Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: QRP
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This sentence reordering question is based on a statement about Mahatma Gandhi and his approach to Satyagraha. It tests not only your knowledge of English sentence structure but also your sense of logical flow. The correct order must form a grammatically accurate sentence that reflects Gandhi's well-known principle of non-violence.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
First identify the main verb describing Gandhi's action. The phrase “withdrew from an act of Satyagraha if he” in Q contains the verb “withdrew”, so Q logically follows “Gandhi often”. The remaining parts P and R complete the conditional clause “if he felt there was unnecessary violence”. Therefore, the correct sequence for the full sentence is: “Gandhi often withdrew from an act of Satyagraha if he felt there was unnecessary violence.” The order of the fragments after Q must preserve the phrase “felt there was unnecessary violence” in a natural way.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Start with the subject “Gandhi often”. Identify which fragment carries the main action.
Step 2: Fragment Q has “withdrew from an act of Satyagraha if he”, which clearly contains the verb “withdrew” and must follow the subject.
Step 3: After Q, we need to complete the clause “if he felt there was unnecessary violence”.
Step 4: Fragment R is “felt there”, which naturally follows “if he” to give “if he felt there”.
Step 5: Fragment P is “was unnecessary violence”, which completes the thought: “felt there was unnecessary violence”.
Step 6: Combine in order: Q–R–P, producing the full sentence “Gandhi often withdrew from an act of Satyagraha if he felt there was unnecessary violence.”
Verification / Alternative check:
Read the complete sentence: “Gandhi often withdrew from an act of Satyagraha if he felt there was unnecessary violence.” This sentence is grammatically correct and matches historical understanding of Gandhi's philosophy that Satyagraha should be non-violent. Any other order would either disrupt the grammar or obscure the meaning.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes focus only on local connections between two fragments and ignore the overall sentence pattern. It helps to first identify the subject and main verb, then attach the conditional or descriptive clauses. In this sentence, recognising that “withdrew from an act of Satyagraha” is the principal action and that “felt there was unnecessary violence” is the condition, makes the correct order much easier to see.
Final Answer:
The correct sequence is QRP, giving “Gandhi often withdrew from an act of Satyagraha if he felt there was unnecessary violence.”
Discussion & Comments