Arrange the following social units from the smallest/most specific to the largest/most inclusive grouping: 1) Caste 2) Family 3) Newly married couple 4) Clan 5) Species (human species as the broadest biological category) Select the order that best reflects increasing breadth.

Verbal Reasoning Logical Sequence of Words Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
  • A
    2, 3, 1. 4. 5
  • B
    3, 2, 1, 4, 5
  • C
    3, 4, 5, 1, 2
  • D
    4, 5, 3, 2, 1
  • E
    None of these

Answer

Correct Answer: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5

Explanation

Introduction / Context:Sequence-of-words problems often ask you to arrange entities by size, inclusiveness, or hierarchy. Here the items represent social/biological groupings. The task is to move from the narrowest unit to the broadest category logically and consistently.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A newly married couple (3) is a dyad—two individuals.
  • A family (2) is a household unit that includes the couple and possibly children/elders.
  • Caste (1) is a larger social category spanning multiple families.
  • Clan (4) is a broader lineage grouping that can encompass many families/castes depending on cultural definition; for exam logic it is placed broader than a single caste unit.
  • Species (5) denotes the entire human species, the broadest category here.

Concept / Approach:We rank from smallest to largest by typical inclusiveness: individual dyad → household → socio-cultural grouping(s) → entire biological species. Where terms overlap in real anthropology, standardized exam convention still expects a clear progression from micro to macro.

Step-by-Step Solution:Smallest: 3 (Newly married couple).Next: 2 (Family) as the immediate larger unit.Then: 1 (Caste) as a wider social category of many families.Then: 4 (Clan) as an even broader lineage grouping.Largest: 5 (Species) encompassing all humans.Hence: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5.

Verification / Alternative check:Switching caste and clan can be debated culturally, but typical reasoning test keys place clan as equal or broader than caste to preserve a strict micro→macro chain ending at species.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • 2, 3, 1, 4, 5: Puts family before the couple; we want increasing scope from smallest upwards.
  • 3, 4, 5, 1, 2 or 4, 5, 3, 2, 1: Break the logical nesting by mixing social and biological categories and misplacing the micro units.
  • None of these: Not needed, as a valid micro→macro chain exists.

Common Pitfalls:Overthinking anthropological nuances or reversing micro units. Stick to exam-standard inclusiveness.

Final Answer:3, 2, 1, 4, 5

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