Arrange the following words as per their order in an English dictionary and choose the correct code: 1. NEST 2. NECK 3. NEAT 4. NEAR.

Introduction / Context:
This dictionary sequence question contains four similar words beginning with N E. You must arrange NEAR, NECK, NEAT, and NEST in correct alphabetical order and choose the corresponding coded sequence. These items test your ability to compare letters precisely, even when the words look almost alike.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Words: 1. NEST 2. NECK 3. NEAT 4. NEAR.
• We must arrange them as they appear in a standard English dictionary.
• The answer is a sequence of their numerical labels.
• Usual alphabetical rules apply.

Concept / Approach:
All four words begin with N E, so we move beyond the common prefix:

• Compare the third letter of each word.
• If third letters are equal for some words, compare the fourth letter for those words.
• The word with the earlier letter at the first point of difference comes first.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the words with their labels: NEST (1), NECK (2), NEAT (3), NEAR (4). Step 2: The first two letters of all words are N E. Look at the third letter in each word: NEAR has A, NECK has C, NEAT has A, and NEST has S. Step 3: In alphabetical order, A comes before C, which comes before S. Therefore words with NEA come first, followed by NECK, and NEST comes last. Step 4: Among the NEA words, we have NEAR (4) and NEAT (3). Both share N E A as the first three letters. Compare their fourth letters: NEAR ends with R and NEAT ends with T. Step 5: Since R comes before T in the alphabet, NEAR (4) appears before NEAT (3). Step 6: Now we place NECK (2), whose third letter C comes after A but before S. Finally, NEST (1) with third letter S comes last. Step 7: Combining these comparisons, the full dictionary order is: NEAR (4), NEAT (3), NECK (2), NEST (1), which is written as the code 4, 3, 2, 1.

Verification / Alternative check:
Write the words out in their alphabetical order: NEAR, NEAT, NECK, NEST. Saying them aloud or scanning them visually confirms that NEA words come first, then NEC, then NES. Within NEA, R comes before T, which is exactly the sequence we obtained. This confirms that 4,3,2,1 is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 4, 2, 3, 1 incorrectly places NECK before NEAT, ignoring that A in NEAT makes it belong to the earlier NEA group. Option 4, 2, 1, 3 misorders both NEAT and NEST, violating the third letter comparison. Option 4, 2, 3, 1 repeats the same incorrect placement of NECK before NEAT. Option 2, 4, 3, 1 starts with NECK, which has third letter C, even though both NEAR and NEAT have the earlier third letter A.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may focus only on the first two letters and then guess, or they may think that NEST belongs earlier since it is a more familiar word. Another error is to overlook that NEAR and NEAT must come before NECK and NEST because of the third letter A. Carefully comparing each letter at the first point of difference avoids such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The correct dictionary sequence is NEAR, NEAT, NECK, NEST, which corresponds to the code 4, 3, 2, 1.