A word arrangement machine, when given an input line of words, rearranges them step by step following a particular rule. An illustration of an input and its rearrangement is given below.
Input: sparrow torch porcupine turtle fountain watermelon
Step I: sparrow porcupine turtle fountain watermelon torch
Step II: sparrow porcupine fountain watermelon turtle torch
Step III: porcupine fountain watermelon sparrow turtle torch
Step IV: porcupine watermelon fountain sparrow turtle torch
Step V: watermelon porcupine fountain sparrow turtle torch
Step V is the last step of this input.
Input: van jasmine weasel telescope yarn strawberry
Following the same rule, which word will be second from the left in Step II for this input?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → weasel
Compare each step of the illustration with the one before it. In each step, the shortest of the words not yet arranged moves to the next place from the right end, and all the other words keep their order.
Step I: ‘torch’ has 5 letters, the fewest among the words left, so it moves to the first place from the right
Step II: ‘turtle’ has 6 letters, the fewest among the words left, so it moves to the second place from the right
Step III: ‘sparrow’ has 7 letters, the fewest among the words left, so it moves to the third place from the right
Step IV: ‘fountain’ has 8 letters, the fewest among the words left, so it moves to the fourth place from the right
Step V: ‘porcupine’ has 9 letters, the fewest among the words left, so it moves to the fifth place from the right
After Step V every one of the words is in its final place, so the arrangement is complete.
Apply the same rule to the input van jasmine weasel telescope yarn strawberry.
Step I: ‘van’ has 3 letters, the fewest among the words left, so it moves to the first place from the right, giving jasmine weasel telescope yarn strawberry van
Step II: ‘yarn’ has 4 letters, the fewest among the words left, so it moves to the second place from the right, giving jasmine weasel telescope strawberry yarn van
In Step II, jasmine weasel telescope strawberry yarn van, the second from the left is weasel.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) yarn — Incorrect. In Step II, ‘yarn’ is fifth from the left (second from the right).
Option (3) jasmine — Incorrect. In Step II, ‘jasmine’ is first from the left (sixth from the right).
Option (4) telescope — Incorrect. In Step II, ‘telescope’ is third from the left (fourth from the right).