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Question

Each vowel in the word "FOREFOOT" is changed to the following letter in the English alphabetical series and each consonant is changed to the previous letter in the English alphabetical series. In the newly formed word, how many alphabets are there in the English alphabetical series between the alphabet which is 2nd from the left and 1st from the right?

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2023 (Tier-II) Paper 1 Previous Year Paper (26-Oct-2023) (Shift-1)
The correct answer is

Two

Understanding the Word Transformation Puzzle

This problem involves transforming the letters of a given word based on specific rules and then analyzing the newly formed word. The word provided is "FOREFOOT". We need to apply two rules:

  • Each vowel in the word is changed to the following letter in the English alphabetical series.
  • Each consonant is changed to the previous letter in the English alphabetical series.

After transforming the word, we need to identify two specific letters in the new word: the letter second from the left and the letter first from the right. Finally, the goal is to count how many alphabets are present in the English alphabetical series between these two identified letters.

Step-by-Step Word Transformation of FOREFOOT

Let's transform each letter of the word "FOREFOOT" according to the given rules:

  • F: F is a consonant. Previous letter in the alphabet is E.
  • O: O is a vowel. Following letter in the alphabet is P.
  • R: R is a consonant. Previous letter in the alphabet is Q.
  • E: E is a vowel. Following letter in the alphabet is F.
  • F: F is a consonant. Previous letter in the alphabet is E.
  • O: O is a vowel. Following letter in the alphabet is P.
  • O: O is a vowel. Following letter in the alphabet is P.
  • T: T is a consonant. Previous letter in the alphabet is S.

So, the newly formed word is E P Q F E P P S.

Identifying Letters in the New Word

The newly formed word is E P Q F E P P S.

  • The letter second from the left is the 2nd letter of the word, which is P.
  • The letter first from the right is the last letter of the word, which is S.

We need to find the number of alphabets between P and S in the English alphabetical series.

Counting Alphabets Between P and S

Let's look at the English alphabetical series:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The letters between P and S are Q and R.

There are two alphabets between P and S in the English alphabetical series.

Conclusion

Based on the transformation and counting steps, there are two alphabets between the letter second from the left (P) and the letter first from the right (S) in the newly formed word.

Original Word FOREFOOT
Transformation Rule Vowel → Next Letter, Consonant → Previous Letter
Newly Formed Word EPQFE PPS
2nd Letter from Left P
1st Letter from Right S
Letters between P and S (Alphabetical Series) Q, R
Count of Letters 2

Revision Table: Key Concepts in Word Puzzles

Concept Description Application in Problem
Alphabetical Series The standard order of letters from A to Z. Used for finding previous/following letters and counting between letters.
Vowels and Consonants Classification of letters (Vowels: A, E, I, O, U; Consonants: all others). Used to apply different transformation rules.
Letter Transformation Changing a letter based on a specific rule (e.g., next/previous in series). The core step to create the new word.
Positional Identification Finding letters based on their position from left or right end of a word. Used to identify the target letters P and S.
Counting Between Letters Determining how many letters lie strictly between two specified letters in the alphabet. The final step to find the answer.

Additional Information: Solving Letter Sequence Problems

Letter sequence and transformation problems are common in logical reasoning sections of various tests. Here are some tips for tackling them:

  • Always write down the alphabet series A-Z for quick reference, especially when dealing with previous or following letters.
  • Clearly identify the rules for transformation. Are different rules applied to vowels and consonants? What about digits or symbols if present?
  • Perform the transformation one letter at a time to avoid errors.
  • Carefully read what positions in the *new* sequence are required for the final step. Is it from the left, right, middle, etc.?
  • When counting letters between two letters (say X and Y), remember that X and Y themselves are *not* included in the count. You count only the letters strictly *between* them.
  • If the alphabet wraps around (e.g., previous letter of A is Z), pay attention to such specific instructions, though not applicable in this particular problem.
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Similar Questions

  1. Select the option that represents the letters that, when sequentially placed from left to right in the blanks below, will complete the letter series.

    R _ _ ODRMN _ _ _ MN _ DR _ NO _


Important Questions from General Series of Alphabets

  1. How many L's are there in the following series, that is preceded by an R and followed by a T?

    Z Q S T L R M N Q N R T U V X R L T A L T Q L T

  2. Select the letter-cluster from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.

    RIN, TFR, VCV, ?, ZWD

  3. Each of the letters in the word STRANGE are arranged in alphabetical order. How many letters are there in the English alphabetical series between the letter which is fourth from the left and the one which is second from the right in the new letter-cluster thus formed?

  4. The position of how many letters will remain unchanged if each of the letters in the word STRANGE is arranged in alphabetical order?

  5. Which of the following options is sixth to the right of the nineteenth letter from the right in a forward alphabet series?

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