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CAT 2025 Lesson : Jumbled Paragraphs - Sequences II
1.3.3 Parallelism
Sometimes, you will come across two similar types of sentences – examples, definitions or reasons. As these are separate points-of-view, one would typically follow the other. In order to identify which is the second sentence, look for words such as also, similarly, equally, likewise, or, otherwise, etc.
Exception – look out for examples of these two viewpoints – sometimes the structure can be an idea followed by an example, followed by a parallel idea and its example. Otherwise, you will typically have the two parallel ideas in a sequence together.
Parallelism can be exhibited in the following ways:
(1) Two separate occurrences, data points or examples with a similar narrative
(2) Two reasons or logical statements supporting one hypothesis
(3) Contrasting reasons, impacts or points of view for one premise/occurrence/theory
Let us consider examples to understand this in detail.
1.3.4 Grammatical consistency
Grammar is another useful clue to identify a sequence. These help us understand direct sequences (e.g., sequence 41 made of statements 1 and 4), and indirect sequences (e.g. statement 1 has to come only after statement 4, whereby the sequence can be 41 or 431). In any question, look out for the following:
1) A sentence with the noun has to come before any sentence with the corresponding pronoun.
2) A sentence with a or an will precede any sentence which has the same noun along with the (e.g., I bought a car today. The car is a four-seater automatic.)
3) Sentences with words such as Because tend to follow questions (exceptions are where the point is addressed in the same sentence, e.g. Because of the rains, I was 30 minutes late).
4) Sentences with words like but, however, hence, thus, therefore will not be the first sentence in many cases (however, the paragraph should make logical sense)
5) A sentence with abbreviations will follow the sentence which has the full-form, if mentioned
6) Sentences with a shorter name (e.g. just the surname) will follow ones with the full name.
For instance,
Jen Easterly cited the powerful hacking tools that are already being deployed by the likes of North Korea to attack the international banking system. She warned a broader attack of this nature could create financial instability, and that the tools could be deployed against other critical targets.
The use of she in the second sentence helps us to understand that it will appear after the first sentence, possibly immediately after. Similarly, look out for nouns and pronouns. The sentences with pronouns will typically appear after the ones with nouns.
For instance, The first round of tariffs largely applied to raw materials imported by American companies. Only about 1% of the items on the list were consumer goods.
The use of the list in the second sentence, as well as the message being conveyed by the two sentences helps us understand that the second sentence will follow the first. The list refers to the list of items to be taxed.
For instance,
Hyperloop is basically an innovative transport system that uses magnetic levitation (maglev) to transport a pod on the surface through a sealed tube. It’s conceptualised that these pods should be able to reach speeds up to 1000km/hr. The reason these pods will able to travel so fast is due to the application of the vactrain concept. Originally designed by SpaceX and Tesla, the project was then made open-source so that anyone could build on it and utilise the technology.
The first sentence explains the concept of hyperloop, and the second one brings about the benefit. Note the use of it's in the second sentence, which implies that this sentence will come after the first. The third sentence explains the reason behind the high speeds (which were first mentioned in the second sentence) – this has to come after the second sentence as it introduces the speed of these pods.
1.3.5 Connecting words/word pairs
Certain words are connecting words – and, but, therefore, however, hereafter, additionally, etc. If these words are used, you can understand that the sentence with these words will be following another one which would set the context for the information provided in the sentence containing these words.
You should also look for connecting pairs such as not only...but also, either...or, neither...nor, etc. The sentences with these word pairs will be in a sequence with the sentence with the second word/phrase occurring immediately after the first.
For instance,
The United States has been beset by hackers who have plundered the country’s intellectual property and meddled with its political system. But the worst could be yet to come in the form of a “cyber 9/11″ — a term often invoked but rarely defined.
The use of but in the second sentence helps us to understand that it will appear after the second, and will likely come immediately after.
For instance,
There was once a time when it was considered unethical to monitor what people accessed from an information source, such as a library.“The right to privacy — the right to read, consider, and develop ideas and beliefs free from observation or unwanted surveillance by the government or others — is the bedrock foundation for intellectual freedom.” We are dimly becoming aware that we have allowed that foundational bedrock to be monetized. Whether awareness will lead to rejection, or more stringent regulation of the algorithmic parsing of our lives and interests, remains to be seen. Regardless, the EU’s fine on Google shows that the will to resist is still alive.
The words whether and regardless are both connectors in this paragraph, which is all about how we have less privacy in today's digital world.
Sometimes, you will come across two similar types of sentences – examples, definitions or reasons. As these are separate points-of-view, one would typically follow the other. In order to identify which is the second sentence, look for words such as also, similarly, equally, likewise, or, otherwise, etc.
Exception – look out for examples of these two viewpoints – sometimes the structure can be an idea followed by an example, followed by a parallel idea and its example. Otherwise, you will typically have the two parallel ideas in a sequence together.
Parallelism can be exhibited in the following ways:
(1) Two separate occurrences, data points or examples with a similar narrative
(2) Two reasons or logical statements supporting one hypothesis
(3) Contrasting reasons, impacts or points of view for one premise/occurrence/theory
Let us consider examples to understand this in detail.
Example 14
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence.
A. We’ve seen stars that are somehow older than the universe itself.
B. And strange patterns of light have been seen coming from far away stars, sparking speculation of advanced civilizations.
C. Bursts of ultra high energy rays echo from galaxy to galaxy, again without explanation.
D. Other bizarre things seem to be happening.
(1) BDAC (2) CDAB (3) DACB (4) DCBA
Statements A, B and C can be ordered as ABC or ACB. Statements B and C have to follow statement A because of the words and and again respectively. We can select DACB as it's given in option (3).
Because of the word other in statement D, we could have had a sequence ADCB, (not ADCB, because statement B has the word and, and has to follow another bizarre happening). Since this sequence is not mentioned, we can choose option (3) as the correct choice.
Answer: (3) DACB
A. We’ve seen stars that are somehow older than the universe itself.
B. And strange patterns of light have been seen coming from far away stars, sparking speculation of advanced civilizations.
C. Bursts of ultra high energy rays echo from galaxy to galaxy, again without explanation.
D. Other bizarre things seem to be happening.
(1) BDAC (2) CDAB (3) DACB (4) DCBA
Solution
In this paragraph, the author describes bizarre (strange, unexplained) phenomena which we have observed. The context is made clear from statement D. It seems unlikely as the first sentence, because of the word other, but statements A, B and C are all examples for statement D.Statements A, B and C can be ordered as ABC or ACB. Statements B and C have to follow statement A because of the words and and again respectively. We can select DACB as it's given in option (3).
Because of the word other in statement D, we could have had a sequence ADCB, (not ADCB, because statement B has the word and, and has to follow another bizarre happening). Since this sequence is not mentioned, we can choose option (3) as the correct choice.
Answer: (3) DACB
Example 15
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence.
[CAT 2018]
1. But now we have another group: the unwitting enablers.
2. Democracy and high levels of inequality of the kind that have come to characterize the United States are simply incompatible.
3. Believing these people are working for a better world, they are, actually, at most, chipping away at the margins, making slight course corrections, ensuring the system goes on as it is, uninterrupted.
4. Very rich people will always use money to maintain their political and economic power.
We can infer that statement 2, which outlines the issue (the context), is the first sentence. Statement 1 is starting with the word but. Therefore, we need to find a statement which is connected, but contrasting to precede statement 1. We can also infer that this statement should mention or describe the first group of people, based on the word another.
Only statement 4 describes such as group – very rich people. Statements 41 are also suitable logically, as the author expects very rich people to use their money to continue the status quo (it is human nature to fight to retain our possessions or privileges, even if it might not be ethical).
Statement 3 is explaining the actions of these unwitting enablers, and hence, should follow statement 1. Therefore, the complete sequence is 2413.
Answer: 2413
[CAT 2018]
1. But now we have another group: the unwitting enablers.
2. Democracy and high levels of inequality of the kind that have come to characterize the United States are simply incompatible.
3. Believing these people are working for a better world, they are, actually, at most, chipping away at the margins, making slight course corrections, ensuring the system goes on as it is, uninterrupted.
4. Very rich people will always use money to maintain their political and economic power.
Solution
The author is explaining how democracy and inequality should be mutually exclusive, but it is not.We can infer that statement 2, which outlines the issue (the context), is the first sentence. Statement 1 is starting with the word but. Therefore, we need to find a statement which is connected, but contrasting to precede statement 1. We can also infer that this statement should mention or describe the first group of people, based on the word another.
Only statement 4 describes such as group – very rich people. Statements 41 are also suitable logically, as the author expects very rich people to use their money to continue the status quo (it is human nature to fight to retain our possessions or privileges, even if it might not be ethical).
Statement 3 is explaining the actions of these unwitting enablers, and hence, should follow statement 1. Therefore, the complete sequence is 2413.
Answer: 2413
1.3.4 Grammatical consistency
Grammar is another useful clue to identify a sequence. These help us understand direct sequences (e.g., sequence 41 made of statements 1 and 4), and indirect sequences (e.g. statement 1 has to come only after statement 4, whereby the sequence can be 41 or 431). In any question, look out for the following:
1) A sentence with the noun has to come before any sentence with the corresponding pronoun.
2) A sentence with a or an will precede any sentence which has the same noun along with the (e.g., I bought a car today. The car is a four-seater automatic.)
3) Sentences with words such as Because tend to follow questions (exceptions are where the point is addressed in the same sentence, e.g. Because of the rains, I was 30 minutes late).
4) Sentences with words like but, however, hence, thus, therefore will not be the first sentence in many cases (however, the paragraph should make logical sense)
5) A sentence with abbreviations will follow the sentence which has the full-form, if mentioned
6) Sentences with a shorter name (e.g. just the surname) will follow ones with the full name.
For instance,
Jen Easterly cited the powerful hacking tools that are already being deployed by the likes of North Korea to attack the international banking system. She warned a broader attack of this nature could create financial instability, and that the tools could be deployed against other critical targets.
The use of she in the second sentence helps us to understand that it will appear after the first sentence, possibly immediately after. Similarly, look out for nouns and pronouns. The sentences with pronouns will typically appear after the ones with nouns.
For instance, The first round of tariffs largely applied to raw materials imported by American companies. Only about 1% of the items on the list were consumer goods.
The use of the list in the second sentence, as well as the message being conveyed by the two sentences helps us understand that the second sentence will follow the first. The list refers to the list of items to be taxed.
For instance,
Hyperloop is basically an innovative transport system that uses magnetic levitation (maglev) to transport a pod on the surface through a sealed tube. It’s conceptualised that these pods should be able to reach speeds up to 1000km/hr. The reason these pods will able to travel so fast is due to the application of the vactrain concept. Originally designed by SpaceX and Tesla, the project was then made open-source so that anyone could build on it and utilise the technology.
The first sentence explains the concept of hyperloop, and the second one brings about the benefit. Note the use of it's in the second sentence, which implies that this sentence will come after the first. The third sentence explains the reason behind the high speeds (which were first mentioned in the second sentence) – this has to come after the second sentence as it introduces the speed of these pods.
Example 16
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence. Please ignore capitalisation for the sentences following the commas.
A. Ultramarine blue pigment made from the semi-precious lapis lazuli stone was mined far away in Afghanistan and cost more than its weight in gold.
B. Only the most illustrious painters were allowed to use the costly material, while lesser artists were forced to use duller colours that faded under the sun.
C. In 17th Century Europe, when Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens painted their famous masterworks,
D. It wasn’t until the industrial revolution in the 19th Century that a synthetic alternative was invented, and true ultramarine blue finally became widely available.
(1) ABDC (2) CABD (3) CBAD (4) DCBA
As statement C ends with a comma, the statement following it should be one which is a complete sentence with C. We can infer that CA is a sequence logically and grammatically. Statement C is leading up to an event or fact which was true during this time. Statement A has the fact – that a particular shade of blue was really expensive.
We can also infer that CA will be the first two sentences, as this introduces the context of rare blue pigment (note that statement D cannot be the first sentence, as the use of synthetic alternative requires at least one sentence before it, so that we know what the alternative is for).
Now that we know the paragraph is chronological, we can arrive at the sequence CAB (describing the rarity of the blue colour), followed by statement D (the solution). This option is also chronologically correct, starting with the 17 century and moving on to the 19 century. Therefore, option (2) is the correct choice.
Answer: (2) CABD
A. Ultramarine blue pigment made from the semi-precious lapis lazuli stone was mined far away in Afghanistan and cost more than its weight in gold.
B. Only the most illustrious painters were allowed to use the costly material, while lesser artists were forced to use duller colours that faded under the sun.
C. In 17th Century Europe, when Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens painted their famous masterworks,
D. It wasn’t until the industrial revolution in the 19th Century that a synthetic alternative was invented, and true ultramarine blue finally became widely available.
(1) ABDC (2) CABD (3) CBAD (4) DCBA
Solution
The paragraph is about the rare blue pigment in the 17 Century. Let us try to form sequences – while keeping in mind that any of the other sentences can follow statement C, as we have been told to ignore the capitalisation in the beginning of each sentence.As statement C ends with a comma, the statement following it should be one which is a complete sentence with C. We can infer that CA is a sequence logically and grammatically. Statement C is leading up to an event or fact which was true during this time. Statement A has the fact – that a particular shade of blue was really expensive.
We can also infer that CA will be the first two sentences, as this introduces the context of rare blue pigment (note that statement D cannot be the first sentence, as the use of synthetic alternative requires at least one sentence before it, so that we know what the alternative is for).
Now that we know the paragraph is chronological, we can arrive at the sequence CAB (describing the rarity of the blue colour), followed by statement D (the solution). This option is also chronologically correct, starting with the 17 century and moving on to the 19 century. Therefore, option (2) is the correct choice.
Answer: (2) CABD
Example 17
The FIRST and the LAST sentences of the paragraph are numbered 1 & 6. Which of the following combinations of the others (A, B, C, D) given in the options below is the most logically ordered?
1. A big part of today’s culture is the internet.
A. It has not only democratized knowledge, but it’s made it so accessible that those who are curious enough can’t help but embrace the approach of a polymath.
B. As such, we’re going to see more and more people playing at the intersection of different disciplines.
C. While specialization will still have its place, the boundaries between the many aspects of reality are going to continue to be blurred, and those who can embrace such blurring will thrive.
D. Although this may appear to many as unfamiliar, the truth is that it’s actually a far more accurate representation of what is going on.
6. We’ve just been conditioned to think otherwise.
(1) ABCD (2) BACD (3) BCAD (4) DABC
The use of as such in statement B helps us infer that statement B describes the impact of statement A.
Statement C introduces the opposite aspect – specialisation – while continuing to assert that people will also work on a combination of disciplines.
Statements D6 should follow, explaining why the author's hypothesis (1ABC) seems unfamiliar. Therefore, ABCD is the correct sequence and option (1) is the correct choice.
Answer: (1) ABCD
1. A big part of today’s culture is the internet.
A. It has not only democratized knowledge, but it’s made it so accessible that those who are curious enough can’t help but embrace the approach of a polymath.
B. As such, we’re going to see more and more people playing at the intersection of different disciplines.
C. While specialization will still have its place, the boundaries between the many aspects of reality are going to continue to be blurred, and those who can embrace such blurring will thrive.
D. Although this may appear to many as unfamiliar, the truth is that it’s actually a far more accurate representation of what is going on.
6. We’ve just been conditioned to think otherwise.
(1) ABCD (2) BACD (3) BCAD (4) DABC
Solution
We can infer that statement A elaborates on the premise in statement 1, telling us the impact of the internet. The word it in statement A refers to the internet. A polymath is a person of wide knowledge and learning. Therefore, we understand that the author is saying that many curious people will be able to learn about all different topics with the help of the internet.The use of as such in statement B helps us infer that statement B describes the impact of statement A.
Statement C introduces the opposite aspect – specialisation – while continuing to assert that people will also work on a combination of disciplines.
Statements D6 should follow, explaining why the author's hypothesis (1ABC) seems unfamiliar. Therefore, ABCD is the correct sequence and option (1) is the correct choice.
Answer: (1) ABCD
1.3.5 Connecting words/word pairs
Certain words are connecting words – and, but, therefore, however, hereafter, additionally, etc. If these words are used, you can understand that the sentence with these words will be following another one which would set the context for the information provided in the sentence containing these words.
You should also look for connecting pairs such as not only...but also, either...or, neither...nor, etc. The sentences with these word pairs will be in a sequence with the sentence with the second word/phrase occurring immediately after the first.
For instance,
The United States has been beset by hackers who have plundered the country’s intellectual property and meddled with its political system. But the worst could be yet to come in the form of a “cyber 9/11″ — a term often invoked but rarely defined.
The use of but in the second sentence helps us to understand that it will appear after the second, and will likely come immediately after.
For instance,
There was once a time when it was considered unethical to monitor what people accessed from an information source, such as a library.“The right to privacy — the right to read, consider, and develop ideas and beliefs free from observation or unwanted surveillance by the government or others — is the bedrock foundation for intellectual freedom.” We are dimly becoming aware that we have allowed that foundational bedrock to be monetized. Whether awareness will lead to rejection, or more stringent regulation of the algorithmic parsing of our lives and interests, remains to be seen. Regardless, the EU’s fine on Google shows that the will to resist is still alive.
The words whether and regardless are both connectors in this paragraph, which is all about how we have less privacy in today's digital world.
Example 18
The FIRST and the LAST sentences of the paragraph are numbered 1 & 6. The others, labelled A, B, C and D are given below. Which of the following combinations given in the options below is the most logically ordered?
1. Who owns a dance?
A. But, it’s important to remember that dance by its very nature is an ephemeral work of art and in reality, it’s gone the very moment it has taken birth.
B. The choreographer, naturally! would be the expected answer.
C. Answering that requires careful deliberation, although, on the face of it, the question is really a no brainer.
D. Moreover, it is the dancer who embodies a dance, thus giving it form and shape.
6. So, wouldn’t it be fair to say that the dancer can lay claim of ownership as well?
(1) ABCD (2) BACD (3) CBAD (4) DCBA
Therefore, statement B is the first or second sentence in the sequence (we say second because statement C is also quite likely to follow statement 1, since it qualifies the question). Because of this, the sequence is more likely to be 1CB.
Similarly, we can judge that statement D comes immediately before 6, as it supports the dancer. Thus, the sequence D6 is likely.
The usage of moreover in statement D suggests that it is not the first occurrence favouring the dancer and not the choreographer. We can thus infer that statement A is the sentence leading to statement D. Thus, AD6 is the correct sequence.
This leads us to infer that the correct sequence is 1CBAD6, since this is the only option which has either 1B or 1CB as well as AD6. Thus, option (3) is the correct choice.
Answer: (3) CBAD
1. Who owns a dance?
A. But, it’s important to remember that dance by its very nature is an ephemeral work of art and in reality, it’s gone the very moment it has taken birth.
B. The choreographer, naturally! would be the expected answer.
C. Answering that requires careful deliberation, although, on the face of it, the question is really a no brainer.
D. Moreover, it is the dancer who embodies a dance, thus giving it form and shape.
6. So, wouldn’t it be fair to say that the dancer can lay claim of ownership as well?
(1) ABCD (2) BACD (3) CBAD (4) DCBA
Solution
The first sentence asks a question – who owns a dance? The jumbled sentences speak about the dancer and the choreographer. Statement 6 suggests that the dancer owns it, at least in part. The question in the last sentence, suggests that the author first answers the question in statement 1 with the choreographer, and then builds up to the dancer.Therefore, statement B is the first or second sentence in the sequence (we say second because statement C is also quite likely to follow statement 1, since it qualifies the question). Because of this, the sequence is more likely to be 1CB.
Similarly, we can judge that statement D comes immediately before 6, as it supports the dancer. Thus, the sequence D6 is likely.
The usage of moreover in statement D suggests that it is not the first occurrence favouring the dancer and not the choreographer. We can thus infer that statement A is the sentence leading to statement D. Thus, AD6 is the correct sequence.
This leads us to infer that the correct sequence is 1CBAD6, since this is the only option which has either 1B or 1CB as well as AD6. Thus, option (3) is the correct choice.
Answer: (3) CBAD
Example 19
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence.
[CAT 2001] 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 applications 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
Statement C extends this premise, by pointing out that there are some rules even in situations which might be exceptions (have uncontrolled violence). Statement D provides an example of the possible rules (no bystander or outsider should be killed), taking the discussion ahead.
Statement B provides the final conclusion, making the final sequence ACDB, which is present in option (2). the word so, used in the meaning of therefore or hence, also allows us to infer that this statement is the conclusion. Thus, option (2) is the correct choice. Here we are using grammar as well as parallelism – two situations (controlled and uncontrolled violence) ultimately support the author's premise.
Answer: (2) ACDB
[CAT 2001] 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 applications 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
Solution
This paragraph is about the impact of the violence indulged in by feuding families. The use of so, probably and however in statements B, C and D lead us to infer that statement A is the first sentence – this is logical, as statement A establishes the context (the premise that situations which might escalate are clearly defined, at least in theory). Note that the sequence being logical is more important than sundry words.Statement C extends this premise, by pointing out that there are some rules even in situations which might be exceptions (have uncontrolled violence). Statement D provides an example of the possible rules (no bystander or outsider should be killed), taking the discussion ahead.
Statement B provides the final conclusion, making the final sequence ACDB, which is present in option (2). the word so, used in the meaning of therefore or hence, also allows us to infer that this statement is the conclusion. Thus, option (2) is the correct choice. Here we are using grammar as well as parallelism – two situations (controlled and uncontrolled violence) ultimately support the author's premise.
Answer: (2) ACDB
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