In the following question, a statement is divided into segments. The first segment is fixed. Rearrange the remaining segments P, Q, R and S to form a coherent statement. Fixed segment: As the files were being arranged P: been lost for several decades now Q: which were believed to have R: into a stack, the butler came S: across information about several of the family heirlooms

Introduction / Context:
This rearrangement question presents a narrative style sentence about a butler, some files and family heirlooms. The first segment is fixed, and the remaining segments P, Q, R and S must be put into the correct order so that the sentence is logical and grammatically correct.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Fixed segment: "As the files were being arranged".
• P: "been lost for several decades now".
• Q: "which were believed to have".
• R: "into a stack, the butler came".
• S: "across information about several of the family heirlooms".
• We assume standard story telling word order.

Concept / Approach:
The sentence begins with a time clause "As the files were being arranged". We next need to specify how they were being arranged and who made a discovery. Segment R logically follows, because it gives the continuation "into a stack, the butler came", completing the clause and introducing the subject "the butler". The next step is to state what the butler came across. S provides that object: "across information about several of the family heirlooms". Finally, Q and P together form a relative clause describing those heirlooms: "which were believed to have been lost for several decades now". In that clause, Q must come before P to keep the verb phrase intact.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Attach R after the fixed part: "As the files were being arranged into a stack, the butler came". This is grammatically complete and flows naturally.Step 2: Indicate what the butler came across. S, "across information about several of the family heirlooms", clearly continues the verb "came across".Step 3: Now add a relative clause that describes those heirlooms. Q, "which were believed to have", introduces such a clause.Step 4: Complete that clause with P, "been lost for several decades now", forming "which were believed to have been lost for several decades now".Step 5: The complete sentence becomes: "As the files were being arranged into a stack, the butler came across information about several of the family heirlooms which were believed to have been lost for several decades now." The order of segments after the fixed part is R S Q P, which corresponds to option A, RSQP.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check other options quickly. PQRS would produce a fragment "been lost for several decades now which were believed to have into a stack, the butler came across information", which is clearly incorrect. SRQP would begin with "across information" directly after the fixed segment without a verb, and QSRP would misorder the parts of the relative clause. Only RSQP yields a smooth, grammatically correct sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Any order that does not place R immediately after the fixed clause fails to complete the initial time clause logically. Orders that split Q and P or put P before Q break the structure of the verb phrase "were believed to have been lost", making the sentence ungrammatical.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes try to treat each segment as independent and forget that certain parts must stay together, such as "have been lost" in English verb phrases. A practical strategy is to identify mandatory pairs like auxiliary plus past participle and relative pronoun plus verb, then ensure they remain in the correct internal order while you experiment with different overall arrangements.

Final Answer:
The correct order of the segments after the fixed beginning is R S Q P, so option A is correct.