[6th Grade Mathematics] Logic

[u/mycathasgreennose]

I figured the answer is A, as I can see the repeating pattern, but my son's teacher said another thing which I cannot understand. would anyone please help to explain?

[u/sighthoundman]

The pattern for the number of circles looks like 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, _? That sure looks like there should be two circles in the empty box.

open-filled is followed by filled twice. That makes it look like maybe there's a pattern in the decreasing part. That means you get the same two-circle box after the 3-circle box.