If it is possible to make only one meaningful word with the first, second,…
2023
If it is possible to make only one meaningful word with the first, second, third and fifth letters of the word 'TECHNOLOGY', which of the following would be the third letter of that word?
- A.
T
- B.
E
- C.
N
- D.
C
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept: In a letter-position selection puzzle, you first extract the letters occupying the stated positions in the given word, then treat those extracted letters as a fresh set and rearrange them to spell a single valid, meaningful English word. Positions are then counted afresh within this new word — not within the original word.
Application: Number the letters of TECHNOLOGY and pick out the required positions.
Number the letters of TECHNOLOGY: T(1), E(2), C(3), H(4), N(5), O(6), L(7), O(8), G(9), Y(10).
Pick the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th letters as instructed: T, E, C, N.
Rearrange these four letters into a single valid, meaningful English word: they spell "CENT".
Count the letters of this new word CENT on its own: C(1), E(2), N(3), T(4).
Cross-check: No other rearrangement of T, E, C, N (such as NECT, TECN or ECTN) forms a recognised English word, so CENT is the unique meaningful word available, confirming the third-letter count above is unambiguous.
Therefore, the third letter of the word so formed is N.