Given below are six sentences taken from a paragraph. The first and the last sentences are numbered S1 and S2 and are placed in the first and last positions respectively and are fixed in their positions. The other four sentences between the first and last sentences are jumbled up and are numbered A, B, C, and D. Rearrange the jumbled sentences in a logical sequence keeping the unity and coherence of the paragraph intact. Choose the correct alternative that best describes the sequence.
S1. Their journey now took them through bare brick ways like tunnels; streets with few lights and even with few windows; streets that seemed built out of the blank backs of everything and everywhere.
A. Abruptly one bulging gaslit window broke the blue twilight like a bull's-eye lantern; and Valentin stopped an instant before a little garish sweet stuff shop.
B. After an instant's hesitation he went in; he stood amid the gaudy colours of the confectionery with entire gravity and bought thirteen chocolate cigars with a certain care.
C. Dusk was deepening, and it was not easy even for the London policemen to guess in what exact direction they were treading.
D. The inspector, however, was certain that they would eventually strike some part of Hampstead Heath.
S2. He was clearly preparing an opening; but he did not need one.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
CDAB
Explanation
This paragraph is an excerpt from G.K. Chesterton's classic Father Brown short story, "The Blue Cross." The sequence progresses systematically from describing the darkening environment to highlighting individual character movements.
S1 sets the atmospheric scene, describing dark, tunnel-like streets with few lights.
C builds directly on this lack of light, noting that "dusk was deepening" and it was hard to guess the direction.
D introduces the inspector's internal reassurance about their geographical path despite the darkness described in C, noting they would eventually strike Hampstead Heath.
A shifts the narrative focus from the dark streets to a sudden, specific flash of light: "Abruptly one bulging gaslit window broke the blue twilight." This is where Valentin stops outside a sweet shop.
B immediately follows up on Valentin's action in A. It notes that "after an instant's hesitation he went in" to purchase chocolate cigars inside that very sweet shop.
S2 finishes the observation of Valentin's peculiar shopping action, noting that "he was clearly preparing an opening."
This creates an orderly narrative progression: Environment (S1) Atmospheric conditions (C) Inspector's geographical tracking (D) Visual disruption of light outside a shop (A) Character entering that specific shop (B) Structural conclusion of the behavior (S2).
Key Points
When rearranging historical literary prose, trace the sensory progression of the writing. The description naturally flows from a macro-level view of the entire dark city landscape down to a micro-level view of a single bright shop window, followed closely by the actions taking place inside that room.