The correct answer is option (A):
BDAC
The question asks us to arrange four sentences into a coherent passage. Let's analyze each sentence and consider how they might connect logically.
Sentence A: "They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us." This sentence introduces "they" and gives two characteristics. "Popular with others" suggests something widely appealing or sought after, while "right in front of us" implies immediacy or obviousness.
Sentence B: "Urgent matters are usually visible." This sentence defines a category ("urgent matters") and gives a characteristic ("usually visible"). This seems like a good starting point because it introduces a clear subject.
Sentence C: "And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant." This sentence also refers to "they" and describes qualities of these things. The "And" at the beginning suggests it might follow another sentence describing similar things. The contrast between "pleasant, easy, fun to do" and "unimportant" is a key element.
Sentence D: "They press on us; they insist on action." This sentence also refers to "they" and describes their compelling nature, suggesting they demand immediate attention.
Now, let's try to build a logical flow by considering the options.
Option 1: BDAC
B: Urgent matters are usually visible.
D: They press on us; they insist on action.
A: They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us.
C: And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant.
Let's read this sequence: "Urgent matters are usually visible. They press on us; they insist on action. They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us. And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant."
This sequence seems to present a contrast. Sentence B introduces urgent matters and their visibility. Sentence D further describes their demanding nature. Sentence A then introduces a different set of "they" that are "popular with others" and "right in front of us." The use of "they" here might refer back to urgent matters, but the characteristics don't entirely align. The most significant issue is sentence C, which starts with "And" and describes things that are pleasant, easy, and fun but unimportant. This strongly suggests that "they" in C refers to something different from the "urgent matters" introduced in B.
Let's re-evaluate. The sentences seem to be discussing two contrasting types of demands or tasks: urgent ones and perhaps less urgent but appealing ones.
Consider the possibility that "urgent matters" are a specific category, and then another type of "they" is being discussed.
Let's reconsider the sentences and look for a consistent subject for "they."
If we consider "urgent matters" as the initial subject in B, then D continues this idea of things that press on us.
"Urgent matters are usually visible. They press on us; they insist on action." This makes sense.
Now, let's look at A and C.
A: "They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us."
C: "And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant."
If "they" in A and C refer to something different from "urgent matters," what could it be? Let's think about common distractions or demands on our time.
Let's revisit option BDAC.
B: Urgent matters are usually visible.
D: They press on us; they insist on action.
Here, "they" in D logically refers to "urgent matters" from B. So, urgent matters are visible and they demand action.
Now consider A after D:
A: They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us.
If "they" in A refers to something different from urgent matters, this transition is abrupt. However, if "they" in A refers to a *different kind* of visible and immediate thing, it might work if A is followed by C, which further characterizes these things.
Let's try to interpret the overall message. The passage seems to be distinguishing between things that are truly important and demanding (urgent matters) and things that are easily visible, popular, and perhaps even enjoyable but ultimately unimportant.
Let's analyze the options again with this understanding.
Option BDAC:
B: Urgent matters are usually visible.
D: They press on us; they insist on action. (This describes urgent matters)
A: They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us. (This introduces a new "they," which are popular and visible, potentially contrasting with the *nature* of urgent matters.)
C: And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant. (This further describes the "they" from A, emphasizing their unimportance despite their appealing qualities.)
This sequence seems to be presenting a contrast: urgent matters demand action, and then there are other things that are visible and popular, but ultimately unimportant. The flow of thought is: identify urgent matters, describe their demanding nature, then introduce another category of visible and popular things, and finally, characterize these as unimportant but appealing.
Let's consider the other options to see why they might be less logical.
Option CABD:
C: And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant. (Starting with "And" is problematic as it suggests it follows something.)
A: They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us.
B: Urgent matters are usually visible.
D: They press on us; they insist on action.
This order feels disconnected. C and A describe potentially unimportant things, then B introduces urgent matters, and D describes their demanding nature. The initial "And" in C makes it unlikely to be the first sentence.
Option ABDC:
A: They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us.
B: Urgent matters are usually visible.
D: They press on us; they insist on action.
C: And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant.
Here, A introduces "they." B introduces "urgent matters." It's unclear if "they" in A refers to "urgent matters." D then says "They press on us," which could refer to urgent matters. C then says "And often they are pleasant..." This also feels less cohesive.
Option DCBA:
D: They press on us; they insist on action.
C: And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant.
B: Urgent matters are usually visible.
A: They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us.
This also feels disjointed. The "And" in C is still an issue if it's not preceded by a sentence describing similar things.
Returning to BDAC.
B: Urgent matters are usually visible.
D: They press on us; they insist on action.
This establishes the idea of urgent matters and their imperative nature.
A: They are often popular with others, they are usually right in front of us.
This sentence introduces a *different* set of "they." These are also visible ("right in front of us") but have different characteristics ("popular with others"). The transition works because it shifts from one type of demanding thing to another type of noticeable thing.
C: And often they are pleasant, easy, fun to do, but so often they are unimportant.
This sentence starts with "And," suggesting it elaborates on or adds a point about the "they" introduced in sentence A. It contrasts the pleasant nature of these visible, popular things with their lack of importance, which is a common observation about distractions.
Therefore, BDAC creates a logical flow:
1. Define urgent matters and their visibility.
2. Describe the demanding nature of urgent matters.
3. Introduce another set of things that are visible and popular.
4. Characterize these popular, visible things as pleasant but unimportant.
This sequence effectively distinguishes between truly urgent tasks and appealing distractions. The key to the logic lies in understanding that "they" in D refers to "urgent matters," and "they" in A and C refer to a different category of things. The "And" in C connects it to the description in A.
The final answer is BDAC.