Question

The first and the sixth sentences of the passage are given in the beginning as SI and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. These are labelled P, Q. R and S. Choose the correct order of the sentences.
SI : American idealism is essentially a belief in the idea of progress.
S6: This sense they have inherited from the English.
P : Therefore, he believes that, because of human effort, the future will be better than the past.
Q: But if Americans are usually optimistic, they are not wholly unrealistic.
R : The American tends to view history as a record of human achievement.
S : They have some common sense practicality.

• A. P Q R S
• B. P Q S R
• C. R P Q S
• D. P R Q S

Answer 1

The correct option is C R P Q S

The first statement in the sequence should be the one that best connects with S1. It must be a continuation or extension of S1.

R is first in the sequence: S1 starts by saying that American idealism is essentially a belief in the idea of progress. R further adds that the American tends to view history as a record of human achievement.

R is followed by P: P infers from S1 and R. It says that as a result, the American believes that , because of human effort, the future will be better than the past.

P is followed by Q: Q adds a condition to the topic. It says that even though Americans are usually optimistic, they are not wholly unrealistic.

Q is followed by S: S adds to Q that the Americans still have a sense of practicality.

Thus, the correct sequence is R P Q S. Hence, C is the correct option.