Descending three-letter consecutive groups – UGC NET Question

The starting letters Q, N, K and H occupy positions 17, 14, 11 and 8, decreasing by 3 each time. Each group is a three letter block of consecutive letters in forward order. Continuing this pattern, the next starting letter is position 5, which is E, and the following letters are F and G, giving EFG. Therefore EFG fits both the minus three jump and the internal structure of the groups.

Option A:
Option A is correct because E lies exactly three positions before H and EFG continues with F and G as consecutive letters. It maintains the constant decrement in the starting letters and keeps the groups consistently formed. This alignment with both the numerical and structural aspects of the pattern makes EFG the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B, GHI, moves forward from H instead of backward, reversing the direction of the starting sequence. The series clearly shows the starting letters descending through the alphabet. As GHI would be a forward step, it does not conform to the observed rule.

Option C:
Option C, IJK, begins at I, which is only one position after H and also goes in the wrong direction. It neither preserves the backward movement nor maintains the required step size of three. Consequently, IJK cannot be the next term.

Option D:
Option D, ABC, starts at A, which is position 1, representing a jump of seven positions backward from H instead of three. This change in step size is not supported by any previous transition. As a result, ABC does not fit the pattern.