This question asks us to find the missing term in a letter series. To solve this type of letter series problem, we need to identify the pattern between consecutive terms.

Analyzing the Letter Series Pattern

Let's look at the given series: DM, FO, HQ, JS, ?

We can examine the pattern by looking at the first letter of each pair and the second letter of each pair separately.

Pattern in the First Letters

The first letters of the pairs are D, F, H, J.

• From D to F: We move 2 letters forward in the alphabet (D → E → F).
• From F to H: We move 2 letters forward in the alphabet (F → G → H).
• From H to J: We move 2 letters forward in the alphabet (H → I → J).

The pattern for the first letter is consistently moving 2 positions forward in the English alphabet.

Following this pattern, the next first letter after J should be 2 positions forward:

J → K → L

So, the first letter of the missing term is L.

Pattern in the Second Letters

The second letters of the pairs are M, O, Q, S.

• From M to O: We move 2 letters forward in the alphabet (M → N → O).
• From O to Q: We move 2 letters forward in the alphabet (O → P → Q).
• From Q to S: We move 2 letters forward in the alphabet (Q → R → S).

The pattern for the second letter is also consistently moving 2 positions forward in the English alphabet.

Following this pattern, the next second letter after S should be 2 positions forward:

S → T → U

So, the second letter of the missing term is U.

Determining the Missing Term

Combining the patterns for the first and second letters, the missing term is formed by the next first letter (L) and the next second letter (U).

The missing term is LU.

Checking the Options

Let's compare our result with the given options:

1. UL
2. LU
3. LM
4. ST

Our calculated missing term is LU, which matches option 2.

Therefore, the correct alternative that completes the series is LU.

Revision Table: Understanding Letter Series

Letter series questions require finding patterns. Here's a quick summary of common patterns:

Additional Information on Solving Letter Series

Solving letter series problems is a common type of question in reasoning tests. Success depends on your ability to observe and identify patterns. Here are some tips:

• Write down the alphabet and their positions (A=1, B=2, ... Z=26) if you find it helpful.
• Look at differences between consecutive letters in terms of their alphabetical position.
• If the terms are pairs or groups of letters, analyze the pattern for each position separately, as we did in this problem.
• Sometimes patterns involve skipping letters or moving backward in the alphabet.
• Practice with various types of series to become familiar with different pattern possibilities.

By systematically analyzing the pattern of each letter position, we successfully found the missing term in this letter series problem.