The question below consists of a set of labelled sentence parts X, Y and Z. Out of the four options given, select the most logical order of the labels to form a coherent sentence and mark your answer. Thus, I stand on a X - hill and watch a labourer Y - upon the distant railway Z - striking with his sledge.

Introduction / Context:
This sentence rearrangement question involves placing three labelled parts X, Y, and Z into a partially given sentence so that it becomes grammatically correct and meaningful. The sentence describes a speaker standing on a hill and watching a labourer working on a distant railway line. The test checks understanding of natural word order and the logical sequence of location and action.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Fixed frame: Thus, I stand on a ... and watch a labourer ...
• Label X: hill and watch a labourer
• Label Y: upon the distant railway
• Label Z: striking with his sledge
• Options: XYZ, XZY, ZYX, ZXY.

Concept / Approach:
The sentence will be most natural if it first completes the phrase stand on a hill, then goes on to describe where the labourer is, and finally describes what the labourer is doing. In English, we often mention place before action, as in a man on the road walking quickly. Therefore, after introducing the labourer, the phrase upon the distant railway should come before striking with his sledge. This indicates that the order should be X Y Z rather than X Z Y.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Insert X after the opening: Thus, I stand on a hill and watch a labourer. This correctly completes the phrase stand on a hill.Step 2: Decide what should follow a labourer. We usually say a labourer upon the distant railway to describe location, so Y is the logical next part.Step 3: Attach Y: Thus, I stand on a hill and watch a labourer upon the distant railway.Step 4: Finally add Z: striking with his sledge, which describes what the labourer is doing.Step 5: The complete sentence becomes: Thus, I stand on a hill and watch a labourer upon the distant railway striking with his sledge. This corresponds to order XYZ.

Verification / Alternative check:
If we try XZY, we would obtain: Thus, I stand on a hill and watch a labourer striking with his sledge upon the distant railway. Though not impossible, this ordering is less smooth because upon the distant railway logically modifies labourer, not striking. The most natural grouping is labourer upon the distant railway followed by striking, which XYZ provides. The other orders ZYX and ZXY disrupt the basic subject location action sequence and quickly sound wrong when read aloud.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
XZY: Places striking with his sledge immediately after labourer, leaving upon the distant railway at the very end where it sounds slightly misplaced. ZYX and ZXY: Both start with striking with his sledge, which breaks the natural flow from I stand on a hill to I watch a labourer. These sequences fragment the sentence and make it less coherent. Only XYZ preserves the clear progression from observer, to location, to observed person, to action.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may think that any sequence that is not completely wrong is acceptable, but exam setters usually choose the most natural and fluent order as the key. An effective strategy is to first identify mandatory word groups such as stand on a hill and upon the distant railway and then to ensure that modifiers like striking with his sledge attach to the correct noun. Reading the candidate sentence quickly in your mind helps detect unnatural breaks in meaning.

Final Answer:
The most logical and grammatically correct order of the labels is XYZ.