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CAT 2025 Lesson : Jumbled Paragraphs - Solved examples
2. Solved examples
Example 24
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence.
[IIFT 2019]
A. But clearly, the government still has the final say.
B. In the past few years, the Reserve Bank of India has wrested considerable powers from the government when it comes to monetary policy.
C. The RBI's announcements on certain issues become effective only after the government notifies them.
D. Isn't it time the government vested the RBI with powers to sanction such changes, leaving their ratification later?
(1) ACBD (2) ACDB (3) DACB (4) BACD
Statements A, C and D should also be a sequence as they are contradicting statement B. The word but in statement A helps us infer that statement A should follow statement B.
Statement C proves the premise in statement A, with an example. Statement D then concludes with a question stating that this power should also be given to the RBI.
Therefore, option (4) – BACD – is the correct choice.
Answer: (4) BACD
[IIFT 2019]
A. But clearly, the government still has the final say.
B. In the past few years, the Reserve Bank of India has wrested considerable powers from the government when it comes to monetary policy.
C. The RBI's announcements on certain issues become effective only after the government notifies them.
D. Isn't it time the government vested the RBI with powers to sanction such changes, leaving their ratification later?
(1) ACBD (2) ACDB (3) DACB (4) BACD
Solution
In this paragraph, we learn about the RBI and its powers. The author introduces this in statement B, which speaks about the increasing powers of the RBI.Statements A, C and D should also be a sequence as they are contradicting statement B. The word but in statement A helps us infer that statement A should follow statement B.
Statement C proves the premise in statement A, with an example. Statement D then concludes with a question stating that this power should also be given to the RBI.
Therefore, option (4) – BACD – is the correct choice.
Answer: (4) BACD
Example 25
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence.
1. Organisation and knowledge, in other words, made a bigger contribution to productive power than the work of making and running the machines.
2. He was clear that, in such an economy, the main productive force would be information.
3. The productive power of such machines as the automated cotton-spinning machine, the telegraph and the steam locomotive did not depend on the amount of labour it took to produce them but on the state of social knowledge.
4. In the “Fragment”, Marx imagines an economy in which the main role of machines is to produce, and the main role of people is to supervise them.
Considering the statements, statement 4 provides the context. It is also the only statement where Marx is mentioned. Therefore, it should be the first sentence as the others are explaining this premise in more detail.
We can also infer that statement 1 should be the conclusion – it explains the premise of information being more important than production (which is introduced in statement 4 and explained in statements 2 and 3). The words in other words also help us to understand that statement 1 is the last sentence and not the first. Statement 2 has to follow statement 4, as it introduces the importance of information, and then we can have statement 3 which further differentiates between information and production (running of the machines).
Therefore, 4231 is the correct sequence.
Answer: 4231
1. Organisation and knowledge, in other words, made a bigger contribution to productive power than the work of making and running the machines.
2. He was clear that, in such an economy, the main productive force would be information.
3. The productive power of such machines as the automated cotton-spinning machine, the telegraph and the steam locomotive did not depend on the amount of labour it took to produce them but on the state of social knowledge.
4. In the “Fragment”, Marx imagines an economy in which the main role of machines is to produce, and the main role of people is to supervise them.
Solution
This paragraph is about Karl Marx's prediction of the modern economy, which would be based on machines and information.Considering the statements, statement 4 provides the context. It is also the only statement where Marx is mentioned. Therefore, it should be the first sentence as the others are explaining this premise in more detail.
We can also infer that statement 1 should be the conclusion – it explains the premise of information being more important than production (which is introduced in statement 4 and explained in statements 2 and 3). The words in other words also help us to understand that statement 1 is the last sentence and not the first. Statement 2 has to follow statement 4, as it introduces the importance of information, and then we can have statement 3 which further differentiates between information and production (running of the machines).
Therefore, 4231 is the correct sequence.
Answer: 4231
Example 26
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence.
[CAT 2020]
(1) While you might think that you see or are aware of all the changes that happen in your immediate environment, there is simply too much information for your brain to fully process everything.
(2) Psychologists use the term ‘change blindness’ to describe this tendency of people to be blind to changes though they are in the immediate environment.
(3) It cannot be aware of every single thing that happens in the world around you.
(4) Sometimes big shifts happen in front of your eyes and you are not at all aware of these changes.
We can infer that statement 13 is a sequence explain the challenge faced by our brains (too much information, and its impact).
At this point, three sequences are possible – 4213, 4132 or 1342. We can eliminate 4213 and 4132 as the lack of awareness mentioned in statement 4 is introduced in the sequence 13.
1342 is logically correct – the author explains how too much information can prevent us from realising major shifts (134), followed by the conclusion which explains the name of this phenomenon (statement 2). Thus, we can select this sequence.
Answer: 1342
[CAT 2020]
(1) While you might think that you see or are aware of all the changes that happen in your immediate environment, there is simply too much information for your brain to fully process everything.
(2) Psychologists use the term ‘change blindness’ to describe this tendency of people to be blind to changes though they are in the immediate environment.
(3) It cannot be aware of every single thing that happens in the world around you.
(4) Sometimes big shifts happen in front of your eyes and you are not at all aware of these changes.
Solution
In this paragraph, the author explains why we might not notice changes around us. This is because there is too much information around us, making it difficult for the brain to process everything and identify major changes (big shifts).We can infer that statement 13 is a sequence explain the challenge faced by our brains (too much information, and its impact).
At this point, three sequences are possible – 4213, 4132 or 1342. We can eliminate 4213 and 4132 as the lack of awareness mentioned in statement 4 is introduced in the sequence 13.
1342 is logically correct – the author explains how too much information can prevent us from realising major shifts (134), followed by the conclusion which explains the name of this phenomenon (statement 2). Thus, we can select this sequence.
Answer: 1342
Example 27
Read the following statements and arrange the four statements in a logical sequence. Please ignore capitalisation for the sentence following the commas.
A. If you are asked to 'describe a spoon to a Martian',
B. For instance, if your Martian is a mere brain encased in rock,
C. You will have to explain fingers to him before you can explain a spoon.
D. You must decide whether he can see or hear or grasp the concept of tools.
E. A keen mind will tell you that you must decide the physique of the Martian before you answer.
(1) ADBCE (2) AEDBC (3) BDCEA (4) EADBC
Either statement D or E can follow statement A. Both tell us to think before we answer – statement E is more likely to come ahead of statement D, as it is more generic, while statement D is giving examples (can the Martian see, hear or understand tools).
At this point, we can infer that option is probably the correct choice – so let us use this sequence. In statements AED, the author asks us how to describe a spoon to a Martian, and tells us what we need to think of before we answer.
Statements BC then use a specific example to drive home this point – if the Martian does not have a body, we need to explain fingers before he can understand spoons. Therefore, this sequence is logical, and option (2) is the correct choice.
Option (1) also has statement A as the first sentence, but the sequence ADBCE does not make logical sense as statement E refers to the question asked in statement A, and is not a conclusive sentence.
Answer: (2) AEDBC
A. If you are asked to 'describe a spoon to a Martian',
B. For instance, if your Martian is a mere brain encased in rock,
C. You will have to explain fingers to him before you can explain a spoon.
D. You must decide whether he can see or hear or grasp the concept of tools.
E. A keen mind will tell you that you must decide the physique of the Martian before you answer.
(1) ADBCE (2) AEDBC (3) BDCEA (4) EADBC
Solution
The paragraph is about the concept of description, which is explained with an example of 'describing a spoon to a Martian'. All the sentences are about this thought experiment, and there is no other sentence introducing communication or its challenges. Thus, we can infer that statement A is the first sentence, as it introduces the experiment.Either statement D or E can follow statement A. Both tell us to think before we answer – statement E is more likely to come ahead of statement D, as it is more generic, while statement D is giving examples (can the Martian see, hear or understand tools).
At this point, we can infer that option is probably the correct choice – so let us use this sequence. In statements AED, the author asks us how to describe a spoon to a Martian, and tells us what we need to think of before we answer.
Statements BC then use a specific example to drive home this point – if the Martian does not have a body, we need to explain fingers before he can understand spoons. Therefore, this sequence is logical, and option (2) is the correct choice.
Option (1) also has statement A as the first sentence, but the sequence ADBCE does not make logical sense as statement E refers to the question asked in statement A, and is not a conclusive sentence.
Answer: (2) AEDBC
Example 28
Choose the most logical order of the sentences from among the four given choices to construct a coherent paragraph from sentences 1 to 6.
1. A mask-like face engulfed in undergrowth, leaves sprouting eerily from his wretched mouth.
A. In his heyday, the Green Man could be found glaring in churches across Europe.
B. Is he a positive symbol of springtime renewal?
C. Sometimes beautiful, often sinister, this mysterious figure – so common in medieval sculpture – is known as ‘the Green Man’.
D. But who is he? And where did he come from?
E. Since then, he has permeated folklore, popular culture and literature.
6. Or an image of dereliction and decay – a dark reminder of man’s mortality?
(1) 1DBCEA6
(2) 1CAEDB6
(3) 1CDBAE6
(4) 1EDBCA6
Statement 1 describes the creature later called the Green Man. The paragraph is ending with questions, and therefore, statements B and D should precede statement 6. DB6 is a sequence, as D initiates the questions while B and 6 question whether the Green Man is a positive or negative symbol.
Note that at this point we can select option (2).
Owing to the quotes in statement C, we can see that this statement introduces the name 'the Green Man'. Statements AE follow, elaborating the journey of the Green Man, from glaring in churches to being found in folklore, popular culture and literature.
Therefore, option (2) – 1CAEDB6 – is the correct choice.
Answer: (2) 1CAEDB6
1. A mask-like face engulfed in undergrowth, leaves sprouting eerily from his wretched mouth.
A. In his heyday, the Green Man could be found glaring in churches across Europe.
B. Is he a positive symbol of springtime renewal?
C. Sometimes beautiful, often sinister, this mysterious figure – so common in medieval sculpture – is known as ‘the Green Man’.
D. But who is he? And where did he come from?
E. Since then, he has permeated folklore, popular culture and literature.
6. Or an image of dereliction and decay – a dark reminder of man’s mortality?
(1) 1DBCEA6
(2) 1CAEDB6
(3) 1CDBAE6
(4) 1EDBCA6
Solution
Let us analyse the first and last sentence in order to identify the correct sequence.Statement 1 describes the creature later called the Green Man. The paragraph is ending with questions, and therefore, statements B and D should precede statement 6. DB6 is a sequence, as D initiates the questions while B and 6 question whether the Green Man is a positive or negative symbol.
Note that at this point we can select option (2).
Owing to the quotes in statement C, we can see that this statement introduces the name 'the Green Man'. Statements AE follow, elaborating the journey of the Green Man, from glaring in churches to being found in folklore, popular culture and literature.
Therefore, option (2) – 1CAEDB6 – is the correct choice.
Answer: (2) 1CAEDB6
8. Cheatsheet
Jumbled Paragraphs or Para-jumbles questions consist of a list of sentences in a random order. You are expected to arrange the sentences sequentially in the most logical manner.
The different types of Para-jumble questions are:
1) Straight-forward questions – these questions will ask you to arrange 4 or 5 jumbled sentences in the correct order. These can be with with or without options.
2) Odd-one-out – these questions will be in a similar format as jumbled sentences, with an additional sentence that does sync (Odd-one-out). You will be asked to simply identify the sentence which is not in context with the rest, or provide the correct sequence without it.
3) Fixed first and/or last sentence – here, you will encounter 4 or 5 jumbled sentences within a given beginning and ending sentence.
Solving strategies:
1) Identifying the first sentence, which can be:
- A general observation leading to a specific example
- A hypothesis followed by data/experiment
- An idea and its explanation
- A chronological narration
2) Identifying the ending sentence, which will typically be a conclusion.
3) Identifying sequences of 2-3 sentences, based on:
- Chronology
- Cause and effect
- Parallelism (two explanations/reasons, examples or ideas)
- Grammatical consistency (look out for pronouns, articles, key words – but, however, because, so, thus, therefore – and names)
- Connectors and word pairs (words such as then, but, however, if…then etc.)
4) Paragraph structure – identifying the structure of the paragraph can be used to classify the sentences and understand the sequence. Sentences can have one or more of these functions:
- Introducing an concept, idea or hypothesis
- Explaining a concept, idea or hypothesis
- Supporting/contradicting an idea or hypothesis with examples
- Analysing/debating a problem or a hypothesis
- Providing examples for a general observation
- Narrating an event
- Re-emphasising or re-stating a hypothesis
- Concluding the topic
Use the options to guide you and reduce time taken to form the sequence, wherever available (e.g., you can eliminate options after having identified the first or last sentence, sequences, etc.).
The different types of Para-jumble questions are:
1) Straight-forward questions – these questions will ask you to arrange 4 or 5 jumbled sentences in the correct order. These can be with with or without options.
2) Odd-one-out – these questions will be in a similar format as jumbled sentences, with an additional sentence that does sync (Odd-one-out). You will be asked to simply identify the sentence which is not in context with the rest, or provide the correct sequence without it.
3) Fixed first and/or last sentence – here, you will encounter 4 or 5 jumbled sentences within a given beginning and ending sentence.
Solving strategies:
1) Identifying the first sentence, which can be:
- A general observation leading to a specific example
- A hypothesis followed by data/experiment
- An idea and its explanation
- A chronological narration
2) Identifying the ending sentence, which will typically be a conclusion.
3) Identifying sequences of 2-3 sentences, based on:
- Chronology
- Cause and effect
- Parallelism (two explanations/reasons, examples or ideas)
- Grammatical consistency (look out for pronouns, articles, key words – but, however, because, so, thus, therefore – and names)
- Connectors and word pairs (words such as then, but, however, if…then etc.)
4) Paragraph structure – identifying the structure of the paragraph can be used to classify the sentences and understand the sequence. Sentences can have one or more of these functions:
- Introducing an concept, idea or hypothesis
- Explaining a concept, idea or hypothesis
- Supporting/contradicting an idea or hypothesis with examples
- Analysing/debating a problem or a hypothesis
- Providing examples for a general observation
- Narrating an event
- Re-emphasising or re-stating a hypothesis
- Concluding the topic
Use the options to guide you and reduce time taken to form the sequence, wherever available (e.g., you can eliminate options after having identified the first or last sentence, sequences, etc.).
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