Answer
We can rank the orientations according to the magnitude of the torque on the electric dipole:
$(3) \gt (1) = (4) \gt (2)$
Work Step by Step
In the Review & Summary on page 651, the text states: "This potential energy is defined to be zero when $p$ is perpendicular to $E$; it is least ($U = -pE$ ) when $p$ is aligned with $E$ and greatest ($U = pE$) when $p$ is directed opposite $E$."
$\tau = p \times E = p~E~sin~\phi,$
where $\phi$ is the angle between the directions of $p$ and $E$
The magnitude of the torque is larger the closer $\phi$ is to $90^{\circ}$, which means that the magnitude of the potential energy is closer to zero.
We can rank the orientations according to the magnitude of the torque on the electric dipole:
$(3) \gt (1) = (4) \gt (2)$
