Consider the following four words: (1) Assassination, (2) Association, (3) Assimilate and (4) Assimuthual. Arrange these words in the correct order as they would appear in an English dictionary and select the appropriate sequence from the options.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of dictionary (lexicographic) order. You are given four similar-looking words beginning with “Ass-” and must determine the sequence in which they would appear in a standard English dictionary.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Words:
  • (1) Assassination
  • (2) Association
  • (3) Assimilate
  • (4) Assimuthual
• All words are compared letter by letter from left to right using standard English alphabetical order.

Concept / Approach:
To arrange words in dictionary order:

• Compare letters from the beginning of each word.
• If letters match up to a certain point, move to the next letter.
• The first mismatch decides the order: the word whose letter is earlier in the alphabet comes first.

Because all these words begin with “Ass”, we need to compare from the fourth letter onwards carefully.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write each word with its first few letters clearly: 1: Assassination 2: Association 3: Assimilate 4: Assimuthual Step 2: Compare the first three letters “Ass” for each word. They are identical, so move to the fourth letter. Step 3: The fourth letters are:

• (1) Assassination
• (2) Association
• (3) Assimilate
• (4) Assimuthual

Step 4: Alphabetically, “a” comes before “i”, and “i” comes before “o”. Therefore, word (1) with “a” at the fourth position must come first. Step 5: Now compare words (3) and (4) since both have “i” as the fourth letter and “m” as the fifth (Assi m ...). We continue further. Step 6: For (3) Assimilate and (4) Assimuthual, the common prefix is “Assim”. Next letters are:

• Assimilate
• Assimuthual

Step 7: Since “i” comes before “u” in the alphabet, Assimilate (3) must come before Assimuthual (4). Step 8: Word (2) Association has “o” as the fourth letter, which comes after both “a” and “i”. Therefore, Association (2) will come after (1), (3) and (4). Step 9: Combining these comparisons, the correct dictionary order is: (1) Assassination, (3) Assimilate, (4) Assimuthual, (2) Association.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can check quickly by writing the words in their final order:

• Assassination
• Assimilate
• Assimuthual
• Association

Reading down the list, each word differs from the next first at a letter that is later in the alphabet, which confirms the correctness of the sequence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Any sequence that places Association (2) before words with the fourth letter “i” or “a” contradicts the basic alphabetical rule that “a” and “i” come before “o”. Similarly, placing Assimuthual (4) before Assimilate (3) is incorrect because at the point of difference, “i” precedes “u”.
Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is to be misled by similarity in spelling and to rely on visual appearance or length instead of strict letter-by-letter comparison. Another is to ignore the fact that comparison continues beyond the first few letters if there is a tie up to that point.

Final Answer:
The correct dictionary order is 1, 3, 4, 2.