving backward by 1 step each time.Step 3: In LKJ, L, K, and J are also in strict reverse alphabetical order, each step moving backward by 1 letter.Step 4: In RQP, R, Q, and P follow the same reverse pattern, again going back by 1 letter at each step.Step 5: Now consider GED. From G to E the movement is backward by 2 letters, and from E to D the movement is backward by 1 letter. So the steps are not consistent within this group.Step 6: Since all other groups show a simple and consistent backward step of 1, but GED uses unequal backward steps, GED does not fit the common pattern.
Verification / Alternative Check:
We can quickly verify the pattern by writing down the alphabet positions. W, V, U are 23, 22, 21. Q, P, O are 17, 16, 15. L, K, J are 12, 11, 10. R, Q, P are 18, 17, 16. Each of these sequences decreases by one at each step. For GED, the positions are 7, 5, 4. The first step is a change of minus 2, followed by minus 1. Because these steps differ, GED is the only group that behaves differently, confirming it as the odd one out.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
WVU is not odd because its letters are in a clean reverse sequence with a constant step of minus 1. QPO is not odd because it follows the same backward by one pattern as WVU. LKJ is not odd since it also has three consecutive letters going backward by one. RQP is not odd because it still follows the same reverse alphabetical pattern. Hence none of these break the shared rule.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake in such questions is to look only at the direction of movement, for example simply noticing that all are in reverse order and then guessing randomly. However, this question also uses the size of the step as part of the pattern. Another pitfall is to confuse the positions of letters and miscount the gaps. Writing down or mentally tracking the positions carefully avoids such errors and leads to the correct answer faster.
Final Answer:
GED
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