Para jumbles are jumbled sentences. Basically, you are given a paragraph, but the sentences are not in the right order. It’s up to you to untie this knot and rearrange the sentences so that they logically make sense. Normally instructions for this type of questions will read "Choose the most logical order of sentences from among the given choices to construct a coherent paragraph". Given below would be 4 or 5 perplexing sentences which he would need to sort and arrange like a jigsaw puzzle.
Establish Link
Between Two Sentences and Then Examine The Options
Suppose you establish the link 'BA'. The given options are:
(a) DABC (b) ACDB (c) CBAD (d) DBAC.
Now you are left with option (c) and (d) to examine. You read the sentences in the order given by these two options and use your methods again to determine which one is correct.
Is establishing links between two sentences easy?
Not ALWAYS!!! However, easy or not, you can certainly establish links between two or more sentences with the help of some friends found in the sentences. These friends are:
TRANSITION WORDS
Transition words make the shift from one idea to another very smooth. They organize and connect the sentences logically. Observing the transition words found in a sentence can often give you a clue about the sentence that will come before/after that particular sentence. Given below are some commonly used transition words:
also, again, as well as, besides, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly, consequently, hence, otherwise, subsequently, therefore, thus, as a rule, generally, for instance, for example, for one thing, above all, aside from, barring, besides, in other words, in short, instead, likewise, on one hand, on the other hand, rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, first of all, to begin with, at the same time, for now, for the time being, in time, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind, after all, all in all to sum-up.
Transition Words: Example from ELITMUS
So how does knowledge of transition words
helps us in parajumbles? Try out this ELITMUS question:
A. But in the
industrial era destroying the enemy's productive capacity means bombing the
factories which are loelitmused in the cities.
B. So in the
agrarian era, if you need to destroy the enemy's productive capacity, what you
want to do is bum his fields, or if you're really vicious, salt them.
C. Now in the
information era, destroying the enemy's productive capacity means destroying
the information infrastructure.
D. How do you
do battle with your enemy?
E. The idea is
to destroy the enemy's productive capacity, and depending upon the economic
foundation, that productive capacity is different in each case F. With
regard to defence, the purpose of the military is to defend the nation and be
prepared to do battle with its enemy.
1. FDEBAC 2. FCABED 3. DEBACF 4. DFEBAC
Answer:
Look at the transition word "but"
in the first sentence. It signifies that the sentence is expressing an
idea contrary to an idea expressed in some previous
sentence. Now we need to find that previous sentence. If we further look at the
beginning of the first sentence, it says "but in the industrial era..."
which suggests that the contrariness is with respect to eras. Looking further,
we see that sentence B and C are also
starting with statement about eras. But the transition word at the start
of C is "now" which expresses present era and
hence it cannot chronologically come before any other past era. That is, if
information era is the present era, talk about any other era will come before this.
So sentence B is the correct sentence to come before the first
sentence.
Likewise, sentence C is the
correct sentence to come after the first sentence (sentence C is
continuing the idea). Therefore, we have the link BAC.
We see that option 1, 3 and 4 all have the
link BAC. Furthermore, all the three options have the link EBAC.
Therefore, we only need to arrange D and F. The
sentence F states that "The purpose is...to battle
with the enemy" and D questions "how do you
battle with the enemy?" Therefore, D will come
after F.
Hence FDEBAC is the correct
arrangement.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Personal pronouns are he, she, it, him, her, they, you, your etc. Remember that personal pronouns always refer to a person, place or thing etc. Therefore, if a sentence contains a personal pronoun without mentioning the person, place or object it is referring to, the person, place or object must have come in the previous sentence. Often, this is a good lead to identify a link.
Personal
Pronouns: Example from ELITMUS:
A. Although
there are large regional variations, it is not infrequent to find a large
number of people sitting here and there and doing nothing.
B. Once in
office, they receive friends and relatives who feel free to call any time
without prior appointment.
C. While
working, one is struck by the slow and clumsy actions and reactions,
indifferent attitudes, procedure rather than outcome orientation, and the lack
of consideration for others.
D. Even those
who are employed often come late to the office and leave early unless they are
forced to be punctual.
E. Work is not
intrinsically valued in India.
F. Quite often
people visit ailing friends and relatives or go out of their way to help them
in their personal matters even during office hours.
1. ECADBF 2. EADCFB 3. EADBFC 4. ABFCBE
Answer:
Look at the personal pronoun "they"
in sentence B: Once in office, they receive
friends and relatives who feel free to call any time without prior appointment.
This they must be referring to some people. The reference to some people only
comes in sentences A, D, and F. Therefore,
one of the sentences will come before sentence B. Let's see the link AB, DB,
and FB;
Link AB- Although there are large regional variations, it is not infrequent to find a large number of people sitting here and there and doing nothing. Once in office, they receive friends and relatives who feel free to call any time without prior appointment.
Link DB- Even
those who are employed often come late to the office and leave early unless
they are forced to be punctual. Once in office, they receive friends and
relatives who feel free to call any time without prior appointment.
Link FB- Quite
often people visit ailing friends and relatives or go out of their way to help
them in their personal matters even during office hours. Once in office, they
receive friends and relatives who feel free to call any time without prior
appointment.
Which of these links makes sense? Only link DB seems coherent. Now, we examine the options with link DB. We see that options 1 and 3 have link DB in them. Also, both the options have link ADBF. Therefore, ADBF is a link. Now we only need to place sentences E and C. We can do that by reading the sentences in the order given in options 1 and 3.
Which of these links makes sense? Only link DB seems coherent. Now, we examine the options with link DB. We see that options 1 and 3 have link DB in them. Also, both the options have link ADBF. Therefore, ADBF is a link. Now we only need to place sentences E and C. We can do that by reading the sentences in the order given in options 1 and 3.
Option 1: Link ECADBF- Work
is not intrinsically valued in India. While working, one is struck by the
slow and clumsy actions and reactions, indifferent attitudes, procedure rather
than outcome orientation, and the lack of consideration for others. Although
there are large regional variations, it is not infrequent to find a large
number of people sitting here and there and doing nothing. Even those who are
employed often come late to the office and leave early unless they are forced
to be punctual. Once in office, they receive friends and relatives who feel
free to call any time without prior appointment. Quite often people visit
ailing friends and relatives or go out of their way to help them in their
personal matters even during office hours.
Option 3: Link EADBFC- Work
is not intrinsically valued in India. Although there are large regional
variations, it is not infrequent to find a large number of people sitting here
and there and doing nothing. Even those who are employed often come late to the
office and leave early unless they are forced to be punctual. Once in office,
they receive friends and relatives who feel free to call any time without prior
appointment. Quite often people visit ailing friends and relatives or go out of
their way to help them in their personal matters even during office hours.
While working, one is struck by the slow and clumsy actions and reactions,
indifferent attitudes, procedure rather than outcome orientation, and the lack
of consideration for others.
Both the options seem plausible. We have to
determine which one of the links EC and EA is
better. Here is the thumb rule when trying to determine plausibility of a link
THE FLOW OF AUTHORS IDEA SHOULD BE COMPLETELY
LOGICAL; THE AUTHOR DOES NOT JUMP FROM ONE IDEA TO OTHER SUDDENLY.
In link EC, sentence E is
talking about work not being valued whereas sentence C is
talking about people being clumsy, indifferent, inconsiderate etc.
Sentence C is NOT talking about value of
work. It is talking about people's behavior. Therefore, EC cannot be a logical
flow.
In link EA, sentence E is
talking about work not being valued and sentence A is talking
about people sitting idle. This certainly says that people do not value work.
Therefore, EA is the correct link. Hence, option 3
is correct.
Personal Pronouns: Example from Elitmus
Here is another elitmus question that seems
tough but can be solved in a matter of seconds. See if you can do it:
A. Passivity
is not, of course, universal.
B. In
areas where there are no lords or laws, or in frontier zones where all men go
armed, the attitude of the peasantry may well be different.
C. So
indeed it may be on the fringe of the un-submissive.
D. However,
for most of the soil-bound peasants the problem is not whether to be normally
passive or active, but when to pass from one state to another.
E. This
depends on an assessment of the political situation.
1. EDAC 2. CDABE 3. EDBAC 4. ABCDE
Answer:
It cannot get easier than this. Look at the
personal pronoun "it" in sentence C: So
indeed it may be on the fringe of the un-submissive. What is
"it" here referring to? And it says that "it may be...
un-submissive." What can be un-submissive? It cannot be "political
situation" (sentence E), "passivity" (sentence A), or
"problem" (sentence D). Only "attitude" (sentence B) can be
un-submissive. Therefore, BC is a link.
The link BC is only present
in option 4 and we need not look any further.
DEMONSTRATIVE
PRONOUNS
The demonstrative pronouns are "this," "that," "these," and "those." "This" and "that" are used to refer to singular nouns or noun phrases and "these" and "those" are used to refer to plural nouns and noun phrases. Whenever a sentence contains a demonstrative pronoun without mentioning the noun or the noun phrase, it means that the previous sentence must be mentioning that noun or noun phrase. Finding that noun or noun phrase helps us connect two sentences.
Demonstrative
Pronouns: Example from ELITMUS
A. Michael
Hofman, a poet and translator, accepts this sorry fact without approval or
complaint.
B. But
thanklessness and impossibility do not daunt him.
C. He
acknowledges too "in fact he returns to the point often " that best
translators of poetry always fail at some level.
D. Hofman feels
passionately about his work, and this is clear from his writings.
E. In terms of
the gap between worth and rewards, translators come somewhere near nurses and
street-cleaners.
1. EACDB 2. ADEBC 3. EACBD 4. DCEAB
Answer:
Again an easy one. Notice the demonstrative
pronoun "this" in sentence A: Michael Hofman, a poet and
translator, accepts this sorry fact without approval or
complaint. Also note that sentence A is introducing Michael Hofman (Michael
Hofman, a poet and translator,...) and will thereby come before every
sentence containing the personal pronoun he or him. So which sorry fact is
sentence A referring to? It can only be the fact found in
sentence E. Also, other sentences contain "he" or
"him".
Therefore, EA is a link.
Link EA is contained in option 1, 3 and 4. But in 4, sentence
D is coming before sentence A, and this cannot happen because sentence A should
be before any other sentence referring to Hofman as sentence A is introducing
Hofman. Therefore, we are left with options 1 and 3. The difference between
options 1 and 3 is the order of sentence D and B.
Let's examine the link DB:
Option 1: Link DB- Hofman
feels passionately about his work, and this is clear from his writings.
But
thanklessness and impossibility do not daunt him.
Does this sound like a plausible flow? Certainly NOT. Therefore, link DB is incorrect and the correct answer is option 3.
Does this sound like a plausible flow? Certainly NOT. Therefore, link DB is incorrect and the correct answer is option 3.
COMBINING IT ALL
WITH LOGIC
Sometimes using logic to decide the order of sentences can yield high dividends. In the previous example, we had used logic to determine that sentence A would come before any other sentence referring Hofman. Keep your eyes open for clues such as these. Here's is the last ELITMUS question that I cracked, using logic; see if you can do the same:
Example from ELITMUS
A. The
situations in which violence occurs and the nature of that violence tends to be
clearly defined at least in theory, as in the proverbial Irishman's
question: "Is this a private fight or can anyone join in?"
B. So
the actual risk to outsiders, though no doubt higher than our societies, is
calculable.
C. Probably
the only uncontrolled applielitmusions of force are those of social superiors
to social inferiors and even here there are probably some rules.
D. However
binding the obligation to kill, members of feuding families engaged in mutual
massacre will be genuinely appalled if by some mischance a bystander or
outsider is killed.
1. DABC 2. ACDB 3. CBAD 4. DBAC
Answer:
The clue to this question came to me from the
word "calculable" in sentence B: So the actual risk to
outsiders, though no doubt higher than our societies, is calculable.
How does something become "calculable"? Then I noticed sentence A and
the phrase "clearly defined in theory..." Something
becomes calculable when it is clearly defined
in theory. No other sentence could give answers to "calculable".
Therefore, the link AB was clearly marked. The link AB was
present in option 1 only. Easy, no?
Notice that I have been going to the option again and again to eliminate one or two options. Form this habit sedulously. It will pay you rich dividends.
Notice that I have been going to the option again and again to eliminate one or two options. Form this habit sedulously. It will pay you rich dividends.
Acronym Approach
Full form vs. short form: In PJ we encounter full and short names sometimes acronyms of some term or institution.
Ex-World Trade Organization – WTO
Dr. Manmohan Singh - Dr. Singh
Karl Marx – Marx
President George W. Bush - President bush or the president
The rule is that if both full form as well as short form is present in different sentences, then the sentence containing full form will come before the sentence containing short form.
Example:
1. If you are used to having your
stimulation come in from outside, your mind never develops its own habits of
thinking and reflecting
2. Marx thought that religion was the opiate,
because it soothed people's pain and suffering and prevented them from
rising in rebellion
3. If Karl Marx was alive today, he would say
that television is the opiate of the people.
4. Television and similar entertainments
are even more of an opiate because of their addictive tendencies.
A. 2134 B.
1423 C. 2431 D.
3241
Answer:
Sentence 2 has Marx (short Form) and sentence
3 has Karl Marx (Full form). So 3 will come before 2. Now look at the options.
In A, B and C, 2 is placed before C3-hence rejected. D is the right answer.
Time Sequence
Approach (TSA)
Either dates or time sequence indielitmusing words:
Be aware of
the time indielitmusion either by giving years - or by using time indielitmusing
words. Arrange the sentences using their proper time sequence. Here are a few
time sequence indielitmusing words -Before after later when
Example 1:
1. Then two astronomers—the German, Johannes
Kepler, and the Italian, Galileo Galilei-started publicly to support the
Copernican theory, despite the fact that the orbits it predicted did not quite
match the ones observed.
2. His idea was that the sun was stationary at
the centre and that the earth and the planets move in circular orbits around
the sun.
3. A simple model was proposed in 1514 by a
Polish priest, Nicholas Copernicus.
4. Nearly a century passed before this idea
was taken seriously.
A.
3421 B.
3241 C.
2314 D. 3142
Solution:
Answer is 3241
The 3rd sentence talks about the time event and other time vents follow it in a chronological order. So option A is Best choice
The 3rd sentence talks about the time event and other time vents follow it in a chronological order. So option A is Best choice
Example 2:
1. By the time he got to Linjeflug four years
later, he had learned many lessons; in fact, he began his second stint as top
dog by calling the entire company together in a hanger and asking for help, a
far cry from his barking out commands just 48months back.
2. At SAS, he arrived at a time crisis.
3. This book is chock-a-block full of
intrusive stories and practical advice, describing Carton's activities at
Vingresor (where he assumed his first presidency at age 32), Linjeflug, and SAS
in particular.
4. He began at Vingresor as an order giver,
not a listener - neither to his people nor to his customers and made every
mistake in the book.
A.
2143 B.
2134 C.
3214
D. 3412
Solution:
4 will come before 1 and 2. Hence 3412.
Alternate: In 3, order is
given - Vingressor, Linjeflug, SAS - arrange according to this.
Alternate: 3 will be the
opening sentence because only 3 has noun (NAME) for he.
Hypothesis or
Theory Approach
If any sentence is working as an example - place it after the sentence for which it is working as an example, not necessarily just after – because one has to explain the idea, it is hypothesis/ theory. It should not be before the idea that it explains.
Example:
1. The potential exchanges between the
officials of IBBF and the Maharashtra Body-Building Association has all the
trappings of a drama we are accustomed to.
2. In the case of sports persons, there is
room for some sympathy, but the apathy of the administrators, which
has even led to sanctions from international bodies, is unpardonable.
3. A case in the point is the hefty
penalty of US $10,000 slapped on the Indian Body-Building Federation for
not fulfilling its commitment for holding the Asian Championships in Mumbai in
October.
4. It is a matter of deep regret and concern
that the sports administrators often cause more harm to the image of the
country than sportsmen and sportswomen do through their dismal performances.
A.
CABD
B. DBCA
C. DABC
D. CDBA
Solution:
Here sentence 3 is an example of sentence
4. So it will come after 4. So now only option B and C remain. Now go by
ACRONYM Method discussed earlier. (IBBF in 1 and Indian Body-Building
Federation in 3) 3 will come before 1.
So only option B remains, which is the
right option.
Articles Approach
Articles can be divided into two elitmusegories –
1. Definite (the) and
2. Indefinite (a and an).
When the author uses 'a / an' - he wants
to make a general statement - wants to introduce the noun followed by a/an
for the first time but when he uses 'the' he wants to refer back to some
previously discussed noun. It means having 'the' is very unlikely in
the opening sentence. If 'a/an' and 'the' both are used for the same noun
then the sentence containing 'the' will come after the sentence containing
a/an.
Noun, Pronoun and
Adjective (NPA) Approach
1. Pronoun – Whenever pronoun comes – it will come in the immediate sentence containing the respective noun.
i. e. A sequence can be like this
Noun
Pronoun
Pronoun
Pronoun
Pronoun
Pronoun
Pronoun
or like
Noun Pronoun
.............. no pronoun
Noun
Pronoun
Noun Pronoun
.............. no pronoun
Noun
Pronoun
i.e. the pronoun sequence will continue till
it is halted by a break (i.e. a sentence containing no pronoun) then if
necessary it will start with the noun again. We can't write pronoun
after a break. It is not a correct form of writing.
Opening – Closing
sentence (OCS) Approach
Supported or free, general or need previous explanation
OCS is particularly useful in 4 sentence
parajumble (where opening sentence is not given)
Let's see the characteristics of an opening sentence
Let's see the characteristics of an opening sentence
It will introduce an idea in the first
hand.
In most of the cases it will use indefinite
article a/an. i.e. if both definite and indefinite articles are used
for the same noun then the sentence containing noun with indefinite article
a/an will come first (may be opening sentence).
The sentence can stand alone
The sentence can stand alone
It will not have pronouns (exception:
if respective noun is not mentioned anywhere). It will not have contrast
words/or words indielitmusing continuation/or words like - hence ,
therefore, so- etc.
Key Words
Approach - KWA
Some words will be repeated in two consecutive sentences.
In most of the cases we repeat some important
words of one sentence in the sentence that follows.
Hence if you are seeing any important
(not like he, she, that, is, are type) then chances are that these
two sentences will be consecutive. Remember it gives you an idea that which
sentences can be consecutive for example 23 or 32 but for exact order you have
to look for some other clue or meaning.
Structure
Approach - SA
Link sentences logically i.e.
Link the sentences logically i.e. see what is
the role played by a specific sentence
Premise
Conclusion
Support
Example
Continuation
Conclusion
Support
Example
Continuation
and then search for some proper sentence
that should come before or the one which will follow.
Indielitmusing
Words Approach - IWA
Take care of words that indielitmuse something helpful to decide sequence.
Some words indielitmuses some specific nature
of sentences that will come before or that will
follow.
Look for the words like
Look for the words like
But
So
Therefore
And
However
So
Therefore
And
However
think what they are indielitmusing.
Signal/Indielitmusing
Word List
Writers use transitions to link their ideas logically. These transitions or signal words are clues that can help you figure out what the sentence actually means and its sequence. Para-jumble sentences often contain several signal words, combining them in complex ways.
NOTE: The list given
below is not a comprehensive list. You must collect the signal words while
reading.
Cause and Effect
Signals
Look for words or phrases explicitly indielitmusing
that one thing causes another or logically determines another.
Accordingly
in order to
because
so...that
consequently
therefore
given
thus
hence
when...then
if...then
in order to
because
so...that
consequently
therefore
given
thus
hence
when...then
if...then
Support Signal
Words
Look for the words or phrases supporting
a given sentences. These words containing sentences will not be the
opening sentence. These sentences will follow immediately the sentence
supported.
Furthermore
Additionally
Also
And
Too
as well
besides
indeed
likewise
moreover
Additionally
Also
And
Too
as well
besides
indeed
likewise
moreover
Contrast Signals
(Explicit)
Precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implielitmusion.
Look for function words or phrases
(conjunctions, sentence adverbs, etc.) that explicitly indielitmuse a contrast
between one idea and another, setting up a reversal of a thought.
Albeit
Nevertheless
Although
Nonetheless
But
Notwithstanding
Despite
on the contrary
even though
on the other hand
however
rather than
In contrast
Still
In spite of
While
Instead of
yet
Nevertheless
Although
Nonetheless
But
Notwithstanding
Despite
on the contrary
even though
on the other hand
however
rather than
In contrast
Still
In spite of
While
Instead of
yet
Contrast Signals
(Implicit)
Implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something
Look out for words which indielitmuse contrast
or turn a situation or something unexpected possibly even unwanted, has
occurred.
Anomaly
Anomalous
Anomalously
Illogic
Illogical
Illogically
Incongruity
Incongruous
Incongruously
Irony
Ironic
Ironically
Paradox
Paradoxical
Paradoxically
Surprise
Surprising
Surprisingly
Unexpected
Unexpectedly
Anomalous
Anomalously
Illogic
Illogical
Illogically
Incongruity
Incongruous
Incongruously
Irony
Ironic
Ironically
Paradox
Paradoxical
Paradoxically
Surprise
Surprising
Surprisingly
Unexpected
Unexpectedly
Time sequence
indielitmusing words
Before
After
Later
When
All the Rules in
Brief
The approaches for PARAJUMBLE
Acronym Approach – full
form vs. short form
Time Sequence Approach – TSA – either dates or time sequence indielitmusing words
Examples Approach – EA – after an hypothesis or theory
Articles – definite and indefinite
Noun, Pronoun, and Demonstrative Adjective – NPDA Approach – limited to not just noun
Opening – Closing Sentence Approach – OCSA – supported or free, general or need previous explanation
Key Words Approach – KWA – words repeated in two consecutive sentences
Structure Approach – SA – link sentences logically.
Indielitmusing Words Approach – IWA – take care of words that indielitmuse something helpful to decide the sequence.
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