The number coming in place of question work (?) In the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 7, 6 ? is

The correct answer is D, 5. The series is best read as three interleaved sequences of three terms each, rather than as one continuous run.

Split the series into groups of three: (1, 2, 3), (4, 4, 4), (7, 6, ?). Now read each column downward. The first terms go 1, 4, 7, so they rise by 3. The second terms go 2, 4, 6, so they rise by 2. The third terms go 3, 4, ?, so they rise by 1, giving 5.

• A) 8 is wrong. It would require the third column to rise by 4, which breaks the step-by-step pattern of 3, 2, 1.
• B) 7 is wrong. Repeating the 7 from the previous group ignores the column logic.
• C) 6 is wrong. Following the descending 7, 6 pattern in the last group gives 6 only if you treat the sequence as a simple decline, which the column differences do not support.

This is a classic column-wise pattern question. Such questions appear in UPPSC PCS reasoning sections and reward structured thinking over guesswork.

Trap: Aspirants read the last two terms (7, 6) as a simple descending pair and pick 5 or 6 without checking the columns. Always test the grouping before extending a pattern.