Arrange the steps of preparation of crude drugs in the correct order.

• A. II-III-IV-I-VI-V
• B. II-I-VI-IV-III-V
• C. II-III-IV-VI-I-V
• D. II-VI-IV-III-I-V

Answer: (A)

Arranging the steps in crude drug preparation follows a practical flow: start with confirming you have the right material and removing any dirt or extraneous matter, then reduce its moisture by drying, then break or cut it into smaller pieces if needed, then grind to a powder, then sift to obtain the desired particle size, and finally pack and store properly. This sequence matters because removing contaminants and moisture first prevents contamination and clumping later on; drying before milling avoids rugged, uneven powders and helps achieve uniform particle size; grinding should come before sieving so the material can be separated into uniform fractions; and storage should come last to preserve quality. The option that mirrors this logical progression—cleaning and authenticating, drying, size reduction, grading, and then storage—fits best.