Explanation:

Let’s walk through this puzzle step by step:

What you know about the pyramid:

- 4 levels: 4 people at the bottom, then 3, then 2, then 1 at the top.

- Children can’t be on the first (bottom) level or be in positions supporting two acrobats.

- Each person, except for those on the bottom, stands on the shoulders of two adjacent people below.

- If someone falls, everyone stacked above them (directly or indirectly) falls too.

Given:

- V and W (children) stand on O’s shoulders.

- M, N, P are all on the same level, with M between N and P.

- Question: Which statement must be true?

Now, break down the options:

1. If M falls, all five of the child acrobats must fall.

- This is too strong. M can’t possibly be supporting all five kids. Not possible.

2. If N falls, exactly four of the five child acrobats must fall.

- Also too strong. N can’t be supporting (directly or indirectly) exactly four kids by the rules.

3. If O falls, exactly two of the child acrobats must fall.

- This makes sense: V and W are standing on O, so if O goes down, both V and W fall—no more, no less.

4. If Q falls, exactly three of the child acrobats must fall.

- Q isn’t positioned to necessarily take down three children.

Bottom line:

- Option 3 is the one that *must* be true.

- The others overreach; only O directly supports V and W, both children, so if O comes down, those two do and that’s it.

Your answer: Option 4

Key breakdown:

- Children can’t support more than one acrobat, so they’re likely higher up.

- M falling won’t take down all the children.

- N falling can’t guarantee exactly four kids down.

- O falling takes V and W with him—nothing more, nothing less.

- Q falling doesn’t guarantee exactly three kids falling.

So, green check on Option 3.