Which word comes third from the last when the following five words are arranged in the order of an English dictionary?
1. naijbkrafrfddagfbv, 2. najjbkrafrfdhagfbv, 3. naijbkrafvfdhagfbv, 4. naijbkrafsfdhagfbv, 5. naijbkrafrfdhcgfbv
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 4
In a dictionary, words are compared letter by letter from the left; the first place where two words differ decides which comes first. With long strings, find the first letter where they part.
The third letter is i in words 1, 3, 4 and 5, and j in word 2, so word 2 comes last
Words 1, 3, 4 and 5 all begin with naijbkraf; the tenth letters are r (words 1 and 5), s (word 4) and v (word 3)
Words 1 and 5 both begin with naijbkrafrfd; the thirteenth letters are d (word 1) and h (word 5), so word 1 comes before word 5
Order: 1, 5, 4, 3, 2
With five words, the third from the last is the third word, which is word 4.