Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the alphabet test and word formation section of aptitude exams. The challenge is to pick specific letters from a longer word and see whether they can be rearranged into a meaningful English word. Once that word is identified, you must focus on a particular position, here the third letter, and choose the correct option. Such questions test vocabulary, pattern recognition and careful letter position tracking under time pressure.
Given Data / Assumptions:
1) The base word is PAROCHIALISM.2) You must select the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 10th letters of this word.3) Each selected letter is used only once.4) If exactly one meaningful word can be formed, the answer is the third letter of that word.5) If more than one meaningful word exists, the answer is Y.6) If no meaningful word can be formed, the answer is G.
Concept / Approach:
The method involves first correctly identifying positions and letters, then mentally or systematically trying to form familiar words. Many reasoning test setters usually use common words. Once you suspect a candidate word, you verify whether it uses exactly the given letters and is spelled correctly. After fixing the word, you simply read off the required letter position. Knowledge of typical patterns, such as common endings and consonant vowel arrangements, speeds up this process.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Write the word PAROCHIALISM and mark the letters with their positions from left to right.2) The letters are: 1 P, 2 A, 3 R, 4 O, 5 C, 6 H, 7 I, 8 A, 9 L, 10 I, 11 S, 12 M.3) Take the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 10th letters: R, C, H, A and I.4) Try to form a familiar English word using R, C, H, A and I. One obvious arrangement is C H A I R, that is CHAIR.5) CHAIR uses exactly these letters R, C, H, A and I, each once, and is a common English word.6) Check if there is any other simple, meaningful word with these exact letters; typical reasoning solutions accept CHAIR as the intended unique word.7) In the word CHAIR, the letters are numbered C (1), H (2), A (3), I (4), R (5). The third letter is A.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can confirm the answer by quickly trying other arrangements such as ARCHI, CHARI or RICHA. These are not standard English words in the exam context, while CHAIR is. Since CHAIR is the only widely accepted meaningful word using all the given letters once, the condition of a single valid word is satisfied. Therefore, by the problem rule, the answer must be the third letter of this word, which is A. Cross checking with vocabulary lists or past exam keys also shows CHAIR as the standard solution.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Y would be correct only if more than one meaningful word existed, which is not the case for standard reasoning exam conventions.G would be correct only if no meaningful word could be formed, but CHAIR is clearly meaningful.C is another letter from the set but is not the third letter of CHAIR.None of these is incorrect because A exactly matches the demanded position in the valid word.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes misread positions and pick wrong letters, especially in larger words. Others stop at a partial arrangement like CHAR without noticing that a vowel is left unused, or they forget the requirement that every selected letter must be used exactly once. Some test takers overthink and assume there must be multiple words, leading them to select Y without checking carefully. Maintaining a systematic approach with a quick position list and structured trial of vowels and consonants helps avoid these mistakes.
Final Answer:
The only meaningful word formed is CHAIR, and the third letter of CHAIR is A.
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