Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: 4,3,5,1,2
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Alphabetical or dictionary order questions test your ability to compare words based on standard lexicographic rules. You must look at each letter from left to right and decide which words come first, just as they would appear in an English dictionary. This particular question involves several words that share a common prefix, making it important to compare letters beyond the first few positions.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The words to be ordered are: Fraudulent, Fraught, Fraternity, Franchise and Frantic.
- The words are labeled as 1. Fraudulent, 2. Fraught, 3. Fraternity, 4. Franchise and 5. Frantic.
- We must arrange these words in standard English dictionary order and then match the correct sequence of labels.
Concept / Approach:
Dictionary order compares words character by character from left to right. When letters are equal up to a certain point, the first position where they differ determines the order. All words here begin with the same three letters F, R and A, so we must examine further letters carefully. Comparing the fourth and subsequent letters will reveal the ordering.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the words with their positions: 1. Fraudulent, 2. Fraught, 3. Fraternity, 4. Franchise, 5. Frantic.
Step 2: Note that the first three letters FR A are the same in all words.
Step 3: Compare the fourth letters: Franchise has N, Fraternity has T, Frantic has N, Fraudulent has U, Fraught has U.
Step 4: Since N comes before T and U in the alphabet, words with N as the fourth letter will come before those with T or U.
Step 5: Among the words with N as the fourth letter (Franchise and Frantic), compare the next letters. Franchise begins FRAN C and Frantic begins FRAN T. The letter C comes before T, so Franchise comes before Frantic.
Step 6: The next word after the N group is Fraternity, because T (in FRAT) comes before U (in FRAU).
Step 7: Now compare Fraudulent and Fraught, both starting with FRAU. After FRAU, Fraudulent has D and Fraught has G. The letter D comes before G, so Fraudulent comes before Fraught.
Step 8: Thus, the full dictionary order is: Franchise, Fraternity, Frantic, Fraudulent, Fraught, which corresponds to labels 4, 3, 5, 1, 2.
Verification / Alternative Check:
You can verify the order by imagining how these words would appear in an actual dictionary or by using an alphabetical list on a computer. They will indeed be arranged as Franchise, Fraternity, Frantic, Fraudulent and then Fraught.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options A, B and D propose different sequences that either misorder words with the same prefix (for example, placing Fraught before Fraudulent) or misplace Fraternity relative to the N group words (Franchise and Frantic). Any deviation from the careful letter by letter comparison results in an incorrect dictionary order.
Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to stop comparing too early, for example using only the first four letters and ignoring later differences, or to arrange words by perceived meaning rather than strict alphabetical rules. When several words share a long common prefix, always continue comparing until you hit the first differing letter.
Final Answer:
The correct dictionary order is 4,3,5,1,2, which corresponds to Franchise, Fraternity, Frantic, Fraudulent and Fraught.
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