A series of high Himalayan peaks is given with one term missing. Choose the correct alternative from the options that will complete the series. Nanga Parbat, Kanchenjunga, Mount Godwin Austen, ?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the general knowledge and logical sequence category. It lists famous high peaks of the Himalayas and nearby ranges. To determine the missing term, we need to recall the relative heights and significance of these mountains. The series places three very high peaks in an increasing order of prominence and elevation, and we must identify which famous peak naturally follows them in such a sequence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Given series: Nanga Parbat, Kanchenjunga, Mount Godwin Austen, ?
• Nanga Parbat is one of the higher peaks of the Himalayas but is lower than Kanchenjunga and Mount Godwin Austen.
• Kanchenjunga is among the highest peaks of the world.
• Mount Godwin Austen is the alternative name for K2, the second highest peak in the world.
• We assume that the series progresses towards the highest peak.

Concept / Approach:
The logic here is based on the ranking of peaks by height. Nanga Parbat is extremely high, but not in the top three globally. Kanchenjunga, however, is the third highest mountain. Mount Godwin Austen (K2) is the second highest mountain. After listing the third highest and then the second highest mountain, it is natural to expect the sequence to culminate with the highest mountain in the world. The highest mountain on Earth above sea level is Mount Everest, so this must be the missing entry if the pattern is height based progression.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Nanga Parbat, Kanchenjunga, and Mount Godwin Austen are all very high peaks in the Himalayan and Karakoram region. Step 2: Recall that Kanchenjunga is ranked as the third highest mountain in the world after K2 and Everest. Step 3: Recognise that Mount Godwin Austen is another name for K2, which is the second highest peak in the world. Step 4: Since the series already includes the third highest (Kanchenjunga) and second highest (K2), the logical next term is the highest peak in the world, which is Mount Everest.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a verification, review the typical listing of the three highest peaks: Mount Everest (highest), K2 or Mount Godwin Austen (second highest), and Kanchenjunga (third highest). The question reverses the last two positions slightly by listing Nanga Parbat first, then Kanchenjunga, then K2. Even so, after K2 the next natural name in any discussion of the tallest peaks is Everest. None of the other options such as Nanda Devi, Dunagiri, or Aravalli Range match this global maximum height pattern, which confirms that Mount Everest is the correct completion of the series.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nanda Devi and Dunagiri are important Indian peaks but they are much lower than Kanchenjunga and K2 and do not follow in any standard world ranking right after K2. The Aravalli Range is not even a single high Himalayan peak; it is an ancient low hill range in western India, so it clearly does not fit the pattern of the highest mountains. Kailash is a sacred peak, but again not the highest or next in any height based ranking after K2. Hence, these names do not maintain the logical progression towards the world's highest peak.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to select a mountain that is familiar from national context, such as Nanda Devi, without considering the global ranking by height. Another pitfall is not recognising that Mount Godwin Austen is K2 and that K2 is the second highest mountain. Without that knowledge, the pattern may appear random. Remembering the top three peaks and their order is a useful shortcut for many competitive exams.

Final Answer:
After Nanga Parbat, Kanchenjunga, and Mount Godwin Austen, the logical next high peak in the sequence is Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.