RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)
Reasoning
Hard

In a certain code language, if BADLY is coded as CDFAN, then how is FORTY coded in that language?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

Explanation

  • The coding logic is a two-step process derived from the example 'BADLY' -> 'CDFAN'.
  • Step 1: Each letter is shifted two positions forward in the alphabet (e.g., F+2 -> H, O+2 -> Q).
  • Step 2: The resulting letters are rearranged. The first and second letters are swapped, and the fourth and fifth letters are swapped.
  • Applying this to 'FORTY': The shifted letters are H, Q, T, V, A. Swapping positions (1<>2 and 4<>5) gives the final code QHTAV.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This is the result of applying only the first step of the logic (shifting each letter by +2) without performing the second step (swapping the letter positions).
  • Option B: This code does not follow the established pattern. The letters seem to be derived from a completely different and inconsistent rule.
  • Option D: This code does not follow the established +2 shift and swap pattern. There is no simple, consistent relationship between 'FORTY' and 'BWURI'.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning: Coding-Decoding by Letter Shifting and Positional Swapping as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • While not a clinical question, this type of problem assesses logical and analytical reasoning, a critical skill for nurses in clinical problem-solving and decision-making.
  • It tests the ability to identify patterns, form a hypothesis, and apply it systematically, which is analogous to how a nurse assesses patient symptoms and lab data to inform a plan of care.
  • What if the code for BADLY was 'DCEOO'? The pattern would change. Here, B+2=D, A+2=C, but then D+1=E, L+3=O. The pattern is inconsistent, suggesting a more complex key or a flawed question, requiring careful re-evaluation—a skill also needed in clinical practice when data is ambiguous.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, carefully analyze the given example pair (BADLY → CDFAN) to identify the relationship between the word and its code.
  • Break down the transformation. Check for simple patterns like letter shifting (e.g., +1, +2, -1), reversal, or positional changes.
  • Form a hypothesis. Notice that B is the 2nd letter and D is the 4th (+2), while A is the 1st and C is the 3rd (+2). Hypothesize that each letter is shifted forward by two places.
  • Test this hypothesis on the full word 'BADLY'. This gives 'DCFNA'. Compare this to the given code 'CDFAN'.
  • Identify the difference between your intermediate result ('DCFNA') and the actual code ('CDFAN'). This reveals the second step of the pattern: the first two letters are swapped, and the fourth and fifth letters are swapped.
  • Apply this confirmed two-step rule (shift +2, then swap 1&2 and 4&5) to the target word 'FORTY' to find the correct answer and select the matching option.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Logical Reasoning: Coding-Decoding by Letter Shifting and Positional Swapping
  • Stem keywords: code language, BADLY, CDFAN, FORTY
  • Lead-in keywords: how is

Question ID

QgRzeXCjKkfIFd-PBgShzr

Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.

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