Geological size hierarchy — arrange from smallest to largest using the given terms: a) ROCK, b) HILL, c) MOUNTAIN, d) RANGE, e) STONE.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks if you can order geographic/geological terms by increasing scale. We begin with a very small natural piece, progress through landforms, and end with the largest aggregated feature. The task is conceptual, not topographic measurement—choose the intuitive, educational hierarchy taught in general knowledge contexts.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Terms: STONE (e), ROCK (a), HILL (b), MOUNTAIN (c), RANGE (d).
• “Range” denotes a chain or group of mountains.

Concept / Approach:
Scale increases as follows: a stone is a small fragment; rock is larger/more general than a single stone; a hill is a small elevated landform; a mountain is a large elevated landform; a range aggregates mountains into the largest structure among the given tokens. Therefore the size order is Stone → Rock → Hill → Mountain → Range.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) STONE (e) — smallest piece.2) ROCK (a) — larger unit of material.3) HILL (b) — small landform.4) MOUNTAIN (c) — larger landform.5) RANGE (d) — collection of mountains.Hence: e, a, b, c, d.

Verification / Alternative check:
Ask whether any later item could be composed of earlier ones: mountains are made of rock, and ranges are groups of mountains; this supports the increasing hierarchy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Sequences starting with rock or landforms before stone ignore the smallest unit.
• Placing range before mountain or hill breaks aggregation logic.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “rock” (material) with “mountain” (landform). Size/order here is conceptual, not a strict physical dimension comparison.

Final Answer:
e, a, b, c, d