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Question

Four letter-clusters have been given, out of which three are alike in some manner and one is different. Select the one that is different.

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

BDFH

Analyzing Letter Clusters and Finding the Odd One Out

This type of question asks us to identify the letter cluster that does not follow the same pattern as the other three. To solve this, we typically look at the positions of the letters in the English alphabet and find the differences or relationships between consecutive letters within each cluster.

Step-by-Step Analysis of Letter Cluster Patterns

Let's assign numerical positions to each letter (A=1, B=2, C=3, ..., Z=26) and examine the differences between consecutive letters in each cluster:

Cluster Letters Letter Positions Differences Pattern
EIJN E, I, J, N 5, 9, 10, 14 \(9 - 5 = 4\), \(10 - 9 = 1\), \(14 - 10 = 4\) +4, +1, +4
DHIM D, H, I, M 4, 8, 9, 13 \(8 - 4 = 4\), \(9 - 8 = 1\), \(13 - 9 = 4\) +4, +1, +4
BDFH B, D, F, H 2, 4, 6, 8 \(4 - 2 = 2\), \(6 - 4 = 2\), \(8 - 6 = 2\) +2, +2, +2
CGHL C, G, H, L 3, 7, 8, 12 \(7 - 3 = 4\), \(8 - 7 = 1\), \(12 - 8 = 4\) +4, +1, +4

Comparing the Patterns

Now let's compare the patterns observed for each letter cluster:

  • EIJN: The differences in letter positions are +4, +1, +4.
  • DHIM: The differences in letter positions are +4, +1, +4.
  • BDFH: The differences in letter positions are +2, +2, +2.
  • CGHL: The differences in letter positions are +4, +1, +4.

We can see that three of the letter clusters (EIJN, DHIM, and CGHL) follow the same pattern of adding 4, then adding 1, then adding 4 to the position of the preceding letter. The cluster BDFH follows a different pattern, where 2 is added repeatedly to the position of the preceding letter.

Identifying the Different Letter Cluster

Based on the analysis of the patterns, the cluster BDFH is different from the other three.

Revision Table: Letter Series Patterns Summary

Letter Cluster Pattern of Differences Observation
EIJN +4, +1, +4 Follows Pattern 1
DHIM +4, +1, +4 Follows Pattern 1
BDFH +2, +2, +2 Follows Pattern 2 (Different)
CGHL +4, +1, +4 Follows Pattern 1

Additional Information on Verbal Reasoning Letter Series

Letter series and letter cluster questions are common in verbal reasoning tests. They assess your ability to identify patterns. Patterns can be based on:

  • Difference in alphabetical positions (as seen here).
  • Constant difference.
  • Increasing or decreasing difference.
  • Alternating differences.
  • Vowel/consonant sequence.
  • Skipping a certain number of letters.
  • Reverse alphabetical order.
  • Combination of number and letter series.

Practicing different types of letter series patterns helps improve speed and accuracy in identifying the underlying rule.

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