Question

The following six sentences come from a paragraph. The first and the last sentences are given. Choose the order in which the four sentences (PQRS) should appear to complete the paragraph.

S1: Newton was perhaps the greatest scientist that ever lived.
S6: Newton went home and worked quietly by himself for about 18 months.
P: But when he was only 22, a terrible plague epidemic swept over England.
Q: He was the son of a Lincolnshire farmer, and was born in 1642.
R: Therefore the universities were closed.
S: He went to Cambridge to study mathematics when he was 19.

The proper sequence should be:

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

Answer 1

The correct option is D Q-S-P-R

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

Q is first in the sequence: S1 starts by talking about Newton and says that he was perhaps the greatest scientist that ever lived. Q further gives details about Newton. It says that Newton was the son of a Lincolnshire farmer and was born in 1642.

Q is followed by S: S continues this point by saying that when he was 19, he went to Cambridge to study mathematics.

S is followed by P: P takes the discussion in a different direction. It says that when he was 22, a terrible plague epidemic swept over England.

P is followed by R: R continues P's point. It says that due to the plague the universities were closed. S6 adds to R. It says that as the universities were closed, Newton went home and worked quietly by himself for about 18 months.

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