S1: National highways connect one state with another and are of national importance. S6: These road systems are also known as primary road systems and are laid and operated under the supervision of the National Highway Authority of India. P: They are important because whereas they constitute merely two per cent of the total road networks, they nevertheless carry 40 per cent of the total road traffic. Q: The road infrastructure of the country is therefore crucial, and their construction and maintenance is of critical importance. R: They bear the load of traffic because these roads connect long distances and pass through major cities and towns. S: Since they cover the length and breadth of the nation and connect cities and towns, these highways are the primary facilitators of trade and connectivity.
- (a)P R S Q
- (b)S P Q R
- (c)P R Q S
- (d)S Q R P
Correct — A, P R S Q. P states the striking fact (national highways are only 2% of the network yet carry 40% of the traffic); R explains why they bear that load (they connect long distances and major cities); S widens the point (covering the length and breadth of the nation, they are the primary facilitators of trade); and Q closes the argument with 'therefore', concluding that their construction and maintenance is critical — which flows straight into S6.
- (b)S P Q R — Ends with R, but Q ('...is therefore crucial') is the concluding sentence of the argument, so Q — not R — must sit just before S6.
- (c)P R Q S — Puts the 'therefore' conclusion Q before S, yet the conclusion must follow all its supporting points, including S; a conclusion cannot precede its own premise.
- (d)S Q R P — Brings the 'therefore' conclusion Q in second, far too early, and strands the key 2%/40% fact P at the very end where it can no longer set up the argument.
A connector such as 'therefore' marks a sentence as the conclusion, so it belongs at the end of the reasoning block. Supporting facts and explanations come before the sentence that draws the inference.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
A sentence beginning with 'Therefore' in a jumble is most likely the:
- (a)concluding sentence of the argument
- (b)opening sentence
- (c)first supporting fact
- (d)irrelevant sentence
Answer(a) concluding sentence of the argument — 'therefore' draws the inference at the end.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which sentence should directly follow a statistic like 'they carry 40% of the traffic'?
- (a)an explanation of why they carry it
- (b)the final conclusion
- (c)an unrelated new topic
- (d)the opening definition
Answer(a) an explanation of why they carry it — the reason naturally follows the fact.