Select the number from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.
4, 27, 16, 125, ?, 343

Let's analyze the terms of the series:
1
st
 term=4=2
2


2
nd
 term=27=3
3


3
rd
 term=16=4
2


4
th
 term=125=5
3


5
th
 term=?=6
2


6
th
 term=343=7
3


The series alternates between the squares and cubes of consecutive natural numbers starting from 2.
Therefore, the missing term is 6
2
=36.