Veda Skills Logical Reasoning Unit 9: Alphabet and Word Tests
- 3 topics
- 132 MCQs
- 12 short answers
- 3 long answers
- 37 flashcards
- 3 games
- ~120 min read
- English
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Dictionary Order
Arrange words exactly as a dictionary does: by the first letter, then the first letter that differs, with a word that begins another word placed first. Answer sequence, k-th word and reverse-order questions in seconds.
What you will be able to do
- I can put any set of words in dictionary order.
- I can find the first letter where two words differ and use it.
- I can place a word that is the beginning of another word correctly.
- I can answer sequence-option questions by checking only a few positions.
Key points
Compare the first letters; the word whose letter comes earlier in A to Z comes first.
If the first letters match, move right to the first letter that differs; that letter alone decides.
Letters after the first difference do not matter at all.
If one word is the start of another (BAT, BATCH), the shorter word comes first.
Number the words first, then write the answer as a sequence of numbers.
In sequence options, find the first word; usually only one or two options start with it.
Reverse dictionary order is the same list read from the end.
Full explanation
The lost word
Riya has to look up five words for her English homework: CARTON, CARBON, CARROT, CARGO and CARPET. All of them start with CAR. She opens the dictionary at C and is stuck: which comes first?
Exams ask exactly this, and the rule takes one minute to learn.
Rule 1: the first letter
Words are ordered by their first letter in A to Z order. APPLE comes before BALL, and BALL before CAT, whatever the length of the words.
Rule 2: the first different letter
If the first letters are the same, move right until two letters differ. That letter alone decides; everything after it is ignored.
CARBON and CARGO share CAR. The 4th letters are B and G, and B comes first, so CARBON comes before CARGO.
Rule 3: a word inside a word
BAT, BATCH and BATH: BAT is the start of BATCH. After T, BAT has nothing left. An empty place comes before every letter, so BAT comes first. Then BATCH (C) before BATH (H).
This is the rule most students get wrong.
The exam format
The question numbers the words (1) to (5) and the options are sequences such as 2, 5, 1, 4, 3. Write the order of the words, then replace each word by its number.
Toppers' shortcut: use the options
Find only the first word. Strike out every option that does not start with its number. If two options remain, compare them at the first place where they differ and check just that pair of words.
Reverse order and k-th word
"Reverse dictionary order" means Z towards A: write the normal order and read it from the end. For "which word comes 3rd", you only need the order of the first three words, but check the rest quickly to be safe.
A word between two words
To test whether a word comes between FLOAT and FLOOR, compare it with each: it must come after FLOAT and before FLOOR. FLOCK works: FLOC after FLOA, and C before O at the 4th place.
Exam checklist
- Number the words.
- First letters, then the first different letter.
- Shorter word first when it begins the longer one.
- Convert to numbers and match an option.
- Reverse order: read from the end.
Back to Riya
Riya looked at the 4th letters: B, G, P, R, T. Her list became CARBON, CARGO, CARPET, CARROT, CARTON, and she found all five words in one sweep of the C pages.
Concepts and terms
Two words are compared from the left, one position at a time, until the letters differ.
When a word runs out of letters first while all its letters matched, it comes first.
The answer lists the original numbers of the words in dictionary order, such as 3, 1, 5, 2, 4.
Did you know
Phone contact lists, library catalogues and exam roll lists all use dictionary order, so a name can be found without reading the whole list.
Memory tricks
Prefix rule — Nothing comes before something — BAT has nothing after T, BATCH has C: an empty place comes before every letter.
Practice MCQs with answers (41)
- A CARPET
- B CARBON
- C CARGO
- D CARROT
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: CARBON → CARGO → CARPET → CARROT → CARTON. CARBON before CARGO (letter 4: B before G); CARGO before CARPET (letter 4: G before P); CARPET before CARROT (letter 4: P before R); CARROT before CARTON (letter 4: R before T). The 3rd word is CARPET.
- A PLANT
- B PLANE
- C PLAIN
- D PLANET
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: PLAIN → PLANE → PLANET → PLANT → PLATE. PLAIN before PLANE (letter 4: I before N); PLANE before PLANET (PLANE is the start of PLANET); PLANET before PLANT (letter 5: E before T); PLANT before PLATE (letter 4: N before T). The 2nd word is PLANE.
- A STAIR
- B STACK
- C STAND
- D STAMP
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: STACK → STAIR → STALE → STAMP → STAND. STACK before STAIR (letter 4: C before I); STAIR before STALE (letter 4: I before L); STALE before STAMP (letter 4: L before M); STAMP before STAND (letter 4: M before N). The last word is STAND.
- A BREAK
- B BREATH
- C BRIDGE
- D BREAD
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: BREAD → BREAK → BREATH → BRICK → BRIDGE. BREAD before BREAK (letter 5: D before K); BREAK before BREATH (letter 5: K before T); BREATH before BRICK (letter 3: E before I); BRICK before BRIDGE (letter 4: C before D). The 1st word is BREAD.
- A MOTION
- B MOTHER
- C MOTOR
- D MOST
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: MOSQUE → MOST → MOTHER → MOTION → MOTOR. MOSQUE before MOST (letter 4: Q before T); MOST before MOTHER (letter 3: S before T); MOTHER before MOTION (letter 4: H before I); MOTION before MOTOR (letter 4: I before O). The 4th word is MOTION.
- A GRAPH
- B GRAPE
- C GRAND
- D GRANT
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: GRAND → GRANT → GRAPE → GRAPH → GRASS. GRAND before GRANT (letter 5: D before T); GRANT before GRAPE (letter 4: N before P); GRAPE before GRAPH (letter 5: E before H); GRAPH before GRASS (letter 4: P before S). The 3rd word is GRAPE.
- A FLOCK
- B FLOOR
- C FLOAT
- D FLIGHT
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: FLIGHT → FLOAT → FLOCK → FLOOR → FLOWER. FLIGHT before FLOAT (letter 3: I before O); FLOAT before FLOCK (letter 4: A before C); FLOCK before FLOOR (letter 4: C before O); FLOOR before FLOWER (letter 4: O before W). The 2nd word is FLOAT.
- A TRAIL
- B TRAMP
- C TRADE
- D TRAIN
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: TRACK → TRADE → TRAIL → TRAIN → TRAMP. TRACK before TRADE (letter 4: C before D); TRADE before TRAIL (letter 4: D before I); TRAIL before TRAIN (letter 5: L before N); TRAIN before TRAMP (letter 4: I before M). The 4th word is TRAIN.
- A SHIRT
- B SHIP
- C SHIFT
- D SHIELD
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: SHIELD → SHIFT → SHINE → SHIP → SHIRT. SHIELD before SHIFT (letter 4: E before F); SHIFT before SHINE (letter 4: F before N); SHINE before SHIP (letter 4: N before P); SHIP before SHIRT (letter 4: P before R). The last word is SHIRT.
- A CHAIR
- B CHALK
- C CHARM
- D CHAIN
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: CHAIN → CHAIR → CHALK → CHARM → CHART. CHAIN before CHAIR (letter 5: N before R); CHAIR before CHALK (letter 4: I before L); CHALK before CHARM (letter 4: L before R); CHARM before CHART (letter 5: M before T). The 3rd word is CHALK.
- A PRIME
- B PRINCE
- C PRIDE
- D PRICE
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: PRICE → PRIDE → PRIME → PRINCE → PRINT. PRICE before PRIDE (letter 4: C before D); PRIDE before PRIME (letter 4: D before M); PRIME before PRINCE (letter 4: M before N); PRINCE before PRINT (letter 5: C before T). The 2nd word is PRIDE.
- A COUNT
- B COUNTER
- C COURT
- D COUNTRY
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: COUNT → COUNTER → COUNTRY → COURT → COUSIN. COUNT before COUNTER (COUNT is the start of COUNTER); COUNTER before COUNTRY (letter 6: E before R); COUNTRY before COURT (letter 4: N before R); COURT before COUSIN (letter 4: R before S). The 3rd word is COUNTRY.
- A LIGHT
- B LIGHTER
- C LIGHTNING
- D LIFT
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: LIFT → LIGHT → LIGHTER → LIGHTNING → LIMB. LIFT before LIGHT (letter 3: F before G); LIGHT before LIGHTER (LIGHT is the start of LIGHTER); LIGHTER before LIGHTNING (letter 6: E before N); LIGHTNING before LIMB (letter 3: G before M). The 2nd word is LIGHT.
- A 3, 1, 2, 4, 5
- B 1, 3, 2, 4, 5
- C 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- D 1, 3, 2, 5, 4
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: WAGON → WAIST → WALNUT → WATCH → WATER, that is 1, 3, 2, 4, 5. WAGON before WAIST (letter 3: G before I); WAIST before WALNUT (letter 3: I before L); WALNUT before WATCH (letter 3: L before T); WATCH before WATER (letter 4: C before E).
- A 4, 2, 3, 5, 1
- B 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
- C 4, 2, 5, 3, 1
- D 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: BORDER → BOTANY → BOTTLE → BOTTOM → BOUNCE, that is 4, 2, 5, 3, 1. BORDER before BOTANY (letter 3: R before T); BOTANY before BOTTLE (letter 4: A before T); BOTTLE before BOTTOM (letter 5: L before O); BOTTOM before BOUNCE (letter 3: T before U).
- A 4, 3, 2, 5, 1
- B 3, 4, 2, 1, 5
- C 4, 2, 3, 1, 5
- D 4, 3, 2, 1, 5
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: SCALE → SCHEME → SCHOOL → SCREEN → SCRIPT, that is 4, 3, 2, 1, 5. SCALE before SCHEME (letter 3: A before H); SCHEME before SCHOOL (letter 4: E before O); SCHOOL before SCREEN (letter 3: H before R); SCREEN before SCRIPT (letter 4: E before I).
- A 5, 3, 2, 1, 4
- B 5, 3, 1, 2, 4
- C 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
- D 3, 5, 2, 1, 4
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: DESERT → DESIGN → DESIRE → DESK → DETAIL, that is 5, 3, 2, 1, 4. DESERT before DESIGN (letter 4: E before I); DESIGN before DESIRE (letter 5: G before R); DESIRE before DESK (letter 4: I before K); DESK before DETAIL (letter 3: S before T).
- A 4, 3, 1, 5, 2
- B 3, 4, 1, 5, 2
- C 3, 1, 4, 5, 2
- D 3, 4, 5, 1, 2
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: MANAGE → MANGO → MANNER → MANUAL → MAPLE, that is 3, 4, 1, 5, 2. MANAGE before MANGO (letter 4: A before G); MANGO before MANNER (letter 4: G before N); MANNER before MANUAL (letter 4: N before U); MANUAL before MAPLE (letter 3: N before P).
- A 2, 4, 1, 3, 5
- B 4, 1, 2, 3, 5
- C 4, 2, 1, 3, 5
- D 4, 2, 3, 1, 5
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: HONEST → HONEY → HONOUR → HOOK → HOPE, that is 4, 2, 1, 3, 5. HONEST before HONEY (letter 5: S before Y); HONEY before HONOUR (letter 4: E before O); HONOUR before HOOK (letter 3: N before O); HOOK before HOPE (letter 3: O before P).
- A 2, 5, 3, 4, 1
- B 5, 3, 2, 4, 1
- C 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
- D 5, 2, 3, 4, 1
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: EAGLE → EARLY → EARTH → EASEL → EASY, that is 5, 2, 3, 4, 1. EAGLE before EARLY (letter 3: G before R); EARLY before EARTH (letter 4: L before T); EARTH before EASEL (letter 3: R before S); EASEL before EASY (letter 4: E before Y).
- A 2, 4, 3, 1, 5
- B 2, 3, 4, 1, 5
- C 2, 4, 1, 3, 5
- D 4, 2, 3, 1, 5
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: ORANGE → ORBIT → ORDER → ORGAN → ORIGIN, that is 2, 4, 3, 1, 5. ORANGE before ORBIT (letter 3: A before B); ORBIT before ORDER (letter 3: B before D); ORDER before ORGAN (letter 3: D before G); ORGAN before ORIGIN (letter 3: G before I).
- A 1, 5, 3, 4, 2
- B 1, 3, 5, 4, 2
- C 1, 3, 4, 5, 2
- D 3, 1, 5, 4, 2
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: NARROW → NATION → NATIVE → NATURE → NAVY, that is 1, 3, 5, 4, 2. NARROW before NATION (letter 3: R before T); NATION before NATIVE (letter 5: O before V); NATIVE before NATURE (letter 4: I before U); NATURE before NAVY (letter 3: T before V).
- A 4, 1, 2, 3, 5
- B 4, 2, 3, 1, 5
- C 4, 2, 1, 3, 5
- D 2, 4, 1, 3, 5
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: PENCIL → PENGUIN → PENNY → PEOPLE → PEPPER, that is 4, 2, 1, 3, 5. PENCIL before PENGUIN (letter 4: C before G); PENGUIN before PENNY (letter 4: G before N); PENNY before PEOPLE (letter 3: N before O); PEOPLE before PEPPER (letter 3: O before P).
- A SILVER
- B SILK
- C SINGLE
- D SIMPLE
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: SILENT → SILK → SILVER → SIMPLE → SINGLE. SILENT before SILK (letter 4: E before K); SILK before SILVER (letter 4: K before V); SILVER before SIMPLE (letter 3: L before M); SIMPLE before SINGLE (letter 3: M before N). Read it backwards: the 2nd word is SIMPLE.
- A ACUTE
- B ACTION
- C ACTUAL
- D ACTOR
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: ACTION → ACTIVE → ACTOR → ACTUAL → ACUTE. ACTION before ACTIVE (letter 5: O before V); ACTIVE before ACTOR (letter 4: I before O); ACTOR before ACTUAL (letter 4: O before U); ACTUAL before ACUTE (letter 3: T before U). Read it backwards: the 1st word is ACUTE.
- A RAISE
- B RAINBOW
- C RAISIN
- D RAIN
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: RAIL → RAIN → RAINBOW → RAISE → RAISIN. RAIL before RAIN (letter 4: L before N); RAIN before RAINBOW (RAIN is the start of RAINBOW); RAINBOW before RAISE (letter 4: N before S); RAISE before RAISIN (letter 5: E before I). Read it backwards: the 3rd word is RAINBOW.
- A CANAL
- B CANNON
- C CANDLE
- D CANDY
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: CANAL → CANDLE → CANDY → CANNON → CANOPY. CANAL before CANDLE (letter 4: A before D); CANDLE before CANDY (letter 5: L before Y); CANDY before CANNON (letter 4: D before N); CANNON before CANOPY (letter 4: N before O). Read it backwards: the 4th word is CANDLE.
- A FLAME
- B FLOW
- C FLUTE
- D FLOCK
Show answer
Why:
Put all six in order: FLAME → FLOAT → FLOCK → FLOOR → FLOW → FLUTE. Only FLOCK falls between FLOAT and FLOOR.
- A GRAPE
- B GRAVE
- C GRAIN
- D GRAND
Show answer
Why:
Put all six in order: GRAIN → GRAND → GRANT → GRAPE → GRASS → GRAVE. Only GRAPE falls between GRANT and GRASS.
- A PRINT
- B PRIME
- C PRICE
- D PRISON
Show answer
Why:
Put all six in order: PRICE → PRIDE → PRIME → PRINCE → PRINT → PRISON. Only PRIME falls between PRIDE and PRINCE.
- A STAND
- B STAMP
- C STAGE
- D STABLE
Show answer
Why:
Put all six in order: STABLE → STACK → STAGE → STAIR → STAMP → STAND. Only STAGE falls between STACK and STAIR.
- A K
- B B
- C L
- D O
Show answer
Why:
Order: TABLE → TABLET → TABOO → TACKLE → TACT. The 3rd word is TABOO; its 4th letter is O.
- A O
- B L
- C B
- D A
Show answer
Why:
Order: GLASS → GLOBE → GLORY → GLOVE → GLOW. The 2nd word is GLOBE; its 3rd letter is O.
- A 3, 1, 4, 2, 5
- B 3, 1, 2, 4, 5
- C 1, 3, 2, 4, 5
- D 3, 2, 1, 4, 5
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: BLADE → BLAME → BLANK → BLAST → BLAZE, that is 3, 1, 2, 4, 5. BLADE before BLAME (letter 4: D before M); BLAME before BLANK (letter 4: M before N); BLANK before BLAST (letter 4: N before S); BLAST before BLAZE (letter 4: S before Z).
- A 4, 1, 3, 2, 5
- B 4, 3, 2, 1, 5
- C 4, 3, 1, 2, 5
- D 3, 4, 1, 2, 5
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: PALACE → PANDA → PAPER → PARENT → PATROL, that is 4, 3, 1, 2, 5. PALACE before PANDA (letter 3: L before N); PANDA before PAPER (letter 3: N before P); PAPER before PARENT (letter 3: P before R); PARENT before PATROL (letter 3: R before T).
- A 4, 2, 5, 3, 1
- B 2, 5, 4, 3, 1
- C 2, 4, 3, 5, 1
- D 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
Show answer
Why:
Dictionary order: MARBLE → MARCH → MARGIN → MARINE → MARKET, that is 2, 4, 5, 3, 1. MARBLE before MARCH (letter 4: B before C); MARCH before MARGIN (letter 4: C before G); MARGIN before MARINE (letter 4: G before I); MARINE before MARKET (letter 4: I before K).
- A A word that is the start of another word comes first
- B The word with more vowels comes first
- C The longer word comes first
- D The last letters decide
Show answer
Why:
All letters of BAT match the start of BATCH, and BAT ends first, so BAT comes first.
- A C and C, the first letters
- B P and R, the 4th letters
- C E and O, the 5th letters
- D T and T, the last letters
Show answer
Why:
CAR is shared; the first difference is at the 4th place, P before R, so CARPET comes first.
- A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
- C A is true but R is false
- D A is false but R is true
Show answer
Why:
PLANE is the start of PLANET, so it comes first; R is exactly the reason.
- A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
- C A is true but R is false
- D A is false but R is true
Show answer
Why:
At the 3rd letter, E comes before I, so BREAD comes first: A is false. R is the correct rule.
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Why:
Order: SPRAY → SPREAD → SPRING → SPRINT → SPROUT. SPRING is 3rd of 5, so 1 is true; SPROUT is last, so 2 is false.
Important short questions (4)
MOST, MOTHER, MOTION, MOTOR (3rd letter S before T; then 4th letters H, I, O).
COUNT is the beginning of COUNTER; when one word ends while all letters match, it comes first.
Normal order GLASS, GLOBE, GLORY, GLOVE; reversed it begins GLOVE, GLORY, so the answer is GLORY.
Find the first word and strike out options that do not begin with it; compare the remaining options only where they differ.
Long answer questions (1)
All start with LI. 3rd letters: F (LIFT), G (LIGHT, LIGHTER, LIGHTNING), M (LIMB), so LIFT first and LIMB last.
LIGHT is the start of LIGHTER and LIGHTNING, so it comes first among them. LIGHTER and LIGHTNING differ at the 6th letter: E before N.
Order: LIFT, LIGHT, LIGHTER, LIGHTNING, LIMB = 2, 3, 1, 5, 4.
Flashcards (12)
Play this topic
- Order check
Letter Positions and Pairs
Know the position of every letter instantly with EJOTY, switch ends with 27 − n, find opposite letters, move left or right along the alphabet, and count letter pairs in a word that match their alphabet gap.
What you will be able to do
- I can give the position of any letter in two seconds using EJOTY.
- I can convert a position from the right into a position from the left.
- I can solve "k-th to the right of the m-th letter" questions.
- I can count letter pairs in a word in both directions.
Key points
EJOTY: E = 5, J = 10, O = 15, T = 20, Y = 25. Count one or two steps from the nearest anchor.
Position from the right = 27 − position from the left.
Opposite letters (A–Z, B–Y and so on) add up to 27; M–N is the middle pair.
Convert everything to a position from the left; then "to the right" adds and "to the left" subtracts.
Letters between two letters = difference of positions − 1.
Midway letter = (sum of positions) ÷ 2.
A letter pair counts when the gap in the word equals the gap in the alphabet; check both directions.
Full explanation
The 20-second problem
Aman sat a bank exam with this question: "Which letter is 7th to the right of the 19th letter from the right?" He wrote out A to Z, counted, recounted and lost a full minute. His friend Nisha answered in ten seconds. Her secret was not speed of counting; it was not counting at all.
EJOTY: five anchors
E is 5th, J 10th, O 15th, T 20th and Y 25th. Every letter is at most two steps from one of these. R? Two before T, so 18. L? Two after J, so 12.
The rule of 27
There are 26 letters, so a letter n-th from the left is (27 − n)-th from the right. G is 7th from the left and 20th from the right. The same number gives the opposite letter: G (7) pairs with the 20th letter, T.
Nisha's method
"7th to the right of the 19th from the right":
- Convert: 19th from the right = 27 − 19 = 8th from the left.
- Move: right adds, so 8 + 7 = 15.
- Read with EJOTY: 15 is O.
Always convert to "from the left" first; then right means +, left means −.
Between and midway
Letters between D (4) and K (11): 11 − 4 − 1 = 6 (E to J). The letter midway between D and N: (4 + 14) ÷ 2 = 9, which is I.
Half the alphabet reversed
"If the first half is written in reverse" gives M, L, K and so on down to A, then N to Z unchanged. Positions 1 to 13 now hold the letter 14 − n; positions 14 to 26 are unchanged. Work out the position first, then read the letter.
Letter pairs in a word
In PLANTS, three letters (L, A, N) lie between P and T in the word. In the alphabet P = 16 and T = 20, so three letters (Q, R, S) lie between them there too. That is a pair. Check every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. A pair is "forward" if the alphabet runs the same way as the word, "backward" otherwise; exams usually count both.
Changing a word
Other common questions: arrange the letters of a word alphabetically and ask which letter stays in place or which is 3rd; or change every letter to the next letter and count the vowels. Write the new letters in a line under the old ones; never do it in your head.
Exam checklist
- EJOTY for positions.
- From the right? Use 27 − n first.
- Right adds, left subtracts.
- Between = difference − 1.
- Pairs: check both directions.
Back to Aman
Aman learnt EJOTY and the rule of 27 that evening. In his next mock test, the same type of question took him eight seconds, and he never wrote out A to Z again.
Concepts and terms
E, J, O, T, Y sit at every fifth place, so no letter is more than two steps from an anchor.
A letter n-th from the left is (27 − n)-th from the right, and its opposite letter is the (27 − n)-th letter.
Two letters of a word with as many letters between them in the word as in the alphabet.
Did you know
Sending secret messages by shifting letters is called the Caesar method, after the Roman ruler who used a shift of 3.
Memory tricks
EJOTY — EJOTY — Say it as one word, "e-jo-ty": 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.
Practice MCQs with answers (49)
- A O
- B M
- C N
- D B
Show answer
Why:
8th from the left is H (8). Moving 6 to the right: 8 + 6 = 14, which is N.
- A V
- B M
- C K
- D L
Show answer
Why:
17th from the left is Q (17). Moving 5 to the left: 17 − 5 = 12, which is L.
- A M
- B L
- C O
- D N
Show answer
Why:
5th from the right is 27 − 5 = 22nd from the left (V). Moving 9 to the left: 22 − 9 = 13, which is M.
- A K
- B S
- C T
- D R
Show answer
Why:
12th from the right is 27 − 12 = 15th from the left (O). Moving 4 to the right: 15 + 4 = 19, which is S.
- A P
- B N
- C O
- D A
Show answer
Why:
19th from the right is 27 − 19 = 8th from the left (H). Moving 7 to the right: 8 + 7 = 15, which is O.
- A G
- B S
- C I
- D H
Show answer
Why:
21st from the left is U (21). Moving 13 to the left: 21 − 13 = 8, which is H.
- A M
- B N
- C L
- D O
Show answer
Why:
3rd from the right is 27 − 3 = 24th from the left (X). Moving 11 to the left: 24 − 11 = 13, which is M.
- A E
- B U
- C V
- D T
Show answer
Why:
14th from the right is 27 − 14 = 13th from the left (M). Moving 8 to the right: 13 + 8 = 21, which is U.
- A W
- B U
- C V
- D E
Show answer
Why:
10th from the left is J (10). Moving 12 to the right: 10 + 12 = 22, which is V.
- A D
- B Q
- C F
- D E
Show answer
Why:
16th from the right is 27 − 16 = 11th from the left (K). Moving 6 to the left: 11 − 6 = 5, which is E.
- A S
- B T
- C U
- D R
Show answer
Why:
Opposite letters add up to 27: H = 8, so its pair is 27 − 8 = 19, which is S.
- A D
- B J
- C I
- D K
Show answer
Why:
Opposite letters add up to 27: Q = 17, so its pair is 27 − 17 = 10, which is J.
- A W
- B R
- C V
- D U
Show answer
Why:
Opposite letters add up to 27: E = 5, so its pair is 27 − 5 = 22, which is V.
- A F
- B I
- C D
- D E
Show answer
Why:
Opposite letters add up to 27: V = 22, so its pair is 27 − 22 = 5, which is E.
- A 21st
- B 22nd
- C 6th
- D 20th
Show answer
Why:
Position from the other end = 27 − 6 = 21.
- A 9th
- B 8th
- C 19th
- D 7th
Show answer
Why:
Position from the other end = 27 − 19 = 8.
- A 11th
- B 15th
- C 16th
- D 17th
Show answer
Why:
Position from the other end = 27 − 11 = 16.
- A 12
- B 13
- C 10
- D 11
Show answer
Why:
D = 4, P = 16. Letters between = 16 − 4 − 1 = 11.
- A 15
- B 16
- C 17
- D 14
Show answer
Why:
W = 23, G = 7. Letters between = 23 − 7 − 1 = 15.
- A 21
- B 22
- C 23
- D 24
Show answer
Why:
B = 2, Y = 25. Letters between = 25 − 2 − 1 = 22.
- A I
- B K
- C J
- D Q
Show answer
Why:
Midway position = (3 + 17) ÷ 2 = 10, which is J.
- A P
- B L
- C N
- D O
Show answer
Why:
Midway position = (6 + 24) ÷ 2 = 15, which is O.
- A N
- B O
- C P
- D M
Show answer
Why:
Midway position = (8 + 20) ÷ 2 = 14, which is N.
- A K
- B J
- C I
- D D
Show answer
Why:
New order: M L K J I H G F E D C B A | N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. Position from the left = 4. The letter there is J.
- A R
- B U
- C S
- D T
Show answer
Why:
New order: A B C D E F G H I J K L M | Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N. Position from the left = 21. The letter there is S.
- A O
- B Q
- C C
- D P
Show answer
Why:
New order: M L K J I H G F E D C B A | N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. Position 9 + 7 = 16. The letter there is P.
- A 4
- B 5
- C 6
- D 3
Show answer
Why:
Compare every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. The pairs are HI, HN, IE, IN: 4 in all (3 forward, 1 backward).
- A 3
- B 2
- C 4
- D 1
Show answer
Why:
Compare every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. The pairs are PL, IL: 2 in all (1 forward, 1 backward).
- A 5
- B 6
- C 4
- D 3
Show answer
Why:
Compare every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. The pairs are EI, EL, UT, IL: 4 in all (3 forward, 1 backward).
- A 4
- B 2
- C 1
- D 3
Show answer
Why:
Compare every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. The pairs are IE, GH, TR: 3 in all (1 forward, 2 backward).
- A 3
- B 0
- C 4
- D 2
Show answer
Why:
Compare every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. The pairs are MI, MG, IG: 3 in all (0 forward, 3 backward).
- A 1
- B 4
- C 5
- D 3
Show answer
Why:
Compare every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. The pairs are UT, US, TS, DE: 4 in all (1 forward, 3 backward).
- A 4
- B 3
- C 2
- D 1
Show answer
Why:
BRIGHT → BGHIRT. Same place: B, T; count = 2.
- A 4
- B 2
- C 5
- D 3
Show answer
Why:
HISTORY → HIORSTY. Same place: H, I, Y; count = 3.
- A 1
- B 0
- C 3
- D 2
Show answer
Why:
CAPTAIN → AACINPT. Same place: A; count = 1.
- A E
- B K
- C M
- D O
Show answer
Why:
MONKEY → EKMNOY; the 2nd from the left is K.
- A G
- B S
- C N
- D I
Show answer
Why:
FASTING → AFGINST; the 3rd from the right is N.
- A E
- B J
- C M
- D G
Show answer
Why:
JUDGEMENT → DEEGJMNTU; the 4th from the left is G.
- A 1
- B 0
- C 3
- D 2
Show answer
Why:
DREAM → ESFBN. Vowels in ESFBN: 1.
- A 1
- B 2
- C 4
- D 3
Show answer
Why:
PROFIT → OQNEHS. Vowels in OQNEHS: 2.
- A 2
- B 0
- C 1
- D 3
Show answer
Why:
SNOWFALL → TOPXGBMM. Vowels in TOPXGBMM: 1.
- A S
- B I
- C Q
- D R
Show answer
Why:
The box is place 18. The nearest anchor is T = 20; 18 is 2 before it, so the letter is R.
- A H
- B I
- C S
- D G
Show answer
Why:
The box is place 8. The nearest anchor is J = 10; 8 is 2 before it, so the letter is H.
- A 4
- B 3
- C 5
- D 2
Show answer
Why:
Compare every two letters: the gap in the word must equal the gap in the alphabet. The pairs are ON, NT, ST: 3 in all (2 forward, 1 backward).
- A F, K, P, U, Z
- B E, J, O, S, Y
- C E, J, O, T, Y
- D D, I, N, S, X
Show answer
Why:
The anchors EJOTY. D I N S X are one place early and F K P U Z one place late, the usual off-by-one slips.
- A 17th
- B 19th
- C 9th
- D 18th
Show answer
Why:
27 − 9 = 18.
- A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
- C A is true but R is false
- D A is false but R is true
Show answer
Why:
F = 6 and U = 21; 6 + 21 = 27. R gives exactly this reason.
- A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
- C A is true but R is false
- D A is false but R is true
Show answer
Why:
G = 7 and N = 14, so 14 − 7 − 1 = 6 letters (H to M): A is false. R is the correct rule.
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Why:
Sorted: CDOORT, so the 3rd is O: 1 is true. D = 4, its opposite is 27 − 4 = 23 = W, not V: 2 is false.
Important short questions (4)
11th from the right = 27 − 11 = 16th from the left; 16 + 4 = 20 = T.
K = 11; opposite letters add to 27, so 27 − 11 = 16 = P.
21 − 5 − 1 = 15.
Places 14 to 26 now hold Z, Y, X and so on down to N. Place 20 is the 7th of them, which is 6 letters before Z: T.
Long answer questions (1)
Positions: O 15, U 21, T 20, S 19, I 9, D 4, E 5.
Adjacent letters must be next to each other in the alphabet: UT (21, 20) and TS (20, 19) qualify, and DE (4, 5) too.
Gap of one letter: U and S (21, 19) have T between them in the word and T between them in the alphabet: a pair. Other pairs fail.
Answer: UT, US, TS, DE = 4 pairs (DE forward, the other three backward).
Flashcards (13)
Play this topic
- Position check
Meaningful Words
Decide quickly which words can or cannot be formed from the letters of a given word, form words from chosen letter positions, and unjumble names with a category hint, all checked letter by letter.
What you will be able to do
- I can check whether a word can be formed from the letters of another word.
- I can handle repeated letters correctly.
- I can form a word from letters at given positions.
- I can unjumble a name using a category hint and find the odd one out.
Key points
A word can be formed only if every letter it needs is in the given word, as many times as needed.
Check the rare letters first (X, Z, Q, J, K, V, W); one missing letter rules the option out.
Then check doubled letters: MOON needs two O.
For chosen positions, first write the picked letters, then look for the option that uses exactly those letters.
A category hint (fruit, country, bird) picks one word even when the letters make several words.
In "which is not a fruit" type questions, unjumble all four groups before choosing.
Order of letters does not matter for "can be formed"; only which letters and how many.
Full explanation
The word game
At a quiz night, Kabir and Sneha get the word EXAMINATION and a list: TAXI, MOON, NATION, MEET. "Which of these can you make from EXAMINATION?" Kabir says MOON at once: "M, O, N, all there." The quizmaster shakes his head. What did Kabir miss?
Letters are tiles
Think of the given word as a set of tiles. EXAMINATION has E, X, M, T, O once each and A, I, N twice each. Every word you build must be paid for from these tiles, and each tile can be used once.
Kabir's mistake
MOON needs two O, but EXAMINATION has only one. So MOON cannot be formed. MEET fails the same way (two E, only one). TAXI and NATION work: NATION needs two N, and there are two.
Toppers' order of checking
- Rare letters: an option with X, Z, Q, J or K is out at once if the given word lacks it.
- Doubles: any letter used twice in the option must appear twice in the given word.
- The rest: tick off the remaining letters.
Most wrong options fail at step 1 or 2, so you rarely need step 3.
"Cannot be formed"
The same check, turned round: three options pass and one fails. Find the one with a missing or over-used letter.
Letters at chosen positions
"Using the 1st, 4th, 6th and 9th letters of DEMONSTRATION, which word can be formed?" Write the positions above the word, pick the letters (D, O, S, A), then find the option that uses exactly these letters: SODA. Count positions twice; one slip changes everything.
Jumbled names with a hint
LNEAP could be NEPAL or PANEL. The hint "a country" picks NEPAL. ARHTE could be HEART or EARTH; "a part of the body" picks HEART. Always use the hint: it is there because the letters alone allow more than one word.
Odd one out with jumbles
"Which group is not a fruit: GNAMO, PELPA, RIGET, PAGER?" Unjumble each: MANGO, APPLE, TIGER, GRAPE. TIGER is an animal. Do not stop at the first one you recognise; the odd group is often the third or fourth.
Exam checklist
- Count the tiles of the given word.
- Rare letters, then doubles, then the rest.
- Positions: write numbers above the word.
- Jumbles: always use the hint.
- Odd one out: unjumble all four.
Back to the quiz
Sneha counted the tiles, ruled out MOON and MEET for their double letters, and answered TAXI and NATION. Her team won the round; Kabir now counts doubles before he speaks.
Concepts and terms
The given word is a budget of letters: each tile can be spent once.
Two words with exactly the same letters in a different order, like HEART and EARTH.
A clue such as "a country" that leaves only one possible word.
Did you know
Word games such as Scrabble are built on the same rule: you may use only the tiles in your rack, each once.
Memory tricks
Checking options — Rare, double, rest — Check rare letters, then doubled letters, then the rest: most wrong options fall at the first two steps.
Practice MCQs with answers (42)
- A TENT
- B MOTION
- C EDIT
- D TEAM
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of TEAM in EXAMINATION: all are there. TENT needs 2 Ts but EXAMINATION has only 1. MOTION needs 2 Os but EXAMINATION has only 1. EDIT needs D, which is not in EXAMINATION.
- A PAIR
- B RATIO
- C TRAM
- D ATTIC
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of PAIR in PARTICULAR: all are there. ATTIC needs 2 Ts but PARTICULAR has only 1. RATIO needs O, which is not in PARTICULAR. TRAM needs M, which is not in PARTICULAR.
- A SOIL
- B INTO
- C TOAST
- D HOST
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of INTO in CONSTITUTION: all are there. HOST needs H, which is not in CONSTITUTION. SOIL needs L, which is not in CONSTITUTION. TOAST needs A, which is not in CONSTITUTION.
- A BEAR
- B PAPER
- C TEAR
- D BEAT
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of TEAR in TEMPERATURE: all are there. PAPER needs 2 Ps but TEMPERATURE has only 1. BEAT needs B, which is not in TEMPERATURE. BEAR needs B, which is not in TEMPERATURE.
- A EVENT
- B TRUST
- C UNDER
- D TIRE
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of TIRE in UNIVERSITY: all are there. EVENT needs 2 Es but UNIVERSITY has only 1. TRUST needs 2 Ts but UNIVERSITY has only 1. UNDER needs D, which is not in UNIVERSITY.
- A TREE
- B MOTOR
- C VEST
- D MOON
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of TREE in GOVERNMENT: all are there. MOON needs 2 Os but GOVERNMENT has only 1. MOTOR needs 2 Os but GOVERNMENT has only 1. VEST needs S, which is not in GOVERNMENT.
- A STAR
- B HEAR
- C TRADE
- D TREAT
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of HEAR in PHOTOGRAPHER: all are there. TREAT needs 2 Ts but PHOTOGRAPHER has only 1. STAR needs S, which is not in PHOTOGRAPHER. TRADE needs D, which is not in PHOTOGRAPHER.
- A COTTON
- B NATION
- C COAT
- D WAND
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of COAT in ACCOMMODATION: all are there. COTTON needs 2 Ts but ACCOMMODATION has only 1. NATION needs 2 Ns but ACCOMMODATION has only 1. WAND needs W, which is not in ACCOMMODATION.
- A JOINT
- B MIND
- C SIGN
- D MINT
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of MINT in IMAGINATION: all are there. SIGN needs S, which is not in IMAGINATION. JOINT needs J, which is not in IMAGINATION. MIND needs D, which is not in IMAGINATION.
- A LIMIT
- B LIST
- C MIST
- D TABLE
Show answer
Why:
LIMIT needs 2 Is but ESTABLISHMENT has only 1. LIST, MIST, TABLE use only letters that ESTABLISHMENT has enough of.
- A ATOM
- B DOOR
- C MART
- D RANT
Show answer
Why:
DOOR needs 2 Os but ADMINISTRATION has only 1. ATOM, MART, RANT use only letters that ADMINISTRATION has enough of.
- A ROAM
- B TRAIN
- C GOAT
- D TRIM
Show answer
Why:
GOAT needs G, which is not in INFORMATION. ROAM, TRAIN, TRIM use only letters that INFORMATION has enough of.
- A TEST
- B RAISE
- C PINE
- D SENSE
Show answer
Why:
SENSE needs 2 Ss but REPRESENTATIVE has only 1. PINE, TEST, RAISE use only letters that REPRESENTATIVE has enough of.
- A WOMAN
- B COIN
- C MAIN
- D COUNT
Show answer
Why:
WOMAN needs W, which is not in COMMUNICATION. MAIN, COUNT, COIN use only letters that COMMUNICATION has enough of.
- A MARE
- B RECENT
- C MANE
- D AUNT
Show answer
Why:
RECENT needs 2 Es but MANUFACTURE has only 1. MARE, MANE, AUNT use only letters that MANUFACTURE has enough of.
- A LEMON
- B NOVEL
- C LEVEL
- D MODE
Show answer
Why:
LEVEL needs 2 Ls but DEVELOPMENT has only 1. NOVEL, MODE, LEMON use only letters that DEVELOPMENT has enough of.
- A TIME
- B POINT
- C POET
- D NINE
Show answer
Why:
NINE needs 2 Ns but COMPETITION has only 1. TIME, POINT, POET use only letters that COMPETITION has enough of.
- A STORM
- B SPORT
- C MOTOR
- D STORY
Show answer
Why:
The chosen letters are M, O, S, T, R. Only STORM uses exactly these letters; STORY needs Y; SPORT needs P; MOTOR needs another O.
- A TRAIN
- B TRIAL
- C ALERT
- D ALTER
Show answer
Why:
The chosen letters are A, R, T, I, L. Only TRIAL uses exactly these letters; ALTER needs E; TRAIN needs N; ALERT needs E.
- A ACTOR
- B RADIO
- C RATIO
- D TRIAL
Show answer
Why:
The chosen letters are I, O, R, A, T. Only RATIO uses exactly these letters; TRIAL needs L; ACTOR needs C; RADIO needs D.
- A STAND
- B PAINT
- C TRAIN
- D SAINT
Show answer
Why:
The chosen letters are A, N, I, S, T. Only SAINT uses exactly these letters; PAINT needs P; TRAIN needs R; STAND needs D.
- A POINT
- B JOINT
- C PAINT
- D PILOT
Show answer
Why:
The chosen letters are O, P, T, I, N. Only POINT uses exactly these letters; JOINT needs J; PAINT needs A; PILOT needs L.
- A ENTER
- B NERVE
- C EVENT
- D SERVE
Show answer
Why:
The chosen letters are V, E, R, N, E. Only NERVE uses exactly these letters; ENTER needs T; EVENT needs T; SERVE needs S.
- A A
- B N
- C M
- D O
Show answer
Why:
ONAMG rearranges to MANGO, a fruit. The asked letter is M.
- A E
- B I
- C T
- D R
Show answer
Why:
GERIT rearranges to TIGER, an animal. The asked letter is R.
- A P
- B L
- C E
- D A
Show answer
Why:
ANLPE rearranges to NEPAL, a country. The asked letter is P.
- A A
- B C
- C R
- D T
Show answer
Why:
TACROR rearranges to CARROT, a vegetable. The asked letter is C.
- A E
- B L
- C W
- D O
Show answer
Why:
LWBEO rearranges to ELBOW, a part of the body. The asked letter is W.
- A O
- B P
- C R
- D A
Show answer
Why:
TPRAOR rearranges to PARROT, a bird. The asked letter is A.
- A MLACE
- B VAGAU
- C MNLEO
- D CHAEP
Show answer
Why:
CHAEP = PEACH, VAGAU = GUAVA, MNLEO = LEMON: each is the name of a fruit. But MLACE = CAMEL, which is an animal.
- A PJANA
- B EERNG
- C AYEKN
- D AIDNI
Show answer
Why:
AIDNI = INDIA, PJANA = JAPAN, AYEKN = KENYA: each is the name of a country. But EERNG = GREEN, which is a colour.
- A GEEAL
- B EPGINO
- C ECAABBG
- D WOPASRR
Show answer
Why:
GEEAL = EAGLE, EPGINO = PIGEON, WOPASRR = SPARROW: each is the name of a bird. But ECAABBG = CABBAGE, which is a vegetable.
- A LPRUEP
- B WNRBO
- C TIHEW
- D NINOO
Show answer
Why:
WNRBO = BROWN, TIHEW = WHITE, LPRUEP = PURPLE: each is the name of a colour. But NINOO = ONION, which is a vegetable.
- A HRCRYE
- B EOHSR
- C BAZER
- D YKENOM
Show answer
Why:
EOHSR = HORSE, BAZER = ZEBRA, YKENOM = MONKEY: each is the name of an animal. But HRCRYE = CHERRY, which is a fruit.
- A SHAPE
- B SALT
- C TASTE
- D STATE
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of SALT in PLANETS: all are there. TASTE needs 2 Ts but PLANETS has only 1. STATE needs 2 Ts but PLANETS has only 1. SHAPE needs H, which is not in PLANETS.
- A SEND
- B DEAN
- C ARENA
- D NEAR
Show answer
Why:
ARENA needs 2 As but GARDENS has only 1. SEND, DEAN, NEAR use only letters that GARDENS has enough of.
- A POEM
- B HARM
- C PLAN
- D PAIN
Show answer
Why:
Tick off the letters of PAIN in CHAMPION: all are there. POEM needs E, which is not in CHAMPION. HARM needs R, which is not in CHAMPION. PLAN needs L, which is not in CHAMPION.
- A each of its letters appears in the given word at least as many times as it is needed
- B its letters appear in the same order in the given word
- C it starts with the same letter as the given word
- D it has fewer letters than the given word
Show answer
Why:
Only the letters and how many times each is needed matter; order and the first letter do not.
- A 5
- B 4
- C 3
- D 2
Show answer
Why:
R-E-F-E-R-E-N-C-E has E at places 2, 4, 6 and 9: four times.
- A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
- C A is true but R is false
- D A is false but R is true
Show answer
Why:
ROOM needs two O; MORNING has one O. So A is false, and R is the true rule that shows it.
- A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- B Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
- C A is true but R is false
- D A is false but R is true
Show answer
Why:
They are anagrams, so every letter of HEART is available in EARTH: R explains A.
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Why:
TEACHER has T, E, A, C, H, E, R (two E). CHEAT needs one of each: yes. THREE needs T, H, R and two E: yes. Both are true.
Important short questions (4)
No. TENSE needs two E, but DESTINATION has only one E (T, N and S are there).
The letters are L, A, E, S: SALE (or SEAL).
Because the letters may form more than one word (LEMON, MELON); the hint fixes which one is meant.
KENYA.
Long answer questions (1)
ESTABLISHMENT has E 2, S 2, T 2, A 1, B 1, L 1, I 1, H 1, M 1, N 1.
TABLE: T, A, B, L, E are all there: yes.
BLAST: B, L, A, S, T: yes.
SHELL: needs two L, only one: no.
MINISTER: needs two I and an R; there is one I and no R: no.
Flashcards (12)
Play this topic
- Word check
Veda Skills Logical Reasoning Unit 9 — frequently asked questions
MOST, MOTHER, MOTION, MOTOR (3rd letter S before T; then 4th letters H, I, O).
COUNT is the beginning of COUNTER; when one word ends while all letters match, it comes first.
Normal order GLASS, GLOBE, GLORY, GLOVE; reversed it begins GLOVE, GLORY, so the answer is GLORY.
11th from the right = 27 − 11 = 16th from the left; 16 + 4 = 20 = T.
K = 11; opposite letters add to 27, so 27 − 11 = 16 = P.
21 − 5 − 1 = 15.
No. TENSE needs two E, but DESTINATION has only one E (T, N and S are there).
The letters are L, A, E, S: SALE (or SEAL).
Because the letters may form more than one word (LEMON, MELON); the hint fixes which one is meant.
All Veda Skills Logical Reasoning units
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