Arrange the following words according to the order in which they would appear in an English dictionary: 1. Tortoise 2. Torrid 3. Torso 4. Torque 5. Tortuous.

Introduction / Context:
Here, five words beginning with the letters T, O, R need to be arranged in dictionary order. The learner must compare spellings carefully, since all words share the first three letters TOR. Such items reinforce precise use of alphabetical rules and discourage guesswork based on meaning alone.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Words: 1. Tortoise, 2. Torrid, 3. Torso, 4. Torque, 5. Tortuous. We apply standard English dictionary ordering. Each word starts with the letters T O R, so differences appear from the fourth letter onward. Number labels are used to express the final order.

Concept / Approach:
Lexicographic order compares words letter by letter from left to right. When the initial part is identical, we move to the first differing letter. The sequence of these letters decides which word comes first. If words share a longer prefix, later letters become crucial. In this set, after TOR we must compare letters like Q, R, S, and T, then proceed further for words sharing the same additional characters.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write each word after the common prefix TOR: Tortoise (T O R T O I S E), Torrid (T O R R I D), Torso (T O R S O), Torque (T O R Q U E), Tortuous (T O R T U O U S). Step 2: Focus on the fourth letter, since the first three T O R are identical. Torque has Q, Torrid has R, Torso has S, Tortoise and Tortuous both have T. Step 3: Order these fourth letters: Q comes before R, which comes before S, which comes before T. Hence Torque (4) must come first, then Torrid (2), then Torso (3). Step 4: Now compare Tortoise and Tortuous, both starting with TORT. After T O R T, the next different letter decides the order. Tortoise has O at the fifth letter, while Tortuous has U at the fifth letter. Step 5: Since O comes before U, Tortoise (1) comes before Tortuous (5). Step 6: Combine all results: the order is 4 (Torque), 2 (Torrid), 3 (Torso), 1 (Tortoise), 5 (Tortuous), written as 4, 2, 3, 1, 5.

Verification / Alternative check:
A shorter verification is to write the words in a column and underline the first letter that differs after TOR. Seeing Q, R, S, and T in increasing alphabetical order confirms Torque, Torrid, Torso, then the two TORT words. Another quick view of TORT words as Tortoise and Tortuous shows that the vowel pair O U in Tortuous places it later than the O in Tortoise. This confirms the sequence without redoing every comparison.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The sequence 3, 2, 4, 1, 5 incorrectly places Torso before Torque, though Q comes before S. The sequence 2, 3, 4, 5, 1 places Tortuous before Tortoise, which contradicts the O versus U comparison. The sequence 4, 3, 2, 1, 5 reverses the positions of Torrid and Torso compared to alphabetical order. The sequence 2, 4, 3, 1, 5 misorders the first three TOR words by ignoring the Q, R, S progression.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes focus on word meanings or lengths instead of exact spelling positions. Others stop comparing as soon as they see a familiar pattern like TORR or TORT and forget to check the very next letter. Mixing up the order of Q, R, S, T in the alphabet is another simple mistake. Carefully writing the words and underlining the first differing character helps avoid these errors in similar dictionary sequence questions.

Final Answer:
The correct dictionary order is 4, 2, 3, 1, 5.