Which one of the following sentence sequences creates a coherent narrative? i. Once on the terrace, on her way to her small room in the corner, she notices the man right away. ii. She begins to pant by the time she has climbed all the stairs. iii. Mina has bought vegetables and rice at the market, so her bag is heavy. iv. He was leaning against the parapet, watching the traffic below. A. (ii), (i), (iii), (iv) B. (iii), (ii), (i), (iv) C. (i), (iii), (ii), (iv) D. (iii), (ii), (iv), (i)

GATE 2023 · General Aptitude · Sentence Ordering · medium

Answer: D. (iii), (ii), (iv), (i)

1. Identify the opening sentence: Sentence iii introduces Mina and explains she has a heavy bag from the market. No prior context is needed. This must be first.
2. Sequence using causal and temporal logic: Because her bag is heavy (iii), she pants while climbing the stairs (ii). After reaching the top, she is on the terrace (i). Sentence ii must come before i since 'Once on the terrace' in i implies stairs have already been climbed.
3. Resolve the definite article 'the man': In sentence i, 'she notices the man right away' uses the definite article 'the', implying the man has already been described. Sentence iv describes him — 'He was leaning against the parapet' — so iv must precede i. Order so far: iii, ii, iv, i.
4. Verify option D: Option D gives (iii), (ii), (iv), (i). Check: Market bag (iii) -> panting on stairs (ii) -> man leaning on parapet (iv) -> notices man on terrace (i). This reads as a seamless narrative.