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Question

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: 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

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2018 GAT Previous Year Paper (22-Apr-2018)
The correct answer is

Q P S R

Understanding Paragraph Jumbling: Subsidiary Alliance Effects

This question asks us to arrange four jumbled sentences (P, Q, R, S) to form a coherent paragraph along with the given first (S1) and sixth (S6) sentences. The passage discusses the impact of the Subsidiary Alliance on Indian states.

  • S1: In reality, by signing a Subsidiary Alliance, an Indian state virtually signed away its independence.
  • S6: In fact, the Indian ruler lost all vestiges of sovereignty in external matters.

The core idea of the passage is how the Subsidiary Alliance led to the loss of independence and sovereignty for Indian states. The sentences P, Q, R, and S describe specific rights or powers that were lost.

  • P: and of maintaining diplomatic relations
  • Q: It lost the right of self-defence
  • R: with its neighbours
  • S: and of settling its disputes

Step-by-Step Sentence Arrangement

Let's analyze the flow:

  1. S1 establishes that signing the alliance meant losing independence. The next sentence should elaborate on what rights were lost.
  2. Sentence Q starts with "It lost the right of self-defence...", which directly explains one aspect of losing independence. The "It" refers back to the "Indian state" in S1. So, Q is a strong candidate to follow S1.
  3. Now we have P, R, and S. These sentences mention losing other rights: "maintaining diplomatic relations" (P) and "settling its disputes" (S), and specify "with its neighbours" (R).
  4. Q lists the first right lost: self-defence. It's likely that P and S list further rights lost, following a pattern like "lost the right of X and of Y and of Z".
  5. P says "and of maintaining diplomatic relations". This continues the list of lost rights started by Q. So, Q followed by P seems logical. "It lost the right of self-defence and of maintaining diplomatic relations..."
  6. S says "and of settling its disputes". This also fits as another item in the list of lost rights. So, the sequence Q P S seems plausible so far: "It lost the right of self-defence and of maintaining diplomatic relations and of settling its disputes..."
  7. R is "with its neighbours". This phrase modifies both "maintaining diplomatic relations" (P) and "settling its disputes" (S). In the sequence Q P S R, R comes at the end, modifying both P and S. The full phrase would be "lost the right of self-defence and of maintaining diplomatic relations and of settling its disputes with its neighbours." This makes grammatical and logical sense, describing the external affairs powers that were surrendered.
  8. This constructed sequence (Q P S R) logically follows S1 (losing independence) and leads into S6 (losing sovereignty in external matters). The lost rights listed (self-defence, diplomatic relations, settling disputes with neighbours) are all related to external sovereignty.

Verifying the Sequence: Q P S R

Let's read the full paragraph with the proposed sequence:

S1: In reality, by signing a Subsidiary Alliance, an Indian state virtually signed away its independence.

Q: It lost the right of self-defence

P: and of maintaining diplomatic relations

S: and of settling its disputes

R: with its neighbours

S6: In fact, the Indian ruler lost all vestiges of sovereignty in external matters.

The paragraph flows smoothly. S1 introduces the loss of independence, Q P S R details the specific rights lost (self-defence, diplomatic relations, settling disputes with neighbours), and S6 summarizes this as a loss of external sovereignty. This sequence is coherent and logical.

Final Proper Sequence

Based on the logical flow and grammatical connections, the correct sequence of the four sentences is Q P S R.

Sentence Content Role in Sequence
S1 In reality, by signing a Subsidiary Alliance, an Indian state virtually signed away its independence. Introduces the topic: loss of independence via Subsidiary Alliance.
Q It lost the right of self-defence Begins the list of lost rights. Refers to the 'Indian state'.
P and of maintaining diplomatic relations Continues the list of lost rights.
S and of settling its disputes Continues the list of lost rights.
R with its neighbours Completes the phrases in P and S, specifying the external context of the lost rights.
S6 In fact, the Indian ruler lost all vestiges of sovereignty in external matters. Summarizes the effect as loss of external sovereignty.

Thus, the correct arrangement of P, Q, R, and S is Q P S R.

Revision Table: Subsidiary Alliance Effects

Concept Description
Subsidiary Alliance A treaty between a native ruler of India and the British East India Company, where the Indian ruler accepted British supremacy.
Loss of Independence The native state could no longer act autonomously in its own defence or external affairs.
Loss of Self-Defence The state was protected by the British army but could not raise or maintain its own forces independently.
Loss of Diplomatic Relations The state could not engage in foreign policy or relations with other states without British approval.
Loss of Settling Disputes Disputes with neighbours had to be mediated or handled by the British Resident.
Loss of External Sovereignty The state retained some internal administration but had no control over external affairs, effectively becoming subservient to the British.

Additional Information: Subsidiary Alliance Details

The Subsidiary Alliance system was a key tool used by the British East India Company to expand its control over Indian states. It was introduced by Governor-General Lord Wellesley.

Key features included:

  • The Indian ruler had to accept a permanent British force stationed within his territory.
  • The ruler had to pay for the maintenance of this force. If he failed to pay, part of his territory was ceded to the British.
  • A British Resident was posted at the ruler's court.
  • The ruler could not enter into any alliance with any other power or wage war without the permission of the British.
  • The ruler could not employ any European without the permission of the British.
  • The British promised to protect the state from external enemies and internal revolts.

While seemingly offering protection, the alliance effectively stripped the Indian rulers of their real power and brought their states under increasing British influence, leading to the eventual annexation of many territories.

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Important Questions from Para Jumbles

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    Q : most of the other sports suffer

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    Proper order is

    A. PQSR

    B. PSQR

    C. QSPR

    D. SPRQ

  2. 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

  3. 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

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    A. PRSQ

    B. QPRS

    C. QSRP

    D. QSPR

  4. Directions: Given below are four jumbled sentences. Out of the given options select the one that gives their correct order.

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  5. Sentences of a paragraph are given below in jumbled order. Arrange the sentences in the right order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph.

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    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.

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