Correct Answer: 2, 4, 1, 3, 5

Solution : Given:
1. History 2. Historian 3. Hobnail 4. Historical 5. Hobnob

Step 1: Compare the first letter of each word. Since all the words start with the same letter H , then move on to the next letter.
Step 2: Next, compare the second letter of each word – i , i , o , i , o . Based on the alphabetical order of these letters, we can arrange them – (History, Historian, Historical) and (Hobnail, Hobnob).
Step 3: Compare the third letter of (History, Historian, Historical) and (Hobnail, Hobnob). The third, fourth, fifth and sixth letters of (History, Historian, Historical) are the same. Similarly, the third and fourth letters of (Hobnail, Hobnob) are the same.
Step 4: Compare the seventh letter of (History, Historian, Historical). Historian and Historical will come before History in the sequence as i comes before y in the alphabetical system. Similarly, compare the fifth letter of (Hobnail, Hobnob). Hobnail will come before Hobnob in the sequence as a comes before i in the alphabetical system.
Step 5: Compare the eighth letter of (Historian, Historical). Historian will come before Historical in the sequence as a comes before c in the alphabetical system.

So, the sequence is Historian, Historical, History, Hobnail, Hobnob or 2, 4, 1, 3, 5. Hence, the second option is correct.