The sentence below is split into three labelled parts X, Y, and Z. Choose the option that arranges these parts to form the most logical and grammatically correct sentence: "The burning sun ..." X: our very Y: seemed to be sucking Z: blood out of us.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests the ability to arrange jumbled sentence parts into a coherent, grammatically correct sentence. Such questions require understanding of sentence structure, natural word order, and logical flow of ideas. The main clause here begins with “The burning sun”, and three parts labeled X, Y, and Z must be placed in the correct order to complete the sentence meaningfully.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Main clause fragment: “The burning sun ...” - X: “our very” - Y: “seemed to be sucking” - Z: “blood out of us” - We assume standard English word order: subject, verb phrase, then object or complement.

Concept / Approach:
To solve jumbled sentence questions, identify the subject, verb, and object components, then arrange them according to natural English syntax. Here, “The burning sun” functions as the subject. The verb phrase describing its action is best captured by “seemed to be sucking”. The object of this action is “our very blood out of us”, where “our very” modifies the noun “blood”. The phrase should therefore read smoothly as “The burning sun seemed to be sucking our very blood out of us.” The correct order of X, Y, and Z must produce this natural sequence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise the subject: “The burning sun”. It should be followed by a verb or verb phrase. Step 2: Among X, Y, and Z, the only part that can directly follow the subject as a verb phrase is Y: “seemed to be sucking”. So, the sentence should move from subject to Y. Step 3: After stating the action, the sentence needs an object that shows what is being sucked. The noun “blood” appears in Z: “blood out of us”. So Z should come after the verb phrase. Step 4: The phrase “our very” in X is a determiner phrase that qualifies “blood”. In natural English, “our very” must come immediately before “blood”. So X and Z must appear together as “our very blood out of us”. Step 5: Combine this information: the correct sequence is Y (verb phrase), then X (modifier), then Z (noun phrase continuation). That gives “seemed to be sucking our very blood out of us”. Step 6: Insert this sequence after the subject to get the full sentence: “The burning sun seemed to be sucking our very blood out of us.” Step 7: The pattern of labels is therefore Y X Z, which corresponds to option “YXZ”.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check alternative sequences briefly. XZY would create “The burning sun our very blood out of us seemed to be sucking”, which breaks the usual subject-verb order. XYZ results in “The burning sun our very seemed to be sucking blood out of us”, where “our very” has no noun immediately after it. ZYX gives “The burning sun blood out of us seemed to be sucking our very”, which is clearly disordered. YZX becomes “The burning sun seemed to be sucking blood out of us our very”, which again separates “our very” from “blood”. Only YXZ yields a smooth and grammatically correct sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
XZY: Places the modifier and noun phrase awkwardly before the verb, disrupting normal word order. XYZ: Leaves “our very” dangling without a noun immediately following it. ZYX: Begins the predicate with the noun “blood” after the subject, which is not a natural continuation. YZX: Splits “our very” away from “blood”, making the phrase grammatically incomplete.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners focus only on memorising common patterns like subject-verb-object without checking exactly where modifiers should be placed. Phrases such as “our very” must stand directly before the noun they modify. Another frequent mistake is to ignore whether the sentence sounds natural when read aloud. Reading the reconstructed sentence slowly and checking for smoothness is a powerful way to avoid errors in such questions.

Final Answer:
The most logical and grammatically correct order of the parts is YXZ, giving the sentence “The burning sun seemed to be sucking our very blood out of us.”