The question below consists of a set of labelled sentence fragments. Out of the four options given, select the most logical order of the labels to form a coherent sentence: "Such are the strata which we X-species as those now living in the Mediterranean Y-meet with in the south of Sicily, filled Z-with shells for the most part of the same". Which sequence of labels correctly completes this sentence?

Introduction / Context:
This question evaluates your ability to reorder labelled sentence fragments into a coherent and grammatically correct sentence. The sentence describes geological strata in Sicily filled with shells that belong to the same species as those living in the Mediterranean Sea. You must identify the correct sequence of fragments X, Y and Z to restore this meaning. Such questions appear frequently in English sections because they test both understanding of complex sentence structure and logical flow of ideas.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The skeleton sentence is: Such are the strata which we X-species as those now living in the Mediterranean Y-meet with in the south of Sicily, filled Z-with shells for the most part of the same.
• This implies three gaps where X, Y and Z must fit.
• The label fragments are:
  • X: species as those now living in the Mediterranean
  • Y: meet with in the south of Sicily, filled
  • Z: with shells for the most part of the same
• The final sentence should read naturally and describe shells in strata matching living species.

Concept / Approach:
To reconstruct the sentence, first think about the logical meaning: the speaker is describing strata that are filled with shells, and that these shells are mostly of the same species as those now living in the Mediterranean. Then you must place each fragment where it fits grammatically and semantically. The clause which we meet with in the south of Sicily, filled with shells for the most part of the same species as those now living in the Mediterranean gives a clear target structure. From this target, you can match each labelled fragment to its correct position and derive the order Y Z X.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Construct a natural sentence in your mind: Such are the strata which we meet with in the south of Sicily, filled with shells for the most part of the same species as those now living in the Mediterranean. Step 2: Identify where Y should go. The phrase meet with in the south of Sicily, filled naturally follows which we, producing which we meet with in the south of Sicily, filled. Step 3: Identify where Z should go. The phrase with shells for the most part of the same should follow filled, giving filled with shells for the most part of the same. Step 4: Identify where X should go. The phrase species as those now living in the Mediterranean should complete the idea, giving of the same species as those now living in the Mediterranean. Step 5: Substituting these in order, the labels must occur in the sequence Y, Z, X, which corresponds to option YZX.

Verification / Alternative check:
Test each option by mentally inserting the labels. Option YXZ would produce which we meet with in the south of Sicily, filled species as those now living in the Mediterranean with shells for the most part of the same, which is ungrammatical. Option XZY starts with species as those now living in the Mediterranean in the slot after which we, breaking the flow. Option XYZ also disrupts the connection between filled and with shells. Only YZX yields the correct and meaningful sentence: Such are the strata which we meet with in the south of Sicily, filled with shells for the most part of the same species as those now living in the Mediterranean.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
In option YXZ, the fragment species as those now living in the Mediterranean is placed immediately after filled, without the necessary words with shells for the most part of the same in between, which makes the sentence grammatically incomplete. In option XZY, species as those now living in the Mediterranean follows which we, causing a mismatch between subject and verb, because we species is not a valid structure. Option XYZ separates filled from with shells, which breaks the natural collocation filled with shells. These errors show that only YZX preserves both grammatical and logical flow.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes focus only on local combinations, such as filled with or species as, and lose sight of how the entire sentence must read from beginning to end. Another common mistake is to ignore commas and relative pronouns like which, which provide strong hints about clause boundaries. The best practice is to first imagine a simple version of the sentence in your own words, then position the fragments so that the final result matches that imagined structure as closely as possible. This method helps you tackle even long and complex rearrangement questions with confidence.

Final Answer:
The most logical and grammatically correct order of the fragments is YZX, which gives the sentence Such are the strata which we meet with in the south of Sicily, filled with shells for the most part of the same species as those now living in the Mediterranean.