Arrange the following words in the order in which they appear in an English…
2019
Arrange the following words in the order in which they appear in an English dictionary: Vertical, Volcano, Viola, Veteran, Vertebra
- A.
2, 3, 1, 4, 5
- B.
5, 1, 4, 3, 2
- C.
4, 1, 2, 5, 3
- D.
1, 3, 2, 4, 5
Attempted by 16 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Key idea: arrange words alphabetically by comparing letters from left to right.
Compare the first letters: all words start with 'V', so move to the second letters.
Second letters are e, o, i, e, e for Vertical, Volcano, Viola, Veteran, Vertebra respectively. Letters 'e' come first, then 'i', then 'o'. So all words starting with 'Ve' come before Viola and Volcano.
Among the 'Ve' words (Vertical, Veteran, Vertebra), compare further letters: after 'Vert' the next letters are 'i' (Vertical) and 'e' (Vertebra). Since 'e' comes before 'i', Vertebra comes before Vertical. Both 'Vert…' words come before Veteran because 'r' comes before 't'.
Finally, after the 'Ve' words comes Viola (starts 'Vi'), and last is Volcano (starts 'Vo').
Correct alphabetical order: Vertebra, Vertical, Veteran, Viola, Volcano.