Which arrangement of the following esters correctly, indicates the decreasing rate of the hydrolysis?

Step-by-step solution

Hydrolysis of ester is an example of nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction and electron withdrawing group accelerate the substitution reaction. Hence, phenoxy with nitro at para position '5' is most reactive and phenoxy with methoxy at para position '1' is least reactive. Also chlorine is less electron withdrawing than aceto gropu, '3' is less reactive than '4'. Hence, overall reactivity order is Rate of hydrolysis is 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1.