Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: YZX
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Sentence arrangement questions test your ability to understand logical flow, syntax, and meaning in English. In this item, you are given an introductory clause and three labelled fragments X, Y, and Z. Your task is to select the order in which these fragments should appear to complete a clear and grammatically correct sentence. The sentence talks about a relation that is denied to be causal but is still described as uniform and dependable. To answer correctly, you must pay attention to how infinitive phrases, subordinate clauses, and main clauses fit together in a natural English structure.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The concept here is recognising how phrases function. Fragment Y begins with the infinitive marker to, so it naturally follows a verb like mean, forming mean to indicate. Fragment Z completes the object clause by giving the rest of the statement about the relation, so it should follow immediately after Y. Fragment X is an adverbial clause starting with when, which explains the circumstances under which he denies causality, and such clauses usually occur at the end or at the beginning of a sentence. In this context, it flows most naturally at the end, after the main idea about the relation has been fully stated. Therefore, the logical order is Y Z X, which produces a smooth and meaningful sentence.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, check the sentence produced by the order Y Z X. It reads He does not mean to indicate that the relation is any the less uniform or dependable when he denies that it is causal. This sentence preserves logical sense, because it states that even though he denies that the relation is causal, he still considers the relation to be uniform and dependable. Now test other orders. For example, X Y Z would give He does not mean when he denies that it is causal to indicate that the relation is any the less uniform or dependable, which is awkward because mean usually takes an infinitive phrase directly, not when. Similarly, Y X Z interrupts the logical flow by placing a when clause between the infinitive phrase and its completion. Hence the only smooth and meaningful order is YZX, confirming our answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option YXZ places the clause when he denies that it is causal between to indicate that the relation and is any the less uniform or dependable, which breaks the continuity of the main idea and leads to confusion. Option XZY begins with when he denies that it is causal, which cannot directly follow He does not mean without sounding incomplete and syntactically odd. Option XYZ produces He does not mean when he denies that it is causal is any the less uniform or dependable to indicate that the relation, which is grammatically unsound and confusing. ZXY similarly scrambles the necessary to indicate structure and produces an ungrammatical order of fragments. None of these alternatives create the smooth sentence that YZX produces.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake in such questions is focusing only on meaning while neglecting grammatical connectors like to and when. Many candidates also try to force the when clause at the beginning simply because it seems like a background condition, without checking whether the verb that precedes it allows that structure. Another pitfall is ignoring the fact that mean generally takes an infinitive phrase, for example mean to say or mean to suggest, so the fragment beginning with to is very likely to follow the verb directly. To avoid these issues, always check for connectors, verb patterns, and how clauses are normally ordered in English before committing to an option.
Final Answer:
The most logical and grammatically correct order of the labelled fragments is YZX.
Discussion & Comments