Choose the option figure that should come next if the series below is continued.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) →
Two things change from figure to figure: the black star moves anticlockwise, 1, 2, 3, 4 places: the step grows by one each time, and the plus sign moves one place anticlockwise round the edge of the box each time. Next the black star moves 5 places anticlockwise, so the next figure has the black star at the middle of the top side and the plus sign at the bottom-right corner.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) — Incorrect. The plus sign is right, but the black star has moved four places again; the step should grow to five places.
Option (3) — Incorrect. The black star is right, but the plus sign has moved one place clockwise instead of anticlockwise.
Option (4) — Incorrect. The plus sign is right, but the black star has moved five places clockwise instead of anticlockwise.