Look carefully at the sequence of symbols to find the pattern. Select correct…

Concept: Look for a role-reversal rule across the bar-separated groups. Two relationship types alternate: containment (one shape drawn fully inside another) in groups 1 and 3, and stacking (one shape resting on top of another) in groups 2 and 4. Within each relationship type, the same two shapes reappear two groups later with their roles reversed — the shape that was outside or below becomes the one inside or on top, and vice versa.

Application: Group 1 shows a square containing a circle, then a square containing a triangle. Group 3, two groups later, reverses the roles for both pairs: a circle containing a square, then a triangle containing a square — confirming the reversal rule for the containment groups. Group 2 shows a square base topped by a triangle, then a square base topped by a circle. Group 4 begins with a triangle base topped by a square, which is exactly the reversal of the first figure in group 2 — so the reversal rule holds for the stacking groups as well. The missing figure must therefore be the reversal of the second figure in group 2 (square base, circle on top): a circle base with a square resting on top.

Cross-check: The same reversal that turned "square containing circle" into "circle containing square" (group 1 to group 3) turns "square base with circle on top" into "circle base with square on top" (group 2 to group 4) — matching the option that shows a circle at the base with a square placed on top of it.