Here are 100 multiple choice questions on pattern recognition, with answer choices, the correct answer indicated, and a rationale for each:

In the sequence: XYZ, YZX, ZXY, what comes next?
A. XYZ
B. ZXY
C. YZX
D. ZYX

The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The pattern is cyclically shifting the letters to the left.

What number comes next in this sequence: 1, 4, 9, 16, ?
A. 21
B. 25
C. 36
D. 49

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: The numbers are increasing by the square of their position (1^2, 2^2, 3^2, 4^2, 5^2).

In a cigar box, there are 10 cigars placed in 2 rows. In the first row, there are 7 cigars, in the second row, there are 3 cigars. If we rearrange them into 3 rows with an equal number of cigars in each row, how many cigars will be in each row?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: 10 cigars divided into 3 equal rows means each row has 3 cigars.

Look at this series: F, G, I, J, ? What letter comes next?
A. K
B. L
C. M
D. N

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: The letters are increasing by one letter at a time, skipping H.

Which number does not belong in this sequence: 8, 27, 64, 125, 196?
A. 8
B. 27
C. 64
D. 196

The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The sequence shows cube numbers (3^3, 4^3, 5^3, 6^3, 7^3). 8 does not fit this pattern.

What number best continues this pattern: 4, 16, 36, 64, ?
A. 81
B. 100
C. 121
D. 144

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: The numbers are increasing by the square of their positions (1^2, 2^2, 3^2, 4^2, 5^2).

Which choice contains the missing element in the sequence: A, C, F, J, ?
A. L
B. M
C. N
D. O

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: The letters are increasing by 2 letters at a time.

In the sequence: 4, 11, 25, 46, ? what number should come next?
A. 64
B. 74
C. 84
D. 94

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: Each number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers plus 3.

If the pattern continues, what letter comes next: G, F, D, A, ?
A. Z
B. Y
C. X
D. E

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: The letters are decreasing by subtracting 3 each time.

What is the next number in this sequence: 2, 5, 8, 11, ?
A. 13
B. 14
C. 15
D. 16

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: Each number is increasing by 3 from the previous number.

Which of these numbers comes next in the sequence: 3, 5, 11, 25, ?
A. 47
B. 51
C. 57
D. 59

The correct answer is: D
Rationale: Each number is the sum of the previous two numbers.

In the pattern: ABBCCCDDDEEE, what comes next?
A. EEEEEE
B. FFFF
C. FFFFFF
D. FFFFFFFG

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: Each group of letters increases in length by 1.

Which letter is next in this pattern: M, L, J, I, G, ?
A. D
B. E
C. F
D. H

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: The letters are decreasing alphabetically, skipping K.

In the sequence 1, 4, 27, 256, ? what number should come next?
A. 625
B. 3125
C. 6561
D. 16807

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: Each number is the cube of the previous number's square root.

What number does not belong in this sequence: 1, 4, 9, 25, 49, 121?
A. 1
B. 25
C. 49
D. 121

The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The sequence shows square numbers. 1 is not a square number.

In the pattern ABABCABCDABCDE, what comes next?
A. ABCDEF
B. ABCDE
C. ABCDABCDEF
D. ABCDEF

The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The pattern is incrementing by one letter each repeat.

What number comes next: 3, 6, 18, 72, ?
A. 144
B. 216
C. 288
D. 360

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: Each number is triple the previous number.

In the sequence ODD, EVEN, ODD, EVEN, ? what comes next?
A. ODD
B. EVEN
C. ODDEVEN
D. EVENODD

The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The sequence is alternating between ODD and EVEN.

Which of these is the next letter in the pattern: A, C, F, J, ?
A. O
B. P
C. Q
D. R

The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The letter sequence is increasing by 2 letters each time.

In the pattern 3126, 2253, 1638, 2517, ? what number comes next?
A. 1278
B. 1746
C. 3402
D. 3714

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: The digits are being rearranged in a cyclic pattern.

Which number continues this pattern best: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ?
A. 7
B. 8
C. 9
D. 13

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: This is the Fibonacci sequence where each number is the sum of the previous two.

What letter comes next in this pattern: Z, Y, W, T, ?
A. P
B. Q
C. R
D. S

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: The letters are decreasing alphabetically, skipping X and V.

In the sequence: 8, 24, 12, 36, 18, ? what number should come next?
A. 42
B. 54
C. 72
D. 90

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: The pattern alternates between multiplying by 3 and dividing by 2.

Which of these does not belong in the sequence: 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, 648?
A. 2
B. 6
C. 18
D. 648

The correct answer is: B
Rationale: Each number after 2 is the previous number multiplied by 3.

What comes next in this pattern: CCCDDEEEFFF, CCDDEEEFFFGGG, ?
A. CCDDEEEFFGGGHHHH
B. CCDDEEEFFFGGGHHHII
C. CCDDEEEFFFGGGHHHHIII
D. CCCDDEEEFFF

The correct answer is: C
Rationale: Each grouping increases the consecutive letter run lengths by 1.