UPSC Prelims 2022 · CSAT
Question 16: Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability
If the order of the letters in the English alphabet is reversed and each letter represents the letter whose position it occupies, then which one of the following represents ‘LUCKNOW’?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
In the reversed alphabet, the letter at each place is the mirror of the usual letter: the two positions add up to 27 (A pairs with Z, B with Y). So L (12) becomes O (15), U (21) becomes F (6), C (3) becomes X (24), K (11) becomes P (16), N (14) becomes M (13), O (15) becomes L (12) and W (23) becomes D (4). LUCKNOW is written OFXPMLD.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) OGXPMLD: U should become F, not G.
- (b) OGXQMLE: U, K and W are all wrongly mapped (to G, Q and E).
- (c) OFXPMLE: W should become D, not E.
- (d) Correct: O, F, X, P, M, L, D.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.