Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question that follows.

Eight professionals—P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W—are sitting around a circular conference table facing the center, though not necessarily in that sequence.
No two individuals whose alphabetical names are consecutive (e.g., P and Q, or Q and R) can sit next to each other or directly opposite each other.
Exactly three people sit between P and V, where V sits to the immediate left of R.
Two individuals sit between Q and U, and U is not seated next to P.
T sits to the immediate right of S.
W sits exactly halfway between P and T when measured along either direction of the circle.

What is the position of R relative to S?

The correct option is 3rd to the left.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

Let us analyze the given information step-by-step to arrange the eight professionals (P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W) around a circular conference table facing the center.
When eight people sit around a circle facing the center:
• Moving Clockwise corresponds to moving to a person's Left.
• Moving Counter-clockwise corresponds to moving to a person's Right.
• Opposite positions on an 8-seater table are separated by 4 positions (i.e., exactly 3 people sit between them in either direction).

Step 1: Position P and V
The problem states that exactly three people sit between P and V. This means P and V sit directly opposite each other.
Let us assign seat numbers 1 to 8 in a clockwise direction.
• Place P at Seat 1.
• Place V at Seat 5 (directly opposite P).

Step 2: Position R
V sits to the immediate left of R.
Since moving counter-clockwise along the circle places V to the left of R facing center:
• Place R at Seat 6 (so V at Seat 5 is to the immediate left of R at Seat 6).

Step 3: Position S and T
T sits to the immediate right of S.
Moving counter-clockwise represents moving to the right of a person sitting facing the center.
• Place S at Seat 3.
• Place T at Seat 2 (which is to the immediate right of S at Seat 3).

Step 4: Position Q, U, and W
• Two individuals sit between Q and U, and U is not seated next to P (so U cannot be at Seat 8 or Seat 2).
• Placing U at Seat 7 satisfies the condition that U is not adjacent to P.
• Placing Q at Seat 4 leaves exactly two people (V at 5 and R at 6) between Q and U.
• The remaining empty seat, Seat 8, is occupied by W.

Step 5: Final Seating Arrangement (Clockwise from Seat 1 to 8):
• Seat 1: P
• Seat 2: T
• Seat 3: S
• Seat 4: Q
• Seat 5: V
• Seat 6: R
• Seat 7: U
• Seat 8: W

Step 6: Determine the Position of R relative to S
S is located at Seat 3 facing the center.
To move from S (Seat 3) to R (Seat 6) in the clockwise direction (to the left of S):
1st to the left of S = Seat 4 (Q)
2nd to the left of S = Seat 5 (V)
3rd to the left of S = Seat 6 (R)

We can also express the seat difference mathematically:
$\text{Position difference}=6-3=3$
Moving 3 positions clockwise from S brings us directly to R.

Hence, R is positioned 3rd to the left of S.