The following sentences P, Q, R and S form a jumbled paragraph about oil wealth and the Soviet and Russian governments. Out of the four options, select the most logical order to form a coherent paragraph.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests paragraph jumbling or sentence arrangement, an important skill for reading comprehension and writing. The sentences describe how the oil industry and government policies changed from the Soviet era to modern Russia, and how ordinary citizens have or have not benefited from oil wealth. The task is to arrange P, Q, R and S in a logical order so that they read as a connected paragraph with proper flow of ideas and contrasts.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• P: While the Soviet Government bought grain and other foreign consumer goods to be sold in domestic markets at heavily subsidized rates, Russia rejected socialism.
• Q: The oil industry was the prime target of a sweeping privatization drive launched after the break-up of the Soviet Union.
• R: The Russian government has failed to do for its people even a fraction of what the Soviet Union, with twice the population, did with the revenue generated from oil.
• S: However, not all Russian have been rolling in oil wealth.
• We must choose the order that creates a clear, coherent argument.

Concept / Approach:
In jumbled paragraph questions, we look for a logical starting point, connectors like “however” and “while”, and cause effect links. Here, Q introduces a factual starting point after the breakup of the Soviet Union: the oil industry was privatised. S begins with “However”, which usually contrasts with an idea of general prosperity that may be expected from oil wealth. R explains that the government has failed to use oil revenue for people in the way the Soviet system did. P then contrasts Soviet policies with modern Russia, using “While” to set up the comparison. The sequence Q S R P therefore moves from the event of privatisation, to an expectation or belief about wealth, then to a critique of the present government, and finally to a reminder of how the Soviet government used oil income differently.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
If we read the sequence QSRP as a paragraph, it runs as follows: first, oil was privatised after the Soviet collapse (Q). Second, despite that, not all Russians are bathing in oil wealth (S). Third, the government has failed to use oil revenue for people in the way the Soviet system did (R). Fourth, the writer explains that the Soviet Government used oil revenue to buy grain and goods for citizens at subsidised rates, whereas modern Russia has rejected socialism (P). This sequence gives a smooth and coherent flow. Other options break this logic. For example, PRQS starts with a “While” sentence comparing Soviet and Russia without first establishing the context of oil privatisation, and QSRP clearly reads more naturally as a cause effect narrative.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B (PRQS): Starts with P, which uses “While” and clearly expects some prior context. It also places S and Q at the end in an order that disrupts the contrast and historical flow.
• Option C (RQSP): Starts with a criticism (R) without first mentioning the key event of privatisation. The jump from R to Q does not use any linking word, making the paragraph feel disjointed.
• Option D (RSPQ): Begins with R, then S, and only later introduces Q and P, which reverses the natural historical order and weakens the logical structure.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes rely only on chronology or only on connectors like “however” or “while” without reading for overall argument. Another pitfall is to treat each sentence in isolation, forgetting that the paragraph as a whole must move from introduction to explanation and then to contrast. A good strategy is to identify a clear topic sentence, then group sentences by function (cause, effect, contrast) and place them accordingly. Checking the final paragraph aloud in your mind helps detect awkward jumps and illogical orderings.

Final Answer:
The most logical order of the sentences is Q S R P, which corresponds to option QSRP.