Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: P S R Q
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This jumbled sentence describes the emotional reaction of the leader of the opposition after failing to convince the assembly. The question tests understanding of how relative clauses, participial phrases, and the main clause should be ordered for clarity. You must reconstruct a sentence that reads naturally and preserves the cause and effect relationship between his failure and his disappointment.
Given Data / Assumptions:
The fragments are presented as follows:
- P: who had a reputation for speech making
- Q: on realising that he had failed to convince the assembly
- R: in the manner he had planned to convince them
- S: was very much disappointed
The sentence begins with "The leader of the opposition," and these parts need to be arranged after it.
Concept / Approach:
A natural English sentence about a known public figure often starts by describing the person, then presents the outcome, and finally explains circumstances or reasons. Here, first we describe the leader with a relative clause "who had a reputation for speech making". The main clause should then state "was very much disappointed". After that, we can attach the detail "in the manner he had planned to convince them" and finally the explanation "on realising that he had failed to convince the assembly". This order gives a clear and controlled build up of information.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Attach P after the subject to describe the leader: "The leader of the opposition, who had a reputation for speech making".
Step 2: Follow with the main verb phrase S: "was very much disappointed". Now we have a complete core sentence.
Step 3: Add R to explain the particular aspect of his disappointment: "in the manner he had planned to convince them".
Step 4: Finally, add Q to state the occasion when his disappointment arose: "on realising that he had failed to convince the assembly".
Step 5: The complete sentence reads: "The leader of the opposition, who had a reputation for speech making, was very much disappointed in the manner he had planned to convince them, on realising that he had failed to convince the assembly."
Verification / Alternative check:
Now compare with the answer choices. The sequence P S R Q corresponds exactly to option A. Other sequences either break the connection between the subject and verb or misplace the explanatory phrases. For instance, if we start with Q directly after the subject, we would delay the important description of his reputation and the main clause, making the sentence harder to follow.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- "Q S R P": inserts the realisation clause immediately after the subject and leaves the descriptive relative clause "who had a reputation for speech making" at the end, which is awkward.
- "R S Q P": starts with "in the manner he had planned", which seems to float without a clear connection before the leader is properly introduced.
- "S P R Q": places "was very much disappointed" right after the subject without first inserting the essential descriptive relative clause.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes ignore the natural position of relative clauses, which usually follow the noun they describe. Another frequent mistake is to break the main subject verb relationship too early by inserting long participial phrases. A safe strategy is to first complete a clean main clause, then add modifying phrases that explain details of time, manner, or reason.
Final Answer:
The most coherent sequence is P S R Q, giving a clear sentence about the leader of the opposition and his disappointment.
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