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Question

Arrange the given words in the sequence in which they occur in the dictionary.

1. Maternity

2. Mundane

3. Maternal

4. Motor

5. Mother

The correct answer is

3, 1, 5, 4, 2

Understanding Dictionary Order and Word Arrangement

To arrange words in dictionary order, we compare them letter by letter starting from the first letter. If the first letters are the same, we move to the second letter, and so on. The word with the letter that comes earlier in the alphabet is placed first.

Steps for Arranging Words in Dictionary Sequence

Let's look at the given words and their corresponding numbers:

  1. Maternity (1)
  2. Mundane (2)
  3. Maternal (3)
  4. Motor (4)
  5. Mother (5)

All the words start with the letter 'M'. So, we compare the second letter:

  • Maternity
  • Mundane
  • Maternal
  • Motor
  • Mother

Comparing the second letters ('a', 'u', 'a', 'o', 'o'), the letter 'a' comes first in the alphabet, followed by 'o', and then 'u'.

So, words starting with 'Ma' come first, then words starting with 'Mo', and finally the word starting with 'Mu'.

Comparing 'Ma' Words: Maternal (3) and Maternity (1)

Both words start with 'Ma'. Let's compare the third letter:

  • Maternal
  • Maternity

Both have 't' as the third letter and 'e' as the fourth letter. Let's compare the fifth letter:

  • Maternal
  • Maternity

Both have 'r' as the fifth letter. Let's compare the sixth letter:

  • Maternal
  • Maternity

Both have 'n' as the sixth letter. Let's compare the seventh letter:

  • Maternal
  • Maternity

Comparing the seventh letters ('a' and 'i'), 'a' comes before 'i'. Therefore, 'Maternal' comes before 'Maternity'.

Order so far: Maternal (3), Maternity (1).

Comparing 'Mo' Words: Motor (4) and Mother (5)

Both words start with 'Mo'. Let's compare the third letter:

  • Motor
  • Mother

Comparing the third letters ('o' and 'h'), 'h' comes before 'o'. Therefore, 'Mother' comes before 'Motor'.

Order for 'Mo' words: Mother (5), Motor (4).

Placing the 'Mu' Word: Mundane (2)

The word 'Mundane' starts with 'Mu'. Since 'u' comes after 'a' and 'o', 'Mundane' will come after all the 'Ma' and 'Mo' words.

Final word: Mundane (2).

Final Dictionary Sequence

Combining the ordered groups:

  1. Words starting with 'Ma': Maternal (3), Maternity (1)
  2. Words starting with 'Mo': Mother (5), Motor (4)
  3. Word starting with 'Mu': Mundane (2)

The complete sequence in dictionary order is: Maternal, Maternity, Mother, Motor, Mundane.

The corresponding numbers are: 3, 1, 5, 4, 2.

Word Number Step 1 (2nd letter) Step 2 (3rd letter) Step 3 (4th letter) Step 4 (5th letter) Step 5 (6th letter) Step 6 (7th letter) Final Order
Maternity 1 a t e r n i 2nd
Mundane 2 u n d a n e 5th
Maternal 3 a t e r n a 1st
Motor 4 o t o r - - 4th
Mother 5 o t h e r - 3rd

Therefore, the correct sequence of numbers is 3, 1, 5, 4, 2.

Revision Table: Key Concepts for Dictionary Arrangement

Concept Description How it applies here
Alphabetical Order Arranging items based on the standard order of letters A-Z. The fundamental principle used to compare letters in the words.
Letter-by-Letter Comparison Comparing words by looking at their first letters, then second, and so on, until a difference is found. Used extensively to compare words like 'Maternal' and 'Maternity', or 'Mother' and 'Motor'.
Tie-breaking When letters are the same, moving to the next letter to decide the order. Happens when comparing 'Ma...' words and 'Mo...' words up to several letters.

Additional Information: Expanding Your Vocabulary and Reasoning Skills

Understanding dictionary order is a basic but important skill. It's useful for quickly finding words in a dictionary, organizing lists alphabetically, and is often tested in verbal reasoning questions. Practice with different sets of words helps improve speed and accuracy. When words are similar, pay close attention to each letter's position. Longer words are placed after shorter words if all the letters of the shorter word match the beginning of the longer word (e.g., 'Car' comes before 'Carpet').

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Important Questions from Sequence

  1. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given the words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Photographic

    2. Photocopier

    3. Photography

    4. Photographer

    5. Photocopy

  2. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary.

    1. Relatival

    2. Relation

    3. Related

    4. Relative

    5. Relatable

  3. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Treatment

    2. Recovery

    3. Virus

    4. Symptoms

    5. Infection

  4. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given course of actions in a logical and meaningful order.

    1. Open email account

    2. Compose email

    3. Start computer

    4. Enter email address

    5. Write the content

    6. Send the mail

  5. Select the correct option that indicates the arrangement of the given words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary

    1. Likelihood

    2. Likenesses

    3. Likewise

    4. Likens

    5. Likeliest

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