What should come in place of the question mark (?) in the following series?

Series: PQR, STU, VWX, ?

Appeared in: BSF Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

The series follows a pattern of groups of three consecutive letters.
Each subsequent group begins with the letter that immediately follows the last letter of the preceding group.
The term VWX ends with 'X'. The next letter in the alphabet is 'Y'.
The sequence of three consecutive letters starting from 'Y' is Y, Z, and then the alphabet cycles back to A.
Therefore, the correct next term in the series is YZA.

Option B: This option, XYZ, is a group of three consecutive letters, but it does not follow the sequence established by the series. The series should continue from the letter following 'X', which is 'Y', not start over from 'X'.
Option C: This option, ABC, represents the first three letters of the alphabet. It does not logically follow the term VWX in the established pattern.
Option D: This option, ZAB, incorrectly starts with 'Z'. The pattern requires the next term to start with 'Y', the letter immediately following 'X'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning: Letter and Symbol Series as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests logical reasoning and pattern recognition, which are general aptitude skills.
While not directly clinical, these cognitive skills are essential for nurses in problem-solving, interpreting data patterns (like vital sign trends), and making quick, logical decisions in patient care.
What if the series was PQR, TUV, YZA? The pattern would be skipping two letters between the end of one group and the start of the next (R -> S, T -> U). The answer would then be found by skipping two letters after A (B, C) and starting the next group with D, making it DEF.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the components of the series. Notice that each term (PQR, STU, VWX) is a group of three letters.
Examine the letters within each group. You'll see they are consecutive in the alphabet (P-Q-R, S-T-U, V-W-X).
Next, look at the relationship between the groups. Check the last letter of one group and the first letter of the next.
Observe that the first letter of the next group is the very next letter in the alphabet (after R comes S; after U comes V).
Apply this rule to find the missing term. The last given term is VWX. The letter after 'X' is 'Y'.
Construct the new group of three consecutive letters starting with 'Y'. Remember that the alphabet is cyclic, so after 'Z' comes 'A'. The group is Y-Z-A.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full BSF Staff Nurse - 2021

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