In the following question, the first and the last parts of the passage are numbered 1 and 6. The remaining parts P, Q, R and S are given in jumbled order. Read the passage carefully and select the correct sequence of P, Q, R and S to form a coherent paragraph: 1. I got on a colourful bus filled with all kinds of strange people. P. We arrived at a gate like the one in Salvador Dali paintings. Q. The bus rode across the dirty expanses without roads. R. At first, I was not aware that the bus roof was loaded with drugs. S. Everyone was filled with dust and often the wheels would sink into the soft soil. 6. It was a gate that neither separated nor connected anything from or to anything.

Introduction / Context:
This para jumble question presents a surreal travel experience on a bus, filled with unusual people and travelling across dusty expanses. The task is to arrange the four middle parts P, Q, R, and S so that they form a logically connected narrative between the fixed opening sentence 1 and the fixed closing sentence 6. Solving this type of question helps in understanding narrative flow, sequence of events, and cohesive links in English passages.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence 1: The traveller gets on a colourful bus with strange passengers.- P: The bus later arrives at a gate like those seen in the paintings of Salvador Dali.- Q: The bus rides across dirty expanses where there are no proper roads.- R: At first, the traveller is not aware that the roof of the bus is loaded with drugs.- S: Everyone is covered with dust and the wheels often sink into soft soil.- Sentence 6: The gate is described as a gate that neither separates nor connects anything from or to anything.

Concept / Approach:
The approach for such questions is to identify the natural progression of ideas. We look for sentences that describe early information or background, then details of the journey, and finally the destination. We also use connectors like “at first” and observe thematic blocks, for example all sentences describing the road conditions should stick together. The line about drugs is a personal reflection that is best introduced early, just after getting on the bus, whereas the description of the gate should be placed immediately before the final sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
First, sentence 1 introduces the situation: boarding a colourful bus with strange people. Immediately after this, it is natural to mention an important fact that the traveller did not know at that time. R expresses this: at first, the traveller was not aware that the bus roof was loaded with drugs. So R logically follows 1.Next, after setting up the basic situation and hidden danger, the narrative moves to the description of the journey itself. Q describes the bus riding over dirty expanses without roads, which is a general picture of the terrain.S then expands on Q by adding details: everyone was filled with dust and the wheels often sank into soft soil. This clearly continues the description of poor road conditions, so S follows Q.Finally, after the journey across the difficult land, P describes the arrival at a strange gate similar to those in the paintings of Salvador Dali. This directly sets up sentence 6, which elaborates on the mysterious nature of this gate. Therefore, P is placed immediately before sentence 6.Putting it all together, the correct sequence is 1 – R – Q – S – P – 6, which is represented by RQSP.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify this, consider whether any other combination leads to a natural story. If we start the middle sequence with Q, there is no explanation of when the traveller discovered the drugs or why that detail is relevant. Placing P too early would introduce the gate before the journey across the dirty land, breaking the chronological flow. Likewise, separating Q and S makes little sense because both describe the same aspect of dusty travel. Only RQSP keeps the discovery of the drug load as an early surprise, keeps the travel description together, and places the arrival at the gate just before the final comment in sentence 6.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option QRSP separates the explanation about drugs from the initial boarding and makes the arrival at the gate occur before a full description of the journey.Option SPQR begins with the dusty conditions without any transition from boarding the bus and places the drug revelation too late in the story.Option RSPQ breaks the close link between Q and S and puts P in the wrong position relative to the final sentence 6.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often neglect the significance of time markers such as “at first” and fail to see how some sentences form natural clusters, like the pair Q and S. Another common error is to be influenced by striking imagery like the Salvador Dali style gate and to place it too early, before the journey has been described. Remember that coherent narratives usually move from setting and hidden facts, to experiences during the journey, and then to the arrival at a destination.

Final Answer:
The only arrangement that gives a smooth, logical narrative is RQSP, so the correct answer is RQSP.