Question

Given below are fragments of a sentence numbered 1 to 8. Arrange these fragments in a logical order so that together they make a meaningful sentence. From the given options, choose the one with the most appropriate sequence.
1. not only
2. I still think
3. because it is cheap
4. because it is large
5. that we should
6. but also
7. buy this plot
8. although you may not like it

• A. 1, 4, 6, 3, 2, 8, 5, 7
• B. 4, 2, 8, 6, 7, 1, 5, 3
• C. 2, 5, 7, 8, 6, 4, 1, 3
• D. 8, 2, 5, 7, 1, 4, 6, 3

Hint:

Spot the fixed "not only... but also..." pair first, then find what action that reason is explaining.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Read the fragments as building blocks of one sentence.
Eight separate phrases have to combine into a single grammatically correct sentence. The safest way in is to first look for a fixed pair, and fragments 1 and 6, "not only" and "but also," clearly belong together.

Step 2: Place the "not only... but also..." pair.
"not only" (1) must be followed later by "but also" (6), and each is followed by a reason: "because it is large" (4) after "not only," and "because it is cheap" (3) after "but also." This gives the block 1, 4, 6, 3, reading "not only because it is large but also because it is cheap."

Step 3: Find what this reason block is attached to.
A reason block needs an action it explains. Fragment 7, "buy this plot," is that action, and it sits right before the reason block, since the plot is bought "not only because it is large but also because it is cheap." This gives 7, 1, 4, 6, 3.

Step 4: Attach the opinion and the subject.
Fragment 5, "that we should," is a connector that needs a verb of opinion before it, supplied by fragment 2, "I still think." Fragment 5 then leads into the action "buy this plot," giving 2, 5, 7, 1, 4, 6, 3.

Step 5: Add the concession at the start.
Fragment 8, "although you may not like it," is a concession clause that reads most naturally at the very start of the sentence, before the speaker states an opinion.

Final Answer:
Putting it together: "Although you may not like it, I still think that we should buy this plot not only because it is large but also because it is cheap." The order is 8, 2, 5, 7, 1, 4, 6, 3, which is option (d).