
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
A similar layout but with an additional row and column:

$\begin{array}{cccccccccccccc}
 & & & & & & & C & & & & & & \\
 & & & & & & C & O & C & & & & & \\
 & & & & & C & O & N & O & C & & & & \\
 & & & & C & O & N & T & N & O & C & & & \\
 & & & C & O & N & T & E & T & N & O & C & & \\
 & & C & O & N & T & E & S & E & T & N & O & C & \\
 & C & O & N & T & E & S & T & S & E & T & N & O & C \\
 C & O & N & T & E & S & T & A & S & E & T & N & O & C \\
\end{array}$

For how many paths consisting of a sequence of horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line segments, with each segment connecting a pair of adjacent letters, is the word "CONTESTA" spelled out as the path is traversed from beginning to end?
A) 4370  
B) 4371  
C) 4375  
D) 4575

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