From the given words, select the single word which cannot be formed using the letters of the word JOSTLING. Each letter may be used only as many times as it appears in the base word.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: INLET

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question gives you the base word JOSTLING and asks which of the given options cannot be formed from its letters. The goal is to recognise missing letters and keep track of how often each letter is available. This type of problem is a staple in verbal reasoning sections.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Base word: JOSTLING.
  • Options: INLET, GLINT, INGOT, JINGO, LOST.
  • No extra letters may be introduced that are not present in JOSTLING.
  • No letter can be used more times than it appears in the base word.
  • Standard English spelling is assumed.


Concept / Approach:
The systematic method is:

  • List all letters of JOSTLING and count their frequencies.
  • For each option, check whether every letter appears in the base word.
  • Ensure that the number of times each letter is used in the option does not exceed its count in the base word.
  • If either condition fails, that option cannot be formed.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the letters of JOSTLING: J, O, S, T, L, I, N, G. Step 2: Count them. Each letter J, O, S, T, L, I, N, and G occurs exactly once. Step 3: Check GLINT. It needs G, L, I, N, T. All these letters appear once in JOSTLING, and each is required only once. So GLINT can be formed. Step 4: Check INGOT. It needs I, N, G, O, T. Again, all letters appear in the base word and each at most once, so INGOT can be formed. Step 5: Check JINGO. It needs J, I, N, G, O. All of these letters are found in JOSTLING exactly once each, so JINGO can be formed. Step 6: Check LOST. It needs L, O, S, T. All these letters exist in the base word and are required only once. So LOST can be formed. Step 7: Check INLET. It needs I, N, L, E, T. Letter E is required, but JOSTLING does not contain E at all. Therefore INLET cannot be formed from JOSTLING.


Verification / Alternative check:
Under exam pressure, a good shortcut is to search each option for letters that are obviously missing from the base word. Here, the letter E in INLET is not present in JOSTLING, while all letters in the other options can be spotted quickly in the base word. This instantly identifies INLET as the impossible word, without performing full detailed counts for every option.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
GLINT uses G, L, I, N, and T, all available exactly once in the base word. INGOT uses I, N, G, O, and T, again all present and within allowed counts. JINGO uses J, I, N, G, and O from JOSTLING without repeating any letter. LOST uses L, O, S, and T, each of which appears once in the base word, so it is formable.


Common Pitfalls:
One common error is to assume that a more complex looking word like JINGO or INGOT must be the impossible word. Another typical mistake is to forget to check for letters like E that never appear in the base word. A quick scan for missing letters followed by a short count check is usually enough to handle such items correctly.



Final Answer:
The word that cannot be formed from JOSTLING is INLET, because the letter E is not present in the base word.


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