In the pattern XXXOXXX, XXXXOXX, XXOXXXX, XXXXXOX, XOXXXXX, which of the following strings should come next to continue the shifting position of the letter O?

Introduction / Context:
This pattern based question uses strings of X and O. The given sequence is XXXOXXX, XXXXOXX, XXOXXXX, XXXXXOX, XOXXXXX, ?. At each step exactly one O is present among several X characters, and the position of O changes according to a regular rule. Unlike a simple left or right shift, the movement here alternates between forward and backward jumps of increasing size. The candidate must track these jumps and determine the next position of O.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Each term is a 7 character string.• There is exactly one O and six X characters in every term.• Terms in order: XXXOXXX, XXXXOXX, XXOXXXX, XXXXXOX, XOXXXXX.• We number positions from left to right as 1 to 7.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to record the position of O in each term and then examine the changes between those positions. Once we express these changes as numbers, we can look for a secondary pattern in the jumps themselves. In this question, the jumps alternate in direction and grow in magnitude by 1 each time. Once this meta pattern is recognised, predicting the next jump and the resulting position of O becomes straightforward.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the position of O in each string:• XXXOXXX → O at position 4.• XXXXOXX → O at position 5.• XXOXXXX → O at position 3.• XXXXXOX → O at position 6.• XOXXXXX → O at position 2.Step 2: Create a sequence of positions: 4, 5, 3, 6, 2.Step 3: Compute the jumps between successive positions:• 4 → 5: +1• 5 → 3: −2• 3 → 6: +3• 6 → 2: −4Step 4: The jumps alternate in sign and increase in magnitude: +1, −2, +3, −4.Step 5: Following this pattern, the next jump should be +5 (positive and one unit larger in magnitude than 4).Step 6: Apply +5 to the last known position 2: 2 + 5 = 7.Step 7: Therefore, in the next term O must be at position 7 and all other positions must contain X.Step 8: The string with O at position 7 is XXXXXXO.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check that the predicted position sequence 4, 5, 3, 6, 2, 7 matches the intended pattern of jumps +1, −2, +3, −4, +5. The alternating sign and steadily increasing magnitude confirm that this is not a coincidence. Among the options, only XXXXXXO has a single O in position 7 and X in all other positions. The other options either contain more than one O, no O, or duplicate an earlier term, which does not extend the pattern.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
OXXXXXXO contains two O characters and is the wrong length for a 7 character pattern. XXXOXXX is the very first term and would restart the sequence rather than extending it. XXXXXX has no O at all, breaking the requirement that each term has exactly one O. These inconsistencies mean such options cannot represent the next step in a carefully structured series of O position jumps.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates first assume that O simply moves left or right by one position, but the jump from position 5 to 3 and from 3 to 6 contradicts that. Others may not think to look at the jumps themselves as forming a separate pattern, which is crucial in this question. To avoid these errors, always list the numeric positions of the special character, compute the differences between them and look for a simple pattern in those differences rather than in the positions alone.

Final Answer:
XXXXXXO