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Select the letter-cluster from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series. OHA MFY KDW IBU ?
SGZ
GZS
SZG
GSZ
GZS
Look at each position independently: 1st letters decrease by 6, 2nd letters decrease by 3, and 3rd letters decrease by 4.
Look at each position independently: 1st letters decrease by 6, 2nd letters decrease by 3, and 3rd letters decrease by 4.
Analyze the 1st Letters
O (15) to M (13) is -2, M (13) to K (11) is -2, K (11) to I (9) is -2. Following this pattern (-2), I (9) - 2 = 7, which corresponds to letter G.
Analyze the 2nd Letters
H (8) to F (6) is -2, F (6) to D (4) is -2, D (4) to B (2) is -2. Following this pattern (-2), B (2) - 2 = 0, which corresponds to Z (26).
Analyze the 3rd Letters
A (1) to Y (25) is -2, Y (25) to W (23) is -2, W (23) to U (21) is -2. Following this pattern (-2), U (21) - 2 = 19, which corresponds to letter S.
A: SGZ has incorrect 2nd and 3rd letter positions. C: SZG has swapped positions for Z and S. D: GSZ has incorrect 2nd and 3rd letter positions.
B is correct because the letter-cluster series follows a consistent backward shift of -2 for each corresponding letter position, yielding GZS.
Always evaluate letter-cluster series position by position rather than treating the whole cluster as a single word.