In the question below four words are given in bold. These
four words are may not be in their correct position. The sentence is then followed by options with the correct combination of words that should replace each other in order to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. Find the correct combination of the words that replace each other.

With parts of the pipes (1) being covered after laying of the canal (2) and construction material and debris strewn ( 3) along the banks, encroachers (4) are taking over the canal.

Correct option is D

Correct answer: Option D — Only 1–2

This means only “pipes (1)” and “canal (2)” interchange their positions.

Correct sentence after interchanging 1 and 2

“With parts of the canal (1) being covered after laying of the pipes (2) and construction material and debris strewn (3) along the banks, encroachers (4) are taking over the canal.”

Meanings of the highlighted words (English & Hindi)

1. pipes

·       English: Hollow cylindrical tubes used to carry water, gas, etc.

·       Hindi: पाइप / नल

·       Example: Water flows through underground pipes.

2. canal

·       English: An artificial waterway constructed to carry water for irrigation or transport.

·       Hindi: नहर

·       Example: The canal supplies water to nearby farms.

3. strewn

·       English: Spread untidily over an area.

·       Hindi: बिखरा हुआ / फैला हुआ

·       Example: Leaves were strewn across the road after the storm.

4. encroachers

·       English: People who illegally occupy land or property.

·       Hindi: अतिक्रमणकारी

·       Example: Encroachers were removed from public land.

Why only 1–2 need to be interchanged

Problem in the original sentence

·       “parts of the pipes being covered after laying of the canal” is logically incorrect.

·       Pipes are laid inside or along a canal, not the other way around.

·       You do not lay a canal inside pipes.

After interchanging 1 and 2

·       “parts of the canal being covered after laying of the pipes”
This is both logically and contextually correct:

o   First, pipes are laid

o   Then, parts of the canal get covered

o   This creates space for encroachment

Why other words are correct at their positions

strewn (3)

·       Correctly modifies “construction material and debris”

·       “debris strewn along the banks” is natural and idiomatic

encroachers (4)

·       Correct subject for “are taking over the canal”

·       Fits both grammatically and contextually

Why other options fail

Option A — 2–4 and 1–3

Unnecessary and illogical swaps; breaks subject–action clarity.

Option B — Only 2–4

Swapping canal and encroachers makes no grammatical or logical sense.

Option C — No correction required

The original sentence has a clear logical error (laying of canal after pipes).

Option E — 1–4 and 2–3

This scrambles meanings and destroys sentence coherence.

Final takeaway

The error is conceptual, not grammatical.
Only interchanging pipes and canal corrects the real-world logic of the sentence, which is why Option D is correct.