The following six sentences form a cohesive paragraph when properly arranged. The first sentence (S1) and the final sentence (S2) are fixed in their respective starting and ending positions. The remaining sentences, labeled A, B, C, and D, are out of order. Determine the most logical sequence for sentences A, B, C, and D to maintain paragraph coherence and select the correct option.

S1 The weary explorer arrived at the cliff edge just as dusk started to settle over the remote mountain range.

A. A solitary eagle glided silently above, its outline sharp against the glowing crimson horizon.

B. Adjusting his heavy rucksack, he looked away from the ridge and started his slow climb down before darkness enveloped the trail.

C. He remembered the old guide's caution: the rocky descent became dangerous once twilight faded and had injured many careless hikers.

D. He stopped for a moment to rest, propping himself against a wooden staff while looking down at the expansive forest below.

S2 When he finally reached the base of the canyon, night had completely fallen and the mountain temperature had dropped dramatically.

Rearrange the middle sentences (A, B, C, D) to form a logical and coherent paragraph.

The correct option is DACB.

To determine the most logical sequence of sentences, let us analyze the chronological narrative flow step-by-step, starting from the fixed opening sentence (S1) through to the fixed closing sentence (S2):

Step 1: Connecting S1 to sentence D
Sentence S1 establishes the starting context: "The weary explorer arrived at the cliff edge just as dusk started to settle..."
Sentence D naturally follows this arrival at the cliff edge by describing his immediate action—stopping to rest, leaning against his wooden staff, and taking in the view of the forest below.

Step 2: Adding visual detail with sentence A
While he is paused resting and looking around (as described in D), sentence A expands on the scenic background by describing a solitary eagle gliding silently against the glowing crimson horizon of the setting sun.

Step 3: Transitioning to memory and warning with sentence C
As the sky glows crimson and twilight deepens, sentence C shifts to his thoughts: he remembers the old guide's warning about how dangerous this rocky descent becomes once twilight fades.

Step 4: Prompting action before S2 with sentence B
Prompted by the memory of the guide's warning, sentence B describes his immediate reaction—adjusting his rucksack and beginning his climb down before total darkness sets in. This leads seamlessly into sentence S2, which describes what happens when he finally reaches the base after night has completely fallen.

Therefore, the coherent sequence for the middle sentences is D → A → C → B, corresponding to option DACB.