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 two went to their business.
A. He seated himself at the matchmaker's side but facing him, attempting by an act of will to suppress the unpleasant tickle in his throat.
B. As he flipped through them, a gesture and sound that physically hurt Leo, the student pretended not to see and gazed steadfastly
out the window.
C. Salzman eagerly unstrapped his portfolio and removed a loose rubber band from a thin packet of much-handled cards.
D. Leo had led Salzman to the only clear place in the room, a table near a window that overlooked the lamp-lit city.
S2. Although it was still February, winter was on its last legs, signs of which he had for the first time in years begun to notice.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Logical sequence of sentences:
S1 (Fixed): 'The two went to their business.' (This sets the scene for an interaction between two people).
Sentence D: 'Leo had led Salzman to the only clear place in the room...' (This logically follows S1 by establishing the specific location where their 'business' will take place).
Sentence A: 'He seated himself at the matchmaker's side but facing him...' (Now that they are at the table mentioned in D, they sit down to begin).
Sentence C: 'Salzman eagerly unstrapped his portfolio and removed a loose rubber band from a thin packet of much-handled cards.' (Once seated, the matchmaker prepares his tools/cards).
Sentence B: 'As he flipped through them... the student pretended not to see and gazed steadfastly out the window.' (This describes the action of looking through the cards mentioned in C and links back to the window mentioned in D).
S2 (Fixed): 'Although it was still February, winter was on its last legs...' (This concludes the paragraph by describing what the student sees while looking out that window).
The correct sequence is DACB.