Which letter cluster will replace the question mark (?) in the following series?
VWP, SSK, ?, MKA, JGV, GCQ
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → POF
In a letter-cluster series, each position of the cluster follows its own rule, so each position is checked separately using the place of the letter in the alphabet. The count continues from A after Z and from Z before A.
First letters V (22), S (19): 3 places back each time, so the missing letter is \(19-3=16\), that is P; then \(16-3=13\) gives M and \(13-3=10\) gives J and \(10-3=7\) gives G, which match the given letters
Second letters W (23), S (19): 4 places back each time, so the missing letter is \(19-4=15\), that is O; then \(15-4=11\) gives K and \(11-4=7\) gives G and \(7-4=3\) gives C, which match the given letters
Third letters P (16), K (11): 5 places back each time, so the missing letter is \(11-5=6\), that is F; then \(6-5=1\) gives A and \(1-5=-4\), and \(-4+26=22\) gives V and \(22-5=17\) gives Q, which match the given letters
So the missing cluster is POF.