Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The objective of this coding-decoding question is to identify the pattern used to convert the word "MOUNTAIN" into "NQXOUCJP" and apply that exact logical pattern to the word "VALLEY."
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
We must write down the alphabetical positions of each letter in both the original word and its coded version.
This allows us to identify whether the letters are shifted by a constant number, an alternating sequence, or based on specific rules like vowels and consonants.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
1. Let us write the alphabetical positions of the letters in "MOUNTAIN":
M = 13, O = 15, U = 21, N = 14, T = 20, A = 1, I = 9, N = 14.
2. Let us write the alphabetical positions of the letters in the code "NQXOUCJP":
N = 14, Q = 17, X = 24, O = 15, U = 21, C = 3, J = 10, P = 16.
3. Let us analyze the shift for each letter:
- M (13) to N (14) is a shift of +1.
- O (15) to Q (17) is a shift of +2.
- U (21) to X (24) is a shift of +3.
- N (14) to O (15) is a shift of +1.
- T (20) to U (21) is a shift of +1.
- A (1) to C (3) is a shift of +2.
- I (9) to J (10) is a shift of +1.
- N (14) to P (16) is a shift of +2.
4. Let us look at the structure of vowels and consonants in the word:
Consonants: M (+1), N (+1), T (+1), N (+2).
Vowels: O (+2), U (+3), A (+2), I (+1).
5. Now let us analyze the shifts needed for "VALLEY" based on the options.
The options start with W or X, indicating V (22) is shifted by +1 to become W (23) or +2 to become X (24).
6. If we apply the pattern of shifts (+1, +1, +2, +1, +1, +2) to the letters of VALLEY:
- V (22) + 1 = W (23)
- A (1) + 1 = B (2)
- L (12) + 2 = N (14)
- L (12) + 1 = M (13)
- E (5) + 1 = F (6)
- Y (25) + 2 = A (27, which wraps around to 1)
7. Combining these letters, we get the coded word "WBNMFA".
This matches Option (A) exactly.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The coded word for VALLEY is WBNMFA, which corresponds to Option (A).