In this sentence arrangement question, the first and last parts are fixed; choose the option that gives the most logical order of the parts P, Q, R and S about fishes laying eggs and leaving them.

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the sentence arrangement or jumbled paragraph type, where the first and last sentences are fixed and the middle parts (labelled P, Q, R, S) must be put in the most logical order. The passage discusses the way some fishes lay eggs and then abandon them. Your task is to determine the sequence that produces a coherent and smoothly flowing paragraph from the given fragments.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence 1: Some animals like fishes lay eggs and leave them.
• Sentence 6: Is this not something terrible? Yet, it is a fact.
• P: The mother does not care for the eggs at all.
• Q: They lay thousands of eggs at a time but do not look after them.
• R: Most of the eggs die and only a few of them develop into fishes.
• S: She simply leaves the eggs and never comes back to them.
• We must choose among combinations: QPSR, PSQR, RQPS, QSPR.

Concept / Approach:
To arrange the sentences logically, we look for a natural flow of ideas: general statement to details, proper use of pronouns, cause–effect relationships and a progression that leads smoothly to the concluding remark. The first sentence introduces fishes that lay eggs and leave them. The pronoun “they” in Q naturally refers back to “some animals like fishes” in sentence 1. After describing the act of laying many eggs and not looking after them, it makes sense to focus specifically on the mother’s lack of care (P), then describe her act of leaving (S), and finally explain the consequence on the eggs (R) just before the emotional evaluation in sentence 6.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Start with sentence 1: “Some animals like fishes lay eggs and leave them.” This introduces the topic. Step 2: Look for the sentence that most naturally follows. Q begins with “They lay thousands of eggs at a time but do not look after them.” The pronoun “they” clearly refers to “some animals like fishes”, and it adds a quantitative detail (thousands of eggs), so Q is a strong candidate to come next. Step 3: After Q explains that the animals do not look after the eggs, P (“The mother does not care for the eggs at all.”) narrows this to the behaviour of the mother fish. This continues the idea of lack of care. Step 4: S (“She simply leaves the eggs and never comes back to them.”) follows logically, giving a specific action that results from the mother’s lack of concern described in P. Step 5: R (“Most of the eggs die and only a few of them develop into fishes.”) gives the consequence of the behaviour described in Q, P and S, naturally leading into the emotional reaction in sentence 6. Step 6: The sequence thus becomes 1 – Q – P – S – R – 6, which corresponds to option QPSR.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the full paragraph with the proposed order: “Some animals like fishes lay eggs and leave them. They lay thousands of eggs at a time but do not look after them. The mother does not care for the eggs at all. She simply leaves the eggs and never comes back to them. Most of the eggs die and only a few of them develop into fishes. Is this not something terrible? Yet, it is a fact.” The paragraph flows smoothly, with each sentence adding a clear step: general fact, numerical detail, statement of indifference, description of action, consequence and emotional conclusion. None of the other sequences produce such a smooth, cause–effect-driven narrative.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
In PSQR, P would follow sentence 1, but then Q would awkwardly move from “The mother” back to “They”, disturbing the reference chain. In RQPS, the consequence (R) would come before the detailed description of behaviour, making the structure less logical. In QSPR, Q is followed by S directly, but then P appears, which is strange because “she simply leaves the eggs” (S) should logically follow the statement “the mother does not care for the eggs at all” (P), not precede it.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to arrange sentences purely by spotting pronouns without considering cause and effect or progression of detail. Another mistake is not checking whether the final sentence naturally leads into the conclusion. To avoid these pitfalls, always re-read the full paragraph with your chosen order and see whether it reads like a natural, well-written explanation. If it feels forced or circular, reconsider the sequence.

Final Answer:
The most logical order of the parts is QPSR.