If in a certain language NATURE is coded as MASUQE, how is FAMINE coded in…

Compare NATURE with its code MASUQE letter by letter, noting each letter's position (1st to 6th):

N(1st) -> M : -1 | A(2nd) -> A : 0 | T(3rd) -> S : -1 | U(4th) -> U : 0 | R(5th) -> Q : -1 | E(6th) -> E : 0

So the rule is: letters in the odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th) move one step BACK in the alphabet, while letters in the even positions (2nd, 4th, 6th) stay the same.

Apply the same rule to FAMINE:

F(1st) -> E (-1) | A(2nd) -> A (0) | M(3rd) -> L (-1) | I(4th) -> I (0) | N(5th) -> M (-1) | E(6th) -> E (0)

Therefore FAMINE is coded as EALIME.