Question

P. He dares not say "I think", "I am" but quotes some saint or sage
Q. These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones
R. He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose
S. Man is timid, apologetic and no longer upright

• A. QRSP
• B. SPQR
• C. QSPR
• D. SQPR
• E. SPRQ

Hint:

Trace the passage from a general statement about man to a specific natural image.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Step 1: Find the sentence that states the general theme.
S reads: "Man is timid, apologetic and no longer upright." This works as an opening statement, introducing the theme of human timidity and lost self-assurance before any specific illustration is given.

Step 2: Find the sentence that elaborates on this timidity.
P reads: "He dares not say 'I think', 'I am' but quotes some saint or sage." This gives a specific example of the timidity introduced in S, showing how man hides behind the authority of others instead of speaking for himself.

Step 3: Find the sentence that extends the same idea with a fresh image.
R reads: "He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose." This continues describing man's timidity, now comparing his hesitance to how confidently nature exists, following naturally after P.

Step 4: Find the sentence that illustrates nature's confidence.
Q reads: "These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones." This illustrates the idea just raised in R, showing that the rose does not compare itself to anything else, unlike timid man.

Step 5: Assemble and match.
The order S-P-R-Q builds a coherent passage moving from the general statement about man's timidity, to a specific example, to a comparison with nature, and finally to a concrete illustration of that comparison. This matches option (e), SPRQ.