
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
The numbers $-3, 1, 7, 8$, and $14$ are rearranged according to these modified rules:
        1. The largest isn't in the first or second positions, but it must be in one of the last three places. 
        2. The smallest isn't in the last position or the second last, but it must be in one of the first three places.
        3. The median isn't first or last.

Calculate the average of the first and last numbers after rearranging according to the above rules.
**A)** 5.0  
**B)** 5.5  
**C)** 6.0  
**D)** 6.5  
**E)** 7.0

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
user