Sequence the following sentences in a coherent passage.
P: This fortuitous geological event generated a colossal amount of energy and heat that resulted in the rocks rising to an average height of 4 km across the contact zone.
Q: Thus, the geophysicists tend to think of the Himalayas as an active geological feature rather than a static geological feature.
R: The natural process of the cooling of magma absorbed a massive quantity of atmospheric carbon dioxide, altering the earth's atmosphere and making it better suited for life.
S: Many millennia ago, a breakaway chunk of bedrock from the Antarctic Plate collided with the massive Eurasian Plate.
A. QPSR
B. SPRQ
C. SRPQ
D. SRBQ
GATE 2024 · General Aptitude · Sentence Ordering · medium
Answer: C. SRPQ
Identify the opening sentence using reference analysis: Sentence S introduces a past event with no prior context needed: 'Many millennia ago, a breakaway chunk of bedrock... collided...'. This is the initiating event. Sentence S must come first.
Place P second via back-reference: Sentence P opens with 'This fortuitous geological event' — the demonstrative 'this' refers to the collision described in S. So P immediately follows S.
Determine the position of R: Sentence R describes 'the natural process of the cooling of magma' absorbing carbon dioxide — a secondary process that follows the initial energy release described in P. R comes after P as a continuation of the geological aftermath.
Place Q last as the conclusion: Sentence Q starts with 'Thus' — a logical conclusion marker. It synthesises everything before it to state that geophysicists see the Himalayas as an active feature. Q is the final sentence.