The following four labelled sentences P, Q, R and S, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph about recycling and personal responsibility. Select the most logical order.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: QRSP

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This para-jumble explains how recycling influences people's behaviour, their purchasing decisions and the benefits of this shift. The sentences mention personal responsibility, thinking about disposal, cutting down on unwanted purchases and saving money while helping the planet. A logical order should show cause and effect in a smooth progression.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Q: Recycling your waste makes you more responsible in the way you use and dispose of it.
- R: It is evident from studies that people who do this instinctively cut down on buying unwanted things from the supermarket.
- S: They think of how to dispose of the packaging or the product after use before even buying it.
- P: As a result, people end up saving a considerable amount of money while also saving the planet.
- We need an order that starts with recycling as the cause, then describes changes in thinking and behaviour, and ends with the combined financial and environmental benefits.


Concept / Approach:
Q is the natural starting point because it introduces the main idea: recycling waste makes people more responsible in their usage and disposal habits. R then provides evidence from studies that people who recycle cut down on buying unwanted items. S goes deeper by explaining the thought process: they think about disposal even before buying. P concludes with the result: saving money and contributing to environmental conservation. Putting this together, the logical order is Q–R–S–P.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Begin with Q, which states the key idea that recycling leads to greater personal responsibility in consumption and waste disposal.
Step 2: Follow with R, which supports Q by citing studies showing that such responsible people reduce impulse or unnecessary purchases.
Step 3: Add S, which explains how this reduction happens: they think about the eventual disposal of products and packaging before buying.
Step 4: Finish with P, which sums up the positive outcomes: saving money and helping to save the planet.


Verification / Alternative check:
Read QRSP uninterrupted. It starts from the principle (recycling changes responsibility), moves to evidence (studies), then to the psychological process (thinking about disposal), and ends with clear benefits (money and environmental savings). This creates a strong cause-and-effect chain. Other sequences, such as QPRS, would bring in the result too early before fully explaining the intermediate behaviour, making the reasoning feel incomplete.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- RQSP and SRQP: These start from consequences or research findings without first stating the core idea about recycling and responsibility, which weakens coherence.
- QPRS: Jumping from Q directly to P skips an explanation of how behaviour changes, so the link between recycling and saving money/planet is less clear.


Common Pitfalls:
When dealing with cause-effect paragraphs, learners sometimes mix up the middle steps, putting conclusions in the middle and details at the end. To avoid this, identify the starting cause, then look for statements that use phrases like “It is evident”, “As a result”, or “Therefore”. These should normally appear later, not at the beginning, and help you place sentences in a logical sequence.


Final Answer:
The most logical order of the sentences is QRSP.

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