Sentence arrangement: The sentence begins with ""Phew," said I, grabbing ..." and the labelled parts are X: cheerfully round my head, Y: at the halo of flies, Z: which buzzed. What is the most logical order of X, Y, and Z to form a coherent sentence?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: YZX

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests your ability to arrange sentence fragments in a logical and grammatically correct order. You are given a starting clause with dialogue and three labelled pieces that must be placed after it. The goal is to create a smooth, natural sounding sentence that describes an action in a clear sequence.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Opening text: ""Phew," said I, grabbing ..." - X: "cheerfully round my head" - Y: "at the halo of flies" - Z: "which buzzed" - We must choose an order such as YZX that completes the sentence meaningfully.


Concept / Approach:
A natural English sentence usually places the main object of the action immediately after the verb and then follows it with any relative clauses and adverbs or adverbial phrases. Here, "grabbing" needs a direct object. The phrase "at the halo of flies" fits as that object because we grab at something. The relative clause "which buzzed" describes the flies, and the manner phrase "cheerfully round my head" explains where and how they were buzzing. Together they describe a halo of flies that buzzed cheerfully round the speaker's head.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Attach the direct object to the verb "grabbing". The only phrase that can directly follow "grabbing" is "at the halo of flies" (Y). Step 2: This halo of flies is then described more fully. A relative clause "which buzzed" (Z) naturally follows the noun "flies". Step 3: Finally, we add the adverbial phrase "cheerfully round my head" (X) to show where and how the flies were buzzing. Step 4: Putting these together after the opening gives: ""Phew," said I, grabbing at the halo of flies which buzzed cheerfully round my head." Step 5: This corresponds to the order Y Z X, which is option A.


Verification / Alternative check:
Test other orders quickly. For example, starting with X would give "grabbing cheerfully round my head", which is wrong because we do not grab "cheerfully round my head". Placing X between Y and Z would break the natural link between "flies" and "which buzzed". Only Y followed by Z and then X respects both grammar and logical description. The sequence chosen satisfies verb object, relative clause, and manner phrase structure all at once.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (Y X Z) separates "flies" from "which buzzed", making the relative clause sound disconnected. Option C (X Z Y) produces an odd phrase "grabbing cheerfully round my head", which is not idiomatic and leaves "flies" too far from the verb. Option D (X Y Z) also starts with an adverbial phrase after "grabbing" and does not provide a suitable immediate object.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes focus only on meaning and ignore the need for a direct object directly after the verb. When arranging fragments, always identify the main verb and its likely object first, then attach relative and adverbial phrases in a way that keeps related elements close. This simple strategy often leads to the correct order quickly.


Final Answer:
The logical order is Y Z X, giving "grabbing at the halo of flies which buzzed cheerfully round my head".

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