In the English alphabet, the first 4 letters are written in opposite order; and the next 4 letters are written in opposite order and so on; and at the end Y and Z are interchanged. Which will be the fourth letter to the right of the 13th letter?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) T
After reversing each block of four, the 13th place holds P (block PONM). Four places to its right is the 17th place, which starts the next block TSRQ — so the letter is T.
- Reverse each block of four: DCBA HGFE LKJI PONM TSRQ XWVU, and then Y Z become Z Y.
- Places 1–12 hold D C B A H G F E L K J I, so the 13th letter is P.
- The fourth letter to its right is in the 17th place: places 13–17 are P, O, N, M, T.
- The answer is T.
Remember · Work with positions: in reversed blocks of four, place 4k − 3 holds the letter numbered 4k.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·