Previous Year Questions

Let's analyze the given series: GASM, CCOO, YEKQ, ?, QICU.

We'll look at the pattern in the letters of each term:

1) First letter pattern (G, C, Y, ?, Q):

· G → C: Move 4 steps backward (G → F → E → D → C)

· C → Y: Move 4 steps backward (C → B → A → Z → Y)

· To continue this pattern: Y → U (Y → X → W → V → U, 4 steps backward)

So, the first letter of the missing term is U.

2) Second letter pattern (A, C, E, ?, I):

· A → C: Move 2 steps forward (A → B → C)

· C → E: Move 2 steps forward (C → D → E)

· To continue this pattern: E → G (E → F → G, 2 steps forward)

So, the second letter of the missing term is G.

3) Third letter pattern (S, O, K, ?, C):

· S → O: Move 4 steps backward (S → R → Q → P → O)

· O → K: Move 4 steps backward (O → N → M → L → K)

· To continue this pattern: K → G (K → J → I → H → G, 4 steps backward)

So, the third letter of the missing term is G.

4) Fourth letter pattern (M, O, Q, ?, U):

· M → O: Move 2 steps forward (M → N → O)

· O → Q: Move 2 steps forward (O → P → Q)

· To continue this pattern: Q → S (Q → R → S, 2 steps forward)

So, the fourth letter of the missing term is S.

Conclusion:

The missing term is UGGS, which matches option (a).

Thus, the correct answer is a) UGGS