Reasoning

Alphabet Series: Practice Questions with Answers

11 practice questions on Alphabet Series, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

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1. Q.1

   Find the next letter in the series: C, F, E, H, G, J, ?

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   Answer: I

   Solution:

   1. Positions: C=3, F=6, E=5, H=8, G=7, J=10. Check the pattern of steps, not a single constant gap: C→F is +3, F→E is −1, E→H is +3, H→G is −1, G→J is +3.
   2. The steps alternate +3, −1, +3, −1, … and the last one shown was +3 (G→J), so the next step is −1.
   3. Next position = 10 − 1 = 9 = I.

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2. Q.2

   Find the next term in the series: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ?

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   Answer: EV

   Solution:

   1. Split into two interleaved sequences: the first letters (A, B, C, D) move forward by 1 each time, and the second letters (Z, Y, X, W) move backward by 1 each time.
   2. Next first letter: D + 1 = E. Next second letter: W − 1 = V.

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3. Q.3

   Find the missing letter in the series: A, C, F, J, O, ?

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   Answer: U

   Solution:

   1. Positions: A=1, C=3, F=6, J=10, O=15. Differences between them: 2, 3, 4, 5 — each one is 1 more than the last.
   2. Next difference = 6. Next position = 15 + 6 = 21 = U.

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4. Q.4

   Find the next letter in the series: Z, X, V, T, ?

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   Answer: R

   Solution:

   1. Positions: Z=26, X=24, V=22, T=20 — each one is 2 less than the last (moving backward through the alphabet).
   2. Next position = 20 − 2 = 18 = R.

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5. Q.5

   Find the next term in the series: ABC, EFG, IJK, ?

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   Answer: MNO

   Solution:

   1. Each block is three consecutive letters. Look at the starting letter of each block: A=1, E=5, I=9 — each is 4 more than the last.
   2. Next starting position = 9 + 4 = 13 = M, and the block continues consecutively from there: M, N, O.

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6. Q.6

   Find the next letter in the series: B, D, F, H, J, ?

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   Answer: L

   Solution:

   1. Positions: B=2, D=4, F=6, H=8, J=10 — each one is 2 more than the last.
   2. Next position = 10 + 2 = 12 = L.

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7. Q.7

   Find the next letter in the series: C, F, I, L, O, ?

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   Answer: R (each position is 3 more than the last)

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8. Q.8

   Find the next letter in the series: D, H, L, P, ?

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   Answer: T (each position is 4 more than the last: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20)

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9. Q.9

   Find the next term in the series: DF, GI, JL, ?

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   Answer: MO (each pair has an internal gap of 2; the first letters of each pair move forward by 3: D, G, J, M)

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10. Q.10

    Find the next term in the series: ZA, YB, XC, WD, ?

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    Answer: VE (first letters move backward by 1, second letters move forward by 1)

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11. Q.11

    Find the missing letter in the series: B, D, G, K, P, ?

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    Answer: V (differences are 2, 3, 4, 5, so the next difference is 6)

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