A military code writes SYSTEM as SYSMET and NEARER as AENRER. Using the same code, FRACTION can be…

Answer: (d) CARFNOIT

The code splits a word into two halves and writes each half backwards: SYS|TEM becomes SYS|MET and NEA|RER becomes AEN|RER. So FRAC|TION becomes CARF|NOIT.

1. SYSTEM = SYS | TEM; reversing each half gives SYS | MET = SYSMET.
2. NEARER = NEA | RER; reversing each half gives AEN | RER = AENRER. The rule fits both.
3. FRACTION = FRAC | TION; reversing each half gives CARF | NOIT = CARFNOIT.

Remember · In coding items, test a positional rule — halves, pairs, reversal — on every example given before applying it.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2016, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error