UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper II · Q56 of 79 Logical Reasoning medium

In a code language 'MATHEMATICS' is written as 'LBSIDNZUHDR'. How is 'CHEMISTRY' written in that code language ?

  1. (a) DIDLHRSSX
  2. (b) BIDNHTSSX ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) BIDLHTSSX
  4. (d) DGFLIRUQZ

Why the answer is (b)

• The code shifts each letter of the word backward by 1 position in the alphabet (e.g., M becomes L, A becomes Z, T becomes S).", "- Applying this rule to 'CHEMISTRY': C becomes B, H becomes G, E becomes D, M becomes L, I becomes H, S becomes R, T becomes S, R becomes Q, Y becomes X.", "- Wait, let's re-verify the pattern from 'MATHEMATICS' to 'LBSIDNZUHDR'. M->L (-1), A->B (+1), T->S (-1), H->I (+1), E->D (-1), M->N (+1), A->Z (-1), T->U (+1), I->H (-1), C->D (+1), S->R (-1).", "- The pattern is an alternating shift: -1, +1, -1, +1, -1, +1, -1, +1, -1, +1, -1.", "- Applying this alternating pattern to 'CHEMISTRY' (9 letters): C(-1)=B, H(+1)=I, E(-1)=D, M(+1)=N, I(-1)=H, S(+1)=T, T(-1)=S, R(+1)=S, Y(-1)=X.", "- The resulting code is BIDNHTSSX, which matches option (b).", "- Therefore, the correct code for 'CHEMISTRY' is BIDNHTSSX.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) DIDLHRSSX
Option (a) DIDLHRSSX does not follow the alternating -1/+1 shift pattern derived from the example.
(c) BIDLHTSSX
Option (c) BIDLHTSSX incorrectly shifts the 4th letter M to L instead of N, violating the +1 rule for even positions.
(d) DGFLIRUQZ
Option (d) DGFLIRUQZ uses a completely different and inconsistent shifting logic that does not match the source code.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

Practise this paper free