In this letter sequence reasoning question, choose the group that does not follow the same reverse alphabetical order as the others: PON, SRQ, XYZ and VUT.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: XYZ

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Many odd one out questions are based on alphabetical patterns. Letter triplets can be arranged in ascending or descending order, and the question asks you to spot which combination does not follow the main pattern. Here, four three letter sequences are given, and your task is to identify the one that is not arranged in the same way as the others. This is a common concept in logical and verbal reasoning tests.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The options are: PON, SRQ, XYZ and VUT.
  • We use the standard English alphabet order from A to Z.
  • We must check whether the letters move forward or backward in alphabetical order within each triplet.


Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to examine the order of letters in each group. A pattern may reflect a sequence of three consecutive letters in reverse (for example CBA), or in normal forward order (ABC). If three of the options show a descending sequence and one shows an ascending sequence, the ascending one will be the odd one out. So we convert each letter to its position in the alphabet to identify the pattern.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: For PON, P, O and N are consecutive letters in reverse order: P (16), O (15), N (14). The positions decrease by 1 each time. Step 2: For SRQ, S, R and Q are also consecutive in reverse order: S (19), R (18), Q (17). Again the positions decrease by 1. Step 3: For VUT, V, U and T are consecutive letters going backwards: V (22), U (21), T (20), showing the same descending pattern. Step 4: For XYZ, X, Y and Z form a sequence in normal forward order: X (24), Y (25), Z (26), where positions increase by 1. Step 5: Therefore three groups PON, SRQ and VUT show three consecutive letters in reverse order, while XYZ shows three consecutive letters in forward order. XYZ is thus the odd one out.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify quickly by simply rewriting each group forward: PON corresponds to NOP reversed, SRQ to QRS reversed and VUT to TUV reversed, all of which are familiar consecutive triplets. XYZ, however, already appears in direct alphabetical order and not as a reversal. This simple inspection confirms that XYZ does not follow the reverse order pattern.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
PON is wrong as the odd one out because it is clearly a reverse sequence of three consecutive letters. SRQ is wrong as the odd one out because it follows the same reverse consecutive pattern. VUT is wrong as the odd one out because, like PON and SRQ, it also represents three letters arranged in descending order.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may focus on where the letters lie in the alphabet (beginning, middle or end) instead of the direction of the sequence. Others may be confused by the fact that XYZ is a very familiar cluster and overlook that it is actually in ascending order while all others are descending. Always convert letter groups into positions or visualize the alphabet line to avoid such mistakes.


Final Answer:
The only group of letters arranged in forward alphabetical order, and therefore the odd one out, is XYZ.

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