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. On a blazing hot summer afternoon, an old man came walking down a narrow village path.
A. The shopkeeper sat inside fanning himself and shooing away the flies that were buzzing around in the stifling heat.
B. It had a tin roof and mud walls.
C. He was tired and thirsty.
D. Right by the road, he spotted a tiny grocery store.
S2. There was a little bench in front of the store where the villagers met when evening came and the land had cooled down.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
CDBA
Explanation
The correct sequence is CDBA because it presents the events in a logical and coherent order. After introducing the old man, the paragraph naturally states that he was tired and thirsty (C). As a result, he noticed a tiny grocery store by the roadside (D). The next sentence describes the appearance of the store with its tin roof and mud walls (B). Finally, the focus shifts to the shopkeeper sitting inside the store, fanning himself and driving away flies in the intense heat (A). This sequence maintains the continuity of the narrative.
The other sequences fail to establish a smooth flow of ideas. They either describe the shop or the shopkeeper before introducing the store or disrupt the natural progression of events.
Key Point
While solving paragraph rearrangement questions, first identify the sentence that logically follows the introduction. Then arrange the remaining sentences by following the sequence of events, descriptions, and references. A clear transition from the old man to the store and then to the shopkeeper ensures coherence.