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 word pronounced by the eccentric veteran seemed to have a magical effect on the rest of the company present.
A. Probably they had expected to profit by my intoxication; but finding that my new friend was benevolently bent on preventing me from getting dead drunk, had now abandoned all hope of thriving pleasantly on my winnings.
B. When the old soldier returned and sat down again opposite to me at the table, we had the room to ourselves.
C. Whatever their motive might be, at any rate they went away in a body.
D. With one accord they all rose to depart.
S2. I could see the croupier, in a sort of vestibule which opened out of it, eating his supper in solitude.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Here is the step-by-step breakdown of the paragraph's structure:
1. The Starting Point (S1)
S1: "The word pronounced by the eccentric veteran seemed to have a magical effect on the rest of the company present."
Context: A specific word or statement is made, causing an immediate reaction in a group of people.
2. The Immediate Reaction (D & C)
D: "With one accord they all rose to depart."
Link: "They" refers to "the rest of the company" mentioned in S1. This is the direct result of the "magical effect."
C: "Whatever their motive might be, at any rate they went away in a body."
Link: This follows the action of rising to depart (D) by describing their actual exit.
3. Explaining the Motive (A)
A: "Probably they had expected to profit by my intoxication; but finding that my new friend was benevolently bent on preventing me from getting dead drunk, had now abandoned all hope of thriving pleasantly on my winnings."
Link: This sentence provides a reflective "why" for the sudden departure mentioned in C. It introduces the "new friend" (the veteran).
4. The Transition to the Ending (B & S2)
B: "When the old soldier returned and sat down again opposite to me at the table, we had the room to ourselves."
Link: This shows the aftermath of everyone else leaving. The "old soldier" is the "eccentric veteran" from S1.
S2: "I could see the croupier, in a sort of vestibule which opened out of it, eating his supper in solitude."
Link: This completes the picture of the now-quiet room, focusing on the only other person nearby (the croupier) while the narrator and the soldier are alone.