Select the combination of letters that when separately placed in the blanks of the given series will complete the series. NLO_MQR_STO_VPW

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Explanation

The series is composed of five 3-letter groups.
The first letter of each group follows a +2 alphabetical pattern (N, P, R, T, V).
The second letter of each group follows a +1 alphabetical pattern (L, M, N, O, P).
The third letter of each group follows a +2 alphabetical pattern (O, Q, S, U, W).
Following these patterns, the missing letters are P (for the first blank), N (for the second blank), and U (for the third blank), forming the sequence PNU.

Option A: The letter combination NPU does not fit the established pattern. For instance, the first missing letter should be 'P' (N+2), not 'N'.
Option B: The letter combination UNP reverses the correct order of the letters and uses an incorrect first letter ('U' instead of 'P').
Option C: The letter combination MNU uses an incorrect first letter ('M' instead of 'P'). The first letter pattern is N+2, which results in P.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning: Completing a letter series as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question type is not directly related to clinical nursing practice.
It assesses logical reasoning and pattern recognition skills, which are essential for problem-solving in any professional field, including nursing.
For example, a nurse uses pattern recognition to identify trends in a patient's vital signs or symptoms, which can indicate improvement or deterioration.

How to Approach the Question

First, examine the entire series to identify any obvious repeating characters or segments.
Count the total number of letters and blanks to see if the series can be divided into equal groups (e.g., groups of 3, 4, or 5). In this case, there are 12 letters and 3 blanks, making a total of 15, which is divisible by 3 and 5.
Divide the series into logical groups. Here, groups of three (e.g., NLO, _MQ, etc.) reveal a clear structure.
Analyze the pattern for each position within the groups (e.g., the first letter of each group, the second letter, and so on).
Determine the rule for each position's progression (e.g., +1, -2, alternating letters).
Apply these rules to find the missing letters and select the option that matches your derived sequence.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q71GxLD0Uqdolhx5Sws6IH

Practise the full UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

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