Direction: In the items in this section, each passage consists of six sentences. The first and the sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. These are labeled P, Q, R, and S. You are required to find out the proper order for the four sentences and mark accordingly on the Answer Sheet. S1: American idealism is essentially a belief in the idea of progress. S6: This sense they have inherited from the English. P: Therefore, he believes that because of human effort the future will be better than the past. Q: But if Americans are usually optimistic, they are not wholly unrealistic. R: The American tends to view history as a record of human achievement. S: They have some common-sense practicality. The proper sequence should be
R P Q S
Understanding Sentence Reordering (Para Jumbles)
This question asks us to arrange four jumbled sentences (P, Q, R, S) between a fixed starting sentence (S1) and a fixed ending sentence (S6) to form a coherent paragraph. The passage discusses American idealism and its characteristics.
Analyzing the Fixed Sentences
- S1: American idealism is essentially a belief in the idea of progress. This sentence introduces the main topic: American idealism and its core concept of progress.
- S6: This sense they have inherited from the English. This sentence concludes the paragraph by referring to a "sense" inherited from the English. We need to figure out what "This sense" refers to.
Analyzing the Jumbled Sentences (P, Q, R, S)
- P: Therefore, he believes that because of human effort the future will be better than the past. The word "Therefore" indicates that this sentence is a consequence or conclusion drawn from a previous statement. "He" likely refers to the "American" mentioned implicitly or explicitly elsewhere. The belief is about the future being better due to human effort, linking back to the idea of progress.
- Q: But if Americans are usually optimistic, they are not wholly unrealistic. The word "But" introduces a contrast or qualification. It suggests that despite being optimistic (linked to idealism and progress), there is another side – they are not unrealistic. This sentence shifts the focus slightly.
- R: The American tends to view history as a record of human achievement. This sentence describes how Americans see history. Viewing history as achievement directly supports the idea of progress mentioned in S1, suggesting that progress is seen as a historical reality or trend.
- S: They have some common-sense practicality. The pronoun "They" likely refers to "Americans". This sentence describes a characteristic: practicality. This characteristic could be related to the idea of not being wholly unrealistic, as mentioned in Q.
Finding the Logical Flow: Step-by-Step Arrangement
- Starting with S1: S1 introduces the core concept: American idealism as belief in progress. We need a sentence that builds upon or explains this.
- Connecting S1 to R: R states that Americans view history as human achievement. This viewing of history directly supports the belief in progress mentioned in S1. If history is a record of achievement, it implies things have gotten better, reinforcing the idea of progress. So, R seems to logically follow S1. (S1 → R)
- Connecting R to P: P starts with "Therefore" and talks about believing the future will be better *because of human effort*. This is a direct consequence of viewing history as a record of *human achievement* (R). If history shows human effort leads to achievement (R), therefore one believes future effort will lead to better outcomes (P). So, P logically follows R. (R → P)
- Transitioning with Q: R and P describe the optimistic side (idealism, progress, better future). Q starts with "But", introducing a contrast: not wholly unrealistic, despite being optimistic. This contrast fits well after the discussion of optimism (R and P). (P → Q)
- Supporting Q with S: Q states Americans are not wholly unrealistic. S explains *how* they are not unrealistic: they have common-sense practicality. S provides the reason or evidence for the statement in Q. So, S logically follows Q. (Q → S)
- Concluding with S6: S6 says "This sense they have inherited from the English." The "sense" likely refers to the characteristic discussed just before – common-sense practicality (S), which is part of being not wholly unrealistic (Q). So, S6 follows S. (S → S6)
Forming the Complete Sequence
Based on the step-by-step analysis, the logical sequence of the middle sentences is R → P → Q → S. The complete paragraph structure is S1 → R → P → Q → S → S6. S1: American idealism is essentially a belief in the idea of progress. R: The American tends to view history as a record of human achievement. P: Therefore, he believes that because of human effort the future will be better than the past. Q: But if Americans are usually optimistic, they are not wholly unrealistic. S: They have some common-sense practicality. S6: This sense they have inherited from the English. This sequence creates a coherent and flowing paragraph.Final Answer Derivation
The proper order for the jumbled sentences P, Q, R, and S is R P Q S.Revision Table: Para Jumble Strategy
| Strategy Point | Explanation | Application Here |
|---|---|---|
| Identify S1 and S6 | Understand the start and end points and the overall topic. | S1 introduces idealism/progress; S6 ends with inherited "sense". |
| Look for Connectors | Words like "therefore," "but," "however," pronouns, demonstratives ("this," "these") indicate links. | "Therefore" in P, "But" in Q, "They" in S, "This sense" in S6 are crucial clues. |
| Establish Links Between Sentences | Find pairs or small sequences based on logical flow, grammar, and meaning. | S1 → R (progress → history as achievement). R → P (achievement → belief in future effort). Q → S (not unrealistic → practicality). |
| Build the Complete Sequence | Combine the established links to form the full order. | S1 → (R → P) → (Q → S) → S6. Combining gives S1 → R → P → Q → S → S6. |
| Read Through the Full Paragraph | Verify if the arranged sequence makes sense and flows smoothly. | Reading S1, R, P, Q, S, S6 forms a logical paragraph about American optimism and practicality. |
Additional Information: Types of Reading Comprehension Questions
Para jumbles are a common type of question in reading comprehension or verbal ability sections of many exams. They test your ability to understand logical connections and structure in a text. Other common question types include:
- Main Idea Questions: Identifying the central theme of a passage.
- Detail Questions: Finding specific information mentioned in the text.
- Inference Questions: Drawing conclusions based on the information given, even if not explicitly stated.
- Vocabulary Questions: Understanding the meaning of words or phrases in context.
- Tone/Mood Questions: Determining the author's attitude or the feeling conveyed by the passage.
- Author's Purpose Questions: Identifying why the author wrote the passage (to inform, persuade, entertain, etc.).
Practicing different types of reading comprehension questions, including sentence reordering, helps improve overall reading skills and exam performance.
Similar Questions
In this section, each item consists of six sentences of passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as SI and S6. The middle four-sentence in each have been jumbled up and labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences.
S1: The British rule in India has brought about moral, material, cultural and spiritual ruination of this great country.
S6: We are not to kill anybody but it is our dharma to see that the curse of this Government is blotted out.
P: I regard this rule as a curse.
Q: Sedition has become my religion
R: Ours is a non-violent battle
S: I am out to destroy this system of Government.
In this section, each item consists of six sentences of passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as SI and S6. The middle four-sentence in each have been jumbled up and labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences.
S1: We do not know what do to with our knowledge.
S6: In the course of time they may rule over us all together.
P: For example, we are unable to manage our machines.
Q: We already find it difficult to do without machines
R: Machines should be fed properly and waited upon attentively; otherwise they refuse to work or cause destruction.
S: Science has given us superhuman powers, which we do not use properly.
Direction: In this section each item consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been jumbled up and labelled P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences.
S1: The Subsidiary Alliance system was extremely advantageous to the British.
P: They could now maintain a large army at the cost of Indian states
Q: if any war occurred in the territories
R: either of the British ally or of the Britishers
S: This enabled them to fight wars far away from their own territories
S6: They controlled the defence and the foreign relations of the protected ally.
The proper sequence should be
Direction: In this section, each item consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been jumbled up and labelled P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences.
S1: The ruin of Indian handicrafts was reflected in the ruin of the towns and cities which were famous for their manufactures.P: Dacca, Surat, Murshidabad and many other rising industrialQ: ravages of war and plunder, failed toR: survive British conquestS: Cities which had withstood theS6: Centres were developed and laid to waste.The proper sequence should be:Direction: In this section, each item consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been jumbled up and labelled P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences.
S1: The Indian Civil Service gradually developed into one of the most efficient and powerful civil services in the world.S6: though these qualities obviously served British, and not Indian interests.P: and often participated in the making of policyQ: independence, integrity and hard workR: They developed certain traditions ofS: Its members exercised vast powerThe proper sequence should beDirection: In this section each item consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been jumbled up and labelled P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences.
S1: In reality, by signing a Subsidiary Alliance, an Indian state virtually signed away its independence.
P: and of maintaining diplomatic relations
Q: It lost the right of self-defence
R: with its neighbours
S: and of settling its disputes
S6: In fact, the Indian ruler lost all vestiges of sovereignty in external matters.
The proper sequence should be
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
As the ship streams from San Diego
P. as walls of gray water from a distant storm in the North Pacific
Q. making the greener among us miserable with seasickness
R. rock and toss the ship
S. those of us aboard have a personal demonstration of powerful ocean movement
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
Scientists point out
P. of sunspot activity
Q. that it is an aftermath that
R. has now reached its peak
S. of the eleven-year cycle
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the pans of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
The spirit of man
P. has slowly and painfully surmounted
Q. and his growing intelligence
R. all the obstacles that have come in his way
S. has faced all kinds of dangers
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the pans of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
After our school boys had won a well-contested hockey match
P. so that they might communicate the news of their victory to the headmaster
Q. who is a keen sportsman
R. they came to school in high spirits
S. and takes a very lively interest in school games
Important Questions from Para Jumbles
Rearrange the 4 disorganized sentences P, Q, R and S to form a meaningful paragraph.
P : cricket is a religion in India and
Q : most of the other sports suffer
R : due to the extra importance given to cricket as a game
S : it is known to all
Proper order is
A. PQSR
B. PSQR
C. QSPR
D. SPRQ
Rearrange the 4 disorganized sentences P, Q, R and S to form a meaningful paragraph.
P : is mostly produced in rural farms
Q : India is a leading producer of
R : milk is the most important of them and
S : dairy products by volume
Proper order is
A. SRPQ
B. QSPR
C. QPSR
D. QSRP
Rearrange the 4 disorganized sentences P, Q, R and S to form a meaningful paragraph.
P: mostly decided by the market conditions
Q: Sometimes, a United States dollar is worth only 12 pesos in Mexico
R: the rates of exchange between them vary from time to time
S: and some other time it can be 100 pesos
Proper order is -
A. PRSQ
B. QPRS
C. QSRP
D. QSPR
Directions: Given below are four jumbled sentences. Out of the given options select the one that gives their correct order.
A. Anush was very afraid of stray dogs.
B. Anush’s mother saw the dog chasing her son.
C. One evening, when a street dog barked at him, Anush turned and started running.
D. The dog ran after him barking loudly and fiercely.
Sentences of a paragraph are given below in jumbled order. Arrange the sentences in the right order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph.
A. In arid regions it may form an almost erect shrub.
B. The grape is usually a woody vine, climbing by means of tendrils and often reaching a length of 17 metres or more.
C. Small greenish flowers, in clusters, precede the fruit, which varies in colour from almost black to green, red and amber.
D. The edible leaves are alternate, palmately lobed and always tooth-edged.
