In a certain code language, each letter in a word is replaced by the letter two places ahead in the English alphabet, so that OUTLINE is written as QWVNKPG. Using this same pattern, how is MAN written in that code language?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with a simple alphabet shifting code. You are told that OUTLINE is coded as QWVNKPG and asked to find the code for MAN. It is a straightforward Caesar shift style pattern where each letter moves a fixed number of positions ahead in the alphabet. Recognising this shift and applying it consistently is the key to solving the problem.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• OUTLINE is written as QWVNKPG in the code language.
• All letters are uppercase English letters A to Z.
• The coding rule is consistent for each letter and each position.
• We must determine the code for MAN.

Concept / Approach:
We compare each letter in OUTLINE with the corresponding letter in QWVNKPG and calculate how many positions forward it has shifted in the alphabet. If all shifts are identical, we have a uniform code. Once the shift is known, we apply the same shift to each letter of MAN. This method avoids guesswork and ensures that the entire mapping is consistent with the example provided.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Pair the letters of OUTLINE with QWVNKPG: O → Q, U → W, T → V, L → N, I → K, N → P, E → G. Step 2: Convert each letter to its alphabetical position: O(15) → Q(17), U(21) → W(23), T(20) → V(22), L(12) → N(14), I(9) → K(11), N(14) → P(16), E(5) → G(7). Step 3: Each letter has moved forward by 2 positions (15 to 17, 21 to 23, and so on). Step 4: Therefore, the coding rule is: shift every letter forward by 2 in the alphabet, wrapping around after Z if necessary. Step 5: Now apply this rule to MAN: M(13) → O(15), A(1) → C(3), N(14) → P(16). Step 6: Combine the coded letters: O C P, written as OCP.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can decode OCP back by shifting each letter backward by 2 positions. O moves to M, C moves to A and P moves to N, recovering the original word MAN. Re checking the OUTLINE example by shifting each letter forward by 2 also returns QWVNKPG, so the pattern is confirmed. Since this uniform shift accounts for all letters and yields the given example accurately, we can trust it when applied to MAN.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options FVQ, RNE, RKX and NCQ would correspond to different and inconsistent shifts. For example, FVQ would require M to map to F, which is a backward shift of many positions, not the same plus two rule used in OUTLINE. Any option that does not match a uniform +2 shift for each letter of MAN must be discarded. OCP is the only option that matches the correctly deduced pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
Typical errors include shifting by the wrong amount, miscounting positions in the alphabet or changing the direction of the shift. It is helpful to write a quick row of letters from A to Z and count steps carefully. Another pitfall is assuming that the shift might vary from letter to letter; however, the example clearly shows the same +2 movement throughout, so consistency is the guiding principle here.

Final Answer:
Thus, when each letter is shifted forward by two positions, MAN is written as OCP in the code language.