A is shorter than D but taller than C, D is shorter than B but taller than A. E is shorter than A but taller than C. The two tallest are :

Build the chain carefully. "A is shorter than D" gives D > A. "A is taller than C" gives A > C. "D is shorter than B" gives B > D. "E is shorter than A but taller than C" gives A > E > C. Combining these gives B > D > A > E > C. The two tallest are B and D, which is option C.

Why the others fail: Option A puts E in the top two, but E sits below both A and D, so it cannot be among the tallest. Option B fails for the same reason, since E is fourth in the order. Option D pairs C with B, but C is the shortest person in the chain, so it is wrong.

Core concept: this is a linear ordering problem. Merge every comparison into one sequence and then read off the top positions, instead of trusting individual pairs. This kind of disciplined chaining is the reasoning skill that also helps in GS Paper IV and in data-interpretation questions at the Mains stage.

Trap: aspirants note that D is taller than A and A is taller than C, but never link B to D. Having lost track of the full chain, they guess option A because E is mentioned right next to A.