In the following question, each option is a group of four letters. In three of the options the first two letters move forward in the alphabet and the last two letters move backward. Select the group that does not follow this pattern (odd one out).

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: CGEF

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a letter pattern recognition question, a common type in logical reasoning and mental ability tests. The options show groups of four letters in which the positions of the letters in the alphabet follow a particular movement. The candidate needs to identify the consistent rule used in most groups and then pick the group that does not follow that rule, which becomes the odd one out.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- The options are FIHG, CGEF, JMLK, VYXW, and SVUT.
- We assume standard English alphabetical order from A to Z with positions A = 1, B = 2, and so on.
- Each group has four letters and may combine forward and backward movement in the alphabet.
- Exactly one group breaks the main pattern followed by the others.


Concept / Approach:
The pattern can often be found by checking the numerical difference between consecutive letters. Here, a useful idea is that in many groups two letters increasing by a fixed amount are followed by two letters that decrease by a smaller fixed amount. By converting letters to positions and calculating differences, we can compare all the options and see which one behaves differently. Letter based odd one out questions reward systematic checking rather than guesswork.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: For FIHG, the positions are F = 6, I = 9, H = 8, G = 7. The first movement is from 6 to 9, which is +3. The next movements are 9 to 8 and 8 to 7, both equal to minus 1.Step 2: For JMLK, the positions are J = 10, M = 13, L = 12, K = 11. The change 10 to 13 is +3, then 13 to 12 is minus 1, and 12 to 11 is minus 1, the same pattern as in FIHG.Step 3: For VYXW, V = 22, Y = 25, X = 24, W = 23. This gives changes of +3, then minus 1, then minus 1. Again, it follows the same pattern.Step 4: For SVUT, S = 19, V = 22, U = 21, T = 20. The differences are +3, then minus 1, then minus 1. So this group also follows the same rule.Step 5: For CGEF, C = 3, G = 7, E = 5, F = 6. The movement from C to G is +4, not +3. Then the movement from E to F is +1, not minus 1. So the pattern is different here.Step 6: Therefore, CGEF does not follow the +3, then minus 1, minus 1 pattern that appears in the other groups and is the odd one out.


Verification / Alternative Check:
We can also visualise this by writing each group as forward then backward. FIHG can be seen as F to I moving forward and then stepping back from I to H and H to G. JMLK and VYXW behave the same way. SVUT continues this structure, which confirms a strong, shared pattern. CGEF, however, does not have a balanced forward then backward arrangement; it has a larger jump forward and then ends with two letters that are not both moving backward. This mismatch confirms that CGEF is different from the other four groups.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
FIHG is not odd because the movements between letters match the required pattern exactly. JMLK is also fully consistent with the rule and fits neatly with FIHG. VYXW again keeps the same difference structure and therefore cannot be the odd one out. SVUT follows the same pattern of a three step forward move followed by two one step backward moves, so it clearly belongs to the main group. Only CGEF fails to follow this structure and so is the correct answer as the odd one out.


Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to look only at whether letters are increasing or decreasing without checking the actual size of the step. Another pitfall is to consider only the first two letters in each group and ignore what happens in the last two positions. To avoid such errors, always compute the differences between all neighbouring letters. That extra care ensures you see the complete pattern and correctly identify the odd one out choice in letter based reasoning questions.


Final Answer:
CGEF

More Questions from Odd Man Out and Series

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion