Let's break down this jumbled sentence question. We are given the first sentence (S1) and the last sentence (S6) of a passage, and four middle sentences (P, Q, R, S) that are out of order. Our task is to find the correct sequence of P, Q, R, and S that logically connects S1 and S6.

Understanding the Passage Theme

S1 sets the stage by stating that the growth of civilization depends on nature's gifts, particularly soil wealth.

S6 concludes by mentioning that early wars were fought for territory (land).

The middle sentences discuss ancient communities, their work, their relationship with land, and their desires related to land.

• S1: History shows that the growth of civilization depends upon the gifts of nature, particularly the wealth yielded by the soil.
• P: The more land they had, the more they were satisfied.
• Q: The nature and the quality of the land they possessed were of great importance to them.
• R: All ancient communities worked hard to produce food.
• S: There was also a great desire among them to possess as much land as possible.
• S6: In fact, most of the wars at the beginning of humanity’s history were fought for the gain of territory.

Analyzing Sentence Connections

Let's look for logical connections between the sentences:

• S1 introduces the idea that civilization relies on nature, specifically soil wealth. This suggests the importance of land. Which sentence logically follows this?
• Q directly follows S1 by stating that the nature and quality of the land were of great importance. This elaborates on the "wealth yielded by the soil" mentioned in S1. So, S1 is likely followed by Q.
• After establishing the importance of land quality (Q), what were ancient communities doing with this land? R states that they "worked hard to produce food." This explains the practical use of the land and why its quality mattered. So, Q is likely followed by R. The sequence so far is S1 Q R.
• Having worked hard on the land (R), what would be a natural consequence or desire? S says there was a "great desire among them to possess as much land as possible." Working hard on land often leads to valuing it and wanting more for increased production or security. So, R is likely followed by S. The sequence is now S1 Q R S.
• Finally, after desiring much land (S), what is the result of obtaining it? P states, "The more land they had, the more they were satisfied." This sentence explains the outcome of fulfilling the desire mentioned in S. So, S is likely followed by P. The sequence becomes S1 Q R S P.
• Does this sequence logically lead to S6? S6 mentions wars fought for territory. The desire for as much land as possible (S) and the satisfaction derived from having more land (P) directly relate to the concept of gaining territory, which is the basis for the wars mentioned in S6.

Determining the Proper Sequence

Based on the logical flow, the sequence Q R S P fits perfectly between S1 and S6.

• S1: History shows that the growth of civilization depends upon the gifts of nature, particularly the wealth yielded by the soil.
• Q: The nature and the quality of the land they possessed were of great importance to them.
• R: All ancient communities worked hard to produce food.
• S: There was also a great desire among them to possess as much land as possible.
• P: The more land they had, the more they were satisfied.
• S6: In fact, most of the wars at the beginning of humanity’s history were fought for the gain of territory.

This forms a coherent passage, starting with the general importance of soil, focusing on the quality, detailing the work done on the land, introducing the desire for quantity, explaining the satisfaction from having quantity, and concluding with the historical consequence (wars for territory).

Conclusion

The proper sequence of the four sentences is Q R S P.

Revision Table: Analyzing Other Options (for understanding why they are incorrect)

Additional Information: Importance of Context in Sentence Ordering

Solving jumbled sentence questions, also known as paragraph completion or sentence reordering, relies heavily on identifying contextual and grammatical links between sentences. Look for:

• Opening and Closing Cues: How do the potential starting sentences connect to S1? How do the potential ending sentences connect to S6?
• Pronoun References: Does a sentence use a pronoun (like he, she, it, they, this, that) that refers back to a noun introduced in a previous sentence?
• Transitional Words and Phrases: Words like "however," "therefore," "in addition," "also," "similarly," "in fact" indicate relationships between sentences (contrast, cause/effect, addition, comparison).
• Cause and Effect: Does one sentence describe a cause and another an effect?
• Chronological Order: Do the sentences describe events happening in a specific time sequence?
• General to Specific: Does the passage move from a general statement to specific details or examples?
• Idea Flow: Track the main idea being discussed. How does each sentence contribute to the development of that idea?

In this specific passage, the flow moves from the general importance of land (S1, Q) to specific actions and desires related to it (R, S, P), culminating in a historical consequence (S6). Identifying that Q elaborates on S1 and that P is a result of the desire in S are key steps.