Rearrange the following five sentences / group of sentences (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them. A. He was wearing a grey suit, slightly big for his build, and an old leather bag was on the chair next to him. B. His expressionless face appeared forbidding, but as I found soon enough, Baig easily bursts into laughter, adding an unexpected softness to his apparent stoicism. C. When I entered the restaurant, the author of my book, Mirza Baig, was already at a table, waiting for me. D. The manuscript of the translation I had sent was placed neatly on the table in front of him, and he was scanning it with what seemed to be perturbed eyes. E. I was embarrassed about being late, but this would happen every time I met him. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement?

Explanation

The correct answer is option 5, i.e., E. Key Points: The FIRST sentence is C as it introduces the speaker through the perspective of whom the rest of the narrative is being revealed. It also introduces the other character that is in the story. The SECOND sentence is E as it perfectly follows Statement 'C'; the first reaction of the speaker after realizing from a distance that he/she was late was that of embarrassment. The THIRD sentence is A as it was only when the speaker was close enough that he/she was able to see what the other character was like. The first thing being described is what the other person was wearing; as we tend to notice the clothes of a person first, his/her physical appearance later. D, which is the FOURTH sentence, is a continuation of 'A' and it further describes the other person (what he was doing and all that was kept in his surrounding) now that the speaker was closer to him/her. Statement B comes LAST, as only now the speaker noticed the other person's expressions and also focussed more on his actions rather than his/her appearance, and concludes the passage. Also, 'I found soon enough' shows that the speaker had spent a considerable amount of time with that person before making the final statement. Thus, the correct sequence is CEADB. The second sentence is E. Additional Information: Forbidding: unfriendly or threatening in appearance. Stoicism: the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint. Manuscript: a book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed. Perturbed: make (someone) anxious or unsettled.