Improve the bracketed part of the sentence.

Having finished the voluminous novel, (it was being put away by him).

This question can be best solved by the elimination technique. 'was delayed budget allocation', 'was delayed industry which' and 'was delayed debating over' do not make sense; hence P, Q and S can't follow the first segment. This eliminates options 1, 2 and 4. Option 5 places S after R which makes the resultant segment as 'lawmakers were busy industry' which is illogical; hence option 5 can also be eliminated. Hence, the correct sequence is RQPS.

The most logical segment that can follow the first segment is R, 'being arranged into a stack'. This leaves us with only one option i.e. option 1. Hence, the correct answer is RSQP.

Clearly, R and S can't follow the first segment. This eliminates option 1.

Option 2: It is incorrect since P ends with was, which can't be used to end the statement.

Option 3: It is incorrect since the statement can't end in 'by a prolonged'.

Option 4: It makes a coherent statement; hence put it on hold.

Option 5: It is incorrect because P ends in 'was' and Q begins with 'was'.

Two 'was' can't be used together. Hence, the correct sequence is PRQS.

The phrase “pardon my French” is usually used humorously to denote an excuse for using taboo words or inappropriate words. The above sentence speaks of a person asking another person to excuse him for using inappropriate language during their discussion. Out of the given option, option 2 is correct.

 “Look over” means to examine something closely. The correct answer is option 5. Belittle means to undervalue someone or something. Pioneer means to introduce or start.

The idiom “to hear it on the grapevine” means to hear about something from informal communication or to hear a gossip. The above sentence talks about the rumour that is spread about the number of vacancies for various posts. Hence, option 3 is correct.

A forcible escape from a prison is called a breakout. The correct answer is option 3. Perpetuate means to preserve or continue. Hence option 3 is the correct response.

The idiom “blow off steam” means to express one’s anger, usually noisily and harmlessly, thereby relieving one’s tension. The above sentence states that one should not waste one’s time and utilise it in releasing negative energies to get charged up. Only option 1 goes with this meaning, hence option 1 is correct.