Question

Based on the English alphabetical order, three of the following four letter-clusters are alike in a certain way and thus form a group. Which letter-cluster DOES NOT belong to that group? (Note: The odd one out is not based on the number of consonants/vowels or their position in the letter-cluster.)

• A. MLK
• B. SRQ
• C. EDB
• D. XWV

Answer 1

Answer:

C. EDB

The letter-cluster that DOES NOT belong to the group is EDB.

When analyzing the alphabetical order of each cluster from right to left, they follow a continuous backward sequence (subtracting 1 from each consecutive letter), except for the odd one out:

• M L K $\rightarrow$ K, L, M (Consecutive letters in reverse: $13 \rightarrow 12 \rightarrow 11$)

• S R Q $\rightarrow$ Q, R, S (Consecutive letters in reverse: $19 \rightarrow 18 \rightarrow 17$)

• X W V $\rightarrow$ V, W, X (Consecutive letters in reverse: $24 \rightarrow 23 \rightarrow 22$)

Why EDB is the odd one out:

• E D B $\rightarrow$ B, _, D, E (The letter C is missing between B and D; the sequence skips a letter: $5 \rightarrow 4 \rightarrow 2$)