Solve this multiple-choice question and choose the correct option.

Arrange the given English words in the order in which they would appear in a standard dictionary, and then choose the correct sequence. The words are: i. Temerity ii. Temporary iii. Tempered iv. Temperature. Identify the correct alphabetical order of these words as they would be listed in a dictionary.

Difficulty: Easy

i, iv, iii, ii
iii, ii, iv, i
i, ii, iii, iv
iv, iii, i, ii

Correct Answer: i, iv, iii, ii

Explanation:

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your ability to arrange words in the exact order in which they would appear in a dictionary. Such problems depend on careful comparison of letters in each position. The four words given are closely related in spelling, so you must proceed step by step and compare them letter by letter.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The words that need to be ordered are:

i. Temerity
ii. Temporary
iii. Tempered
iv. Temperature
We assume standard English dictionary rules, where words are ordered alphabetically from left to right.

Concept / Approach:
To place words in dictionary order, compare them character by character. The first differing letter decides which word comes first. If one word is a prefix of another, then the shorter word comes earlier. All four words begin with the letters “tem”, so the key differences appear in the following characters.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Compare the first few letters of each word: all begin with “t e m”. So far they are equal. Step 2: Look at the next letter. For “Temerity” the fourth letter is “e”, giving “t e m e”. For “Temporary”, “Tempered”, and “Temperature” the fourth letter is “p”, giving “t e m p”. Since “e” comes before “p”, “Temerity” (i) comes first in the dictionary. Step 3: Now focus on the remaining three: “Temporary”, “Tempered”, and “Temperature”, all starting with “temp”. Compare after “temp”. For “Tempered” we get “temper...”, for “Temperature” we also get “temper...”, and for “Temporary” we get “tempo...” Step 4: Between “temper...” and “tempo...”, the letter sequence “e” versus “o” after “temp” decides. Since “e” comes before “o”, both “Tempered” and “Temperature” must come before “Temporary”. Step 5: Now compare “Tempered” and “Temperature”. Up to “temper” they are the same. Then we have “Tempered” with the next letter “e” and “Temperature” with the next letter “a” (“temper e d” versus “temper a t u r e”). The letter “a” comes before “e”, so “Temperature” (iv) appears before “Tempered” (iii).

Verification / Alternative check:
Summarising the comparisons gives the order: first i. Temerity, then iv. Temperature, then iii. Tempered, and finally ii. Temporary. This matches the sequence “i, iv, iii, ii”. Cross checking each adjacent pair confirms the consistency with alphabetical rules.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B “iii, ii, iv, i” incorrectly places “Tempered” before “Temperature” and moves “Temerity” to the end. Option C “i, ii, iii, iv” wrongly places “Temporary” before “Tempered” and “Temperature”. Option D “iv, iii, i, ii” ignores that any word starting with “teme” must come before those starting with “temp”.

Common Pitfalls:
Many test takers look only at the first different group such as “temper” and “tempo” but forget to re compare words that share an even longer common prefix, like “Tempered” and “Temperature”. Another slip is ignoring that even a slight change from “e” to “p” or “a” can change the entire order.

Final Answer:
The correct dictionary order of the words is i, iv, iii, ii, so option “i, iv, iii, ii” is the right choice.

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