Understanding the Word to Number Pattern

The question asks us to identify the rule that transforms the word "METAL" into the sequence of numbers "12 - 6 - 19 - 2 - 11". Once we find this rule, we need to check which of the given options follows the exact same pattern.

Let's look at the letters in the word "METAL" and their corresponding positions in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26):

• M is the 13th letter.
• E is the 5th letter.
• T is the 20th letter.
• A is the 1st letter.
• L is the 12th letter.

Now, let's compare these alphabetical positions with the given numbers: 12 - 6 - 19 - 2 - 11.

• For M (13), the number is 12. This is \(13 - 1\).
• For E (5), the number is 6. This is \(5 + 1\).
• For T (20), the number is 19. This is \(20 - 1\).
• For A (1), the number is 2. This is \(1 + 1\).
• For L (12), the number is 11. This is \(12 - 1\).

We can see a clear pattern emerging here. The operation performed on the alphabet position alternates between subtracting 1 and adding 1, starting with subtracting 1.

• 1st letter: Position - 1
• 2nd letter: Position + 1
• 3rd letter: Position - 1
• 4th letter: Position + 1
• 5th letter: Position - 1

Let's represent this pattern with the word METAL:

This table confirms that the pattern is indeed \(Position - 1\), \(Position + 1\), \(Position - 1\), \(Position + 1\), \(Position - 1\).

Applying the Pattern to the Options

Now, we need to apply this discovered pattern to each of the given options to find the pair that matches.

Let's check the word "LOADS":

• L is the 12th letter. Pattern is \(Position - 1\): \(12 - 1 = 11\).
• O is the 15th letter. Pattern is \(Position + 1\): \(15 + 1 = 16\).
• A is the 1st letter. Pattern is \(Position - 1\): \(1 - 1 = 0\). In this context, when subtracting 1 from the position of 'A' (1), we wrap around to the end of the alphabet, which is 'Z' (26). So, \(1 - 1\) corresponds to 26.
• D is the 4th letter. Pattern is \(Position + 1\): \(4 + 1 = 5\).
• S is the 19th letter. Pattern is \(Position - 1\): \(19 - 1 = 18\).

Applying the pattern to "LOADS" results in the sequence: 11 - 16 - 26 - 5 - 18.

Comparing this sequence (11 - 16 - 26 - 5 - 18) with the options, we find that it matches the sequence given for the option "LOADS : 11 - 16 - 26 - 5 - 18".

Let's briefly check why other options do not match the pattern:

• WRONG : 24 - 19 - 16 - 15 - 8. Applying the pattern to W (23) gives \(23 - 1 = 22\), not 24.
• LOCAL : 13 - 14 - 4 - 26 - 13. Applying the pattern to L (12) gives \(12 - 1 = 11\), not 13.
• RIGHT : 17 - 8 - 6 - 7 - 19. Applying the pattern to R (18) gives \(18 - 1 = 17\). Applying to I (9) gives \(9 + 1 = 10\), not 8.

Confirming the Similar Pair

Only the pair "LOADS : 11 - 16 - 26 - 5 - 18" follows the same alternating pattern of subtracting 1 and adding 1 to the alphabetical position of each letter, starting with subtracting 1, as observed in the pair "METAL : 12 - 6 - 19 - 2 - 11".