In the following item, a short passage about universities consists of six sentences. The first and the sixth sentences are given as S1 and S6. The four middle sentences labelled P, Q, R and S are jumbled. Read the passage about the nature and role of universities and choose the option that gives the correct logical order of P, Q, R and S between S1 and S6. S1: Universities are peculiar institutions. S6: It is the most important institution in the complex process of knowledge creation and distribution. P: Traditionally elite institutions, the modern university has provided social mobility to previously disfranchised groups. Q: The contemporary university stands at the centre of its society. R: They have common historical roots yet are deeply embedded in their societies. S: Established in the medieval period to transmit established knowledge and provide training for a few key professions, universities have become a primary creator of new knowledge through basic research. The proper sequence should be

Introduction / Context:
This jumbled paragraph question focuses on the evolution and role of universities in society. The passage begins by calling universities “peculiar institutions” and ends by describing the university as the most important institution in knowledge creation and distribution. The middle sentences must explain why universities are peculiar and how they developed from medieval times to the present day.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• S1 describes universities as peculiar institutions.
• S6 refers to “It” (the university) as the most important institution in knowledge creation and distribution.
• S describes universities as established in the medieval period to transmit knowledge and train for key professions, and notes that they now create new knowledge through basic research.
• P says that universities, once elite, now provide social mobility to previously disfranchised groups.
• R states that they have common historical roots yet are deeply embedded in their societies.
• Q explains that the contemporary university stands at the centre of its society.
• We assume the paragraph should move from history, to social role, to embeddedness, then to centrality before S6.

Concept / Approach:
To order the sentences properly:

• Begin with a sentence that directly elaborates on why universities are “peculiar”.
• Move in a roughly chronological direction, from medieval origins to the modern situation.
• Ensure that references like “contemporary university” appear closer to the end before S6.
• Maintain a smooth thematic progression from origins, to social functions, to being embedded in society, and finally to their centrality.

By tracing both history and function, we can determine the best order.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: S1 calls universities “peculiar institutions” without explanation. Sentence S then immediately provides this explanation by describing their medieval origin and their transformation into creators of new knowledge. Therefore S is the natural first choice after S1. Step 2: After their academic and historical evolution is mentioned in S, the next logical point is their social role. Sentence P states that traditionally elite universities now provide social mobility to previously disfranchised groups, which builds on the evolution described in S. Step 3: Once we see their changed social role, R adds that universities have common historical roots but are deeply embedded in their societies. This general statement fits well after noting the widened access described in P. Step 4: Sentence Q then focuses on the present, declaring that the contemporary university stands at the centre of its society. This idea directly prepares for S6, which calls the university the most important institution for knowledge creation and distribution. Step 5: The resulting order between S1 and S6 is S P R Q, which maintains a coherent movement from medieval beginnings to modern centrality.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the paragraph with S, P, R and Q inserted in that order. It begins by explaining how universities started and how they have changed, then shows how they provide social mobility, then emphasises their deep social embeddedness, and finally states that the contemporary university stands at the centre of society. S6 then sums up their importance in knowledge creation and distribution. The entire passage is consistent and logically structured.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
P S Q R: This starts with social mobility before explaining how universities began and evolved, which breaks the natural historical flow.
S Q R P: Placing Q immediately after S jumps directly to the contemporary university without mentioning its role as an agent of social mobility, making the passage feel incomplete and less logical.
R P S Q: Starting with R after S1 would mention common roots and embeddedness without first describing medieval origins or modern changes, which makes the notion of “peculiar institutions” less clear.
Only S P R Q gives a clear, chronological and thematic explanation leading into S6.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often ignore subtle time markers such as “traditionally”, “modern” and “contemporary”. When these chronological clues are overlooked, it becomes easy to place sentences in an order that feels plausible but is not the best. Another pitfall is to focus only on a single theme like “social mobility” without noticing the broader narrative about historical origin, change over time and current role in society. Always read each sentence carefully and ask where it sits in the story arc of the passage.

Final Answer:
The correct sequence is S P R Q, so the correct option is “S P R Q”.