In the pattern based series XYZXYZxYZ, XYZXYzXYZ, XYZXyZXYZ, XYZxYZXYZ, XYzXYZXYZ, which of the following terms should come next to follow the same trend of lowercase letter shifting?

Introduction / Context:
This problem uses a visual pattern in which a single lowercase letter appears among otherwise uppercase letters, and both the position and identity of the lowercase letter change according to a regular rule. Instead of pure alphabet ordering, this question checks your ability to track the movement of a special character across a repeated base string. Such pattern recognition skills are very useful in coding decoding and series questions in reasoning exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Base structure of each term is the nine letter string XYZXYZXYZ. - In each term, exactly one of these letters appears in lowercase. - Given sequence: 1) XYZXYZxYZ 2) XYZXYzXYZ 3) XYZXyZXYZ 4) XYZxYZXYZ 5) XYzXYZXYZ

Concept / Approach:
We consider two aspects: the position of the lowercase letter within the nine letter string, and which letter (X, Y, or Z) is made lowercase. First, we track the index of the lowercase character from left to right and see how it moves from one term to the next. Second, we check whether the lowercase character corresponds simply to whatever letter normally appears at that index in the base string. If both sets of observations align, we can predict the location and identity of the lowercase letter in the next term and write the complete term accordingly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Index the positions in the base string XYZXYZXYZ from 1 to 9. Positions: 1:X, 2:Y, 3:Z, 4:X, 5:Y, 6:Z, 7:X, 8:Y, 9:Z. Step 2: Note the position of the lowercase letter in each term. Term 1: XYZXYZxYZ – lowercase x at position 7. Term 2: XYZXYzXYZ – lowercase z at position 6. Term 3: XYZXyZXYZ – lowercase y at position 5. Term 4: XYZxYZXYZ – lowercase x at position 4. Term 5: XYzXYZXYZ – lowercase z at position 3. Step 3: Track how the index of the lowercase letter moves. Positions: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. The lowercase character moves one step left each time. Next position should be 2. Step 4: Determine which letter is at position 2 in the base string. From the base XYZXYZXYZ, position 2 is Y. Thus, in the next term the letter Y at position 2 should be lowercase, giving y. Step 5: Construct the full next term. Base string is XYZXYZXYZ; we make the second letter lowercase. That produces XyZXYZXYZ.

Verification / Alternative check:
The identity of the lowercase letter is always the same as the original uppercase letter at that position in the base string. Whenever the position is 7, the lowercase letter is x; when it is 6, it is z; when 5, it is y; when 4, it is x; when 3, it is z. This confirms that the rule is not changing the letter type but only its case at a moving position. Following the leftward shift, the lowercase should next appear at index 2, where the base letter is Y. Therefore, XyZXYZXYZ precisely fits this rule and extends the sequence consistently.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A) xYZXYZXYZ has the lowercase character at position 1, skipping position 2 and breaking the leftward one step movement. B) XYZXYZxYZ repeats the first term instead of moving the lowercase position further to the left. D) XYZXYzXYZ repeats the second term and does not follow the continued shift pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may look only at the letters X, Y, and Z and ignore the importance of position indices. Others might think that the lowercase letters themselves follow a separate pattern (for example x, z, y, x, z, ...) and overlook the more fundamental rule that they simply mirror the base character at the moving position. To avoid confusion, always anchor your reasoning to the base string and track index movement carefully. This will usually reveal the simplest and most reliable pattern.

Final Answer:
The term that correctly continues the pattern XYZXYZxYZ, XYZXYzXYZ, XYZXyZXYZ, XYZxYZXYZ, XYzXYZXYZ, ? is XyZXYZXYZ.