What is the correct filing order for the following four names? (1) Nancy Bakker (2) Chris Bakken (3) A. Karl Baker (4) Sanjay Bakshi

What is the correct filing order for the following four names? (1) Nancy Bakker (2) Chris Bakken (3) A. Karl Baker (4) Sanjay Bakshi

• A. 3, 2, 1, 4
• B. 2, 3, 1, 4
• C. 3, 2, 4, 1
• D. 1, 2, 3, 4

Answer: (A)

Sorting by surname in alphabetic order is the idea being tested. When last names share a common beginning, you compare the letters that come after that shared prefix until you find a difference. Here all surnames start with Bak. After that prefix, the fourth letter sequence is Baker (e), Bakker (k), Bakken (k), and Bakshi (s). Since e comes before k and s, Baker comes first, so A. Karl Baker is filed first. Between the ones with Bakker and Bakken, the next differing letter after the common Bakke is n for Bakken and r for Bakker; since n comes before r, Bakken comes before Bakker. Bakshi starts with s, which is after k and e, so it sits after the others. Putting it together, the filing order is: A. Karl Baker, Chris Bakken, Nancy Bakker, Sanjay Bakshi.

Sorting by surname in alphabetic order is the idea being tested. When last names share a common beginning, you compare the letters that come after that shared prefix until you find a difference.

Here all surnames start with Bak. After that prefix, the fourth letter sequence is Baker (e), Bakker (k), Bakken (k), and Bakshi (s). Since e comes before k and s, Baker comes first, so A. Karl Baker is filed first. Between the ones with Bakker and Bakken, the next differing letter after the common Bakke is n for Bakken and r for Bakker; since n comes before r, Bakken comes before Bakker. Bakshi starts with s, which is after k and e, so it sits after the others.

Putting it together, the filing order is: A. Karl Baker, Chris Bakken, Nancy Bakker, Sanjay Bakshi.