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. The sailor took home his gold, made his ship ready, and then, taking leave of his wife and sons, he went down to the shore, where he found the old man waiting for him with a slave and twenty ass-loads of empty sacks, Abu'l Fawaris greeted him, and together they loaded the ship and set sail.
A. For this the old man steered, and they soon landed upon it.
B. This they reached after some hours of travel and climbed to the summit, upon which they found a broad plain where more than two hundred pits had been dug.
C. Having loaded his slave with some sacks, the old man with his companions set out towards a mountain which they could see in the distance.
D. Taking a particular star for their mark, they sailed for three months, when an island appeared to one side of them.
S2. The old man then explained to the sailor that he was a merchant and that he had, on that spot, found a mine of jewels.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Logical sequence of sentences:
1. Identify the Starting Point (S1)
S1: The sailor (Abu'l Fawaris) and the old man load the ship and set sail.
2. Connect the Actions (D & A)
D follows S1: Since they have just set sail, sentence D ("...they sailed for three months...") logically comes next. It describes their journey at sea and the sighting of an island.
A follows D: Sentence A mentions that the old man "steered" for "this" (referring to the island mentioned in D) and they landed upon it.
3. Move from the Shore to the Interior (C & B)
C follows A: Now that they have landed, sentence C describes the next step: they load sacks and set out towards a mountain they can see in the distance.
B follows C: Sentence B describes their arrival at "this" (the mountain/summit) after some travel and finding the pits there.
4. Conclusion (S2)
S2: Finally, once they are at the pits on the mountain, the old man explains that the spot is a mine of jewels.