Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: XYZ
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question tests your ability to arrange labelled sentence parts in a logical and grammatically correct order. You are given a base sentence with three blanks and three fragments labelled X, Y, and Z. Your task is to decide in which order these fragments should be placed so that the resulting sentence is natural and meaningful in English.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To form a correct sentence, each blank must be filled with the word that is grammatically and logically appropriate in that position. In normal English, we say keep my place, scrawny guy, and gelled hair. Therefore, the correct pattern is: keep my place, that scrawny guy, with gelled hair. Matching this to the labels X (place), Y (guy), and Z (hair), the order of insertion into the three blanks is X, Y, Z, which corresponds to option XYZ.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the first blank after my. The phrase keep my ____ is commonly followed by place, as in keep my place in the queue.
Step 2: Therefore, X (place) fits the first blank best.
Step 3: Look at the second blank: that scrawny ____. The natural collocation is that scrawny guy, so Y (guy) fits here.
Step 4: Check the third blank: with gelled ____. We normally say gelled hair, so Z (hair) belongs in the last blank.
Step 5: Combine the decisions: first blank = X, second blank = Y, third blank = Z, giving the order X Y Z.
Step 6: Match this order to the answer choices and see that option b, XYZ, is correct.
Verification / Alternative check:
Read the fully assembled sentence: Now I just have to keep my place and not let that scrawny guy with gelled hair edge in front of me. This sentence is grammatically correct and describes a realistic situation, such as waiting in a line. If you try other orders, such as YZX, you get odd combinations like keep my guy or scrawny hair, which are clearly wrong. This confirms that XYZ is the only logical order.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
YZX would produce keep my guy, that scrawny hair, and with gelled place, all of which are nonsensical. ZXY would yield keep my hair and that scrawny place, again ungrammatical. XZY would give keep my place and not let that scrawny hair with gelled guy edge in front of me, which is also incorrect because scrawny hair is not the focus here and gelled guy is not a standard phrase. None of these arrangements produce a natural sentence.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to rely only on the sound of the combinations without checking grammar or typical phrases. Another pitfall is to hurry and guess based on the first blank alone. Always check each blank in order and think about common collocations such as keep my place, scrawny guy, and gelled hair. Recognising these patterns will help you quickly identify the correct arrangement in similar questions.
Final Answer:
The most logical order is X Y Z, so the correct option is XYZ.
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