Select the option that is related to the third word in the same way as the second word is related to the first word.
MENTAL : SMXFOB :: ABILITY : ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → GJSXWJQ
Compare each letter of MENTAL with the letter in the same place of SMXFOB, using places in the alphabet; after Z the count continues from A.
M (13) to S (19) is 6 places ahead, E (5) to M (13) is 8, N (14) to X (24) is 10
T (20) to F is 12 places (6 to reach Z, 6 more to F), A (1) to O (15) is 14, L (12) to B is 16 (14 to reach Z, 2 more to B)
So the shifts are 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, growing by 2 from letter to letter; ABILITY has seven letters, so its shifts are 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18
A (1) + 6 = 7, G; B (2) + 8 = 10, J; I (9) + 10 = 19, S; L (12) + 12 = 24, X
I (9) + 14 = 23, W; T (20) + 16 = 36, and \(36-26=10\), J; Y (25) + 18 = 43, and \(43-26=17\), Q
So the code is GJSXWJQ.