JEE Main 25 Feb 2021 Shift 2 Solved Paper

Benzene on reaction with CH3COCl∕AlCl3 gives acetophenone which on reduction with Zn−Hg∕HCl gives ethyl benzene.
Bromination of ethyl benzene give 4-bromo-ethylbenzene which upon nitration gives 4-bromo-2-nitroethyl benzene.[-l-effect of Br directs NO2−at its meta-position]
So, option (b) is the correct sequence of reagents used.