Directions: 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. But he has reached out to millions of people the world over and helped to improve their lives. B. Born in downtown Los Angeles in 1960, Tony Robins came from very humble beginnings. C. Now he travels by private jet and owns properties in many parts of the world. D. His family had been fed by others when they did not have enough money for food.
BDCA
Arranging Sentences: Tony Robbins Paragraph
The question asks us to arrange the given jumbled sentences to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph about Tony Robbins. To do this, we need to identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentences, and look for logical connections, transitions, and the flow of ideas.
Here are the sentences provided:
- A. But he has reached out to millions of people the world over and helped to improve their lives.
- B. Born in downtown Los Angeles in 1960, Tony Robins came from very humble beginnings.
- C. Now he travels by private jet and owns properties in many parts of the world.
- D. His family had been fed by others when they did not have enough money for food.
Identifying the Starting Sentence
A good paragraph usually starts with a topic sentence that introduces the subject. Sentence B introduces Tony Robbins and mentions his "very humble beginnings." This seems like a suitable opening sentence.
Sentence A starts with "But," indicating a contrast, so it cannot be the first sentence. Sentence C starts with "Now," indicating a change in circumstances, implying a contrast with the past, so it's unlikely to be the first. Sentence D provides a specific detail about his family's past circumstances, which likely follows a sentence introducing his humble beginnings.
Thus, sentence B is the most likely starting sentence.
Building the Paragraph: Finding the Flow
If B is the start (introducing humble beginnings), what comes next? Sentence D provides a specific example ("His family had been fed by others...") that directly supports the idea of "very humble beginnings" mentioned in B. So, BD is a logical sequence.
After establishing the humble past (B and D), the paragraph needs to move forward. Sentence C talks about his current status ("Now he travels by private jet and owns properties..."). This presents a clear contrast with his humble past, showing his success. So, B $\rightarrow$ D $\rightarrow$ C creates a narrative flow from past poverty to present wealth.
Finally, sentence A starts with "But he has reached out to millions...". The word "But" often introduces a contrast or a more important point after discussing something else, like material success. Sentence C discusses his material wealth (private jet, properties). Sentence A talks about his impact on people's lives. This fits perfectly as a follow-up to C: he is wealthy (C), but the significant aspect of his life is his impact on others (A).
So, the order BDCA follows a logical progression:
- Introduce Tony Robbins and his humble origins (B).
- Provide a specific detail illustrating the humble origins (D).
- Describe his current material success, contrasting with his past (C).
- Describe his significant impact on others, potentially contrasting the purpose of his life with mere material wealth (A).
Step-by-Step Verification of BDCA
- B: Born in downtown Los Angeles in 1960, Tony Robins came from very humble beginnings. (Sets the scene and introduces the subject's background).
- D: His family had been fed by others when they did not have enough money for food. (Expands on the "humble beginnings" with a concrete example).
- C: Now he travels by private jet and owns properties in many parts of the world. (Shows a dramatic change from his past, highlighting current success/wealth).
- A: But he has reached out to millions of people the world over and helped to improve their lives. (Adds a crucial dimension to his success, contrasting his material wealth with his significant humanitarian/professional impact. The 'But' signals that his impact is perhaps the more noteworthy aspect compared to his personal wealth).
This sequence creates a smooth and coherent paragraph, moving from background to detail, then to current status (material), and finally to impact (purpose).
Summary of the Correct Order
Based on the logical flow and sentence connections, the correct arrangement is BDCA.
| Order | Sentence | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Introduces the subject and main theme (humble beginnings). |
| 2 | D | Provides specific detail supporting the theme of humble beginnings. |
| 3 | C | Contrasts the humble past with the successful present (material). |
| 4 | A | Adds another aspect of current success (impact), contrasting or supplementing the material success mentioned in C. |
Revision Table: Checking Sentence Arrangement
Reviewing the process helps reinforce the strategy for sentence ordering. Key steps involve identifying the introduction, body sentences, and potential conclusion, and looking for connectors and logical transitions.
The BDCA order successfully transitions from past circumstances to present achievements, creating a complete mini-biography summary.
Additional Information: Tips for Paragraph Arrangement
Here are some general tips for arranging jumbled sentences:
- Look for the topic sentence, which usually introduces the main idea.
- Identify sentences that provide supporting details or examples.
- Look for chronological order (time sequence).
- Identify cause and effect relationships.
- Pay attention to transition words and phrases (e.g., 'But', 'However', 'Therefore', 'Also', 'Now', 'In addition', 'For example').
- Look for pronoun references (e.g., 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they') and ensure they refer back to a noun mentioned in a previous sentence.
- Read the arranged paragraph to ensure it flows logically and makes sense.
Practicing with different types of jumbled paragraphs helps improve this skill for reading comprehension and grammar sections in exams.
Important Questions from Para Jumbles
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 labelled 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: At the roadside, the driver will be asked to blow through a small glass tube into a plastic bag.
S6: The driver will be asked to go to the police station.
P: And if the colour change does not reach the line the driver cannot be punished under the new law.
Q: Inside the tube are chemically treated crystals which change colour if the driver has alcohol on his breath.
R: But if the colour change does reach the line then the test has proved positive.
S: If the colour change goes beyond a certain line marked on the tube this indicates that the driver is probably over the specified limit.
The proper sequence should be
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: Hope springs eternally in the heart of man.
S6: This is the central idea of the poem.
P: But hope is everlasting.
Q: Love, friendship, and youth perish.
R: It is nursed by the glorious elements of nature.
S: Man derives hope from nature in his gallant struggle after some noble ideal.
The proper sequence should be
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: Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson were spending a weekend in a University town.
S6: It was clear that something very unusual happened.
P: One evening they received a visit from an acquaintance, Mr. Hilton Soames.
Q: On that occasion, he was in a state of great agitation.
R: They were staying in furnished rooms, close to the library.
S: Mr. Soames was a tall, thin man of a nervous and excitable nature.
The proper sequence should be
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: The machines that drive modern civilisation derive their power from coal and oil.
S6: Nuclear energy may also be effectively used in this respect.
P: But they are not inexhaustible.
Q: These sources may not be exhausted very soon.
R: A time may come when some other sources have to be tapped and utilised.
S: Power may, of course, be obtained in future from forests, water, wind and withered vegetables.
The proper sequence should be
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: The body can never stop.
S6: It comes from food.
P: To support this endless activity, the body needs all the fuel for action.
Q: Sometimes it is more active than at other times, but it is always moving.
R: Even in the deepest sleep we must breathe.
S: The fuel must come from somewhere.
The proper sequence should be
