Refer to the following letter, number and symbol series and answer the question that follows.

(Left) H @ $ V 1 B 2 C N E T U 8 6 % # L C N Q A (Right)

If all the letters are dropped from the series, which of the following will be fifth from the left?

The correct option is 8.

To find the fifth element from the left after dropping all the letters, let's analyze the given series step-by-step.

The original series from left to right is:
H @ $ V 1 B 2 C N E T U 8 6 % # L C N Q A

Now, let's identify and remove all the letters (H, V, B, C, N, E, T, U, L, C, N, Q, A) from this series.

List of elements in order, indicating which ones are kept or dropped:
1st element: H (Letter) - Dropped
2nd element: @ (Symbol) - Kept (1st remaining)
3rd element: $ (Symbol) - Kept (2nd remaining)
4th element: V (Letter) - Dropped
5th element: 1 (Number) - Kept (3rd remaining)
6th element: B (Letter) - Dropped
7th element: 2 (Number) - Kept (4th remaining)
8th element: C (Letter) - Dropped
9th element: N (Letter) - Dropped
10th element: E (Letter) - Dropped
11th element: T (Letter) - Dropped
12th element: U (Letter) - Dropped
13th element: 8 (Number) - Kept (5th remaining)

The new series after dropping all the letters is:
@ $ 1 2 8 6 % #

Counting from the left in this new series:
1st element: @
2nd element: $
3rd element: 1
4th element: 2
5th element: 8

Therefore, the fifth element from the left is 8.