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Question

Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the part of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and choose the correct sequence.

P: trade operating from a colony

Q: held a meeting

R: demanding a probe into the illegal drug

S: the residents of the city

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2019 Elementary Mathematics Previous Year Paper (03-Feb-2019)
The correct answer is

S Q R P

Understanding Jumbled Sentence Rearrangement

This question asks us to take four jumbled parts of a sentence, labeled P, Q, R, and S, and arrange them in the correct order to form a meaningful and grammatically sound sentence. We need to identify the logical flow of ideas to connect these parts.

Analyzing the Sentence Parts

Let's look closely at each part:

  • P: trade operating from a colony
  • Q: held a meeting
  • R: demanding a probe into the illegal drug
  • S: the residents of the city

Our goal is to find the arrangement that makes the most sense when read together.

Step-by-Step Sentence Construction

Let's try to build the sentence logically:

  1. Find the Subject: We need to identify who or what the sentence is about. Looking at the parts, "the residents of the city" (S) seems like the most likely subject. A sentence often starts with its subject. Let's assume S is the beginning.
  2. Find the Action/Verb: What did "the residents of the city" do? The part "held a meeting" (Q) describes an action performed by residents. So, S followed by Q makes sense: "The residents of the city held a meeting..."
  3. Determine the Purpose/Content of the Action: What was the meeting about or what were they doing in the meeting? The part "demanding a probe into the illegal drug" (R) fits well as a description of the meeting's purpose. So, S Q R could be the sequence: "The residents of the city held a meeting demanding a probe into the illegal drug..."
  4. Identify What the Action Refers To: The phrase in R mentions "the illegal drug". The remaining part, "trade operating from a colony" (P), describes this illegal drug activity. It explains what kind of illegal drug activity they are demanding a probe into. Therefore, P should follow R. So, R P together forms "demanding a probe into the illegal drug trade operating from a colony".

Putting it all together, the sequence S Q R P forms the sentence: "The residents of the city held a meeting demanding a probe into the illegal drug trade operating from a colony."

Evaluating the Correct Sequence (S Q R P)

Let's read the sentence formed by S Q R P:

S: The residents of the city
Q: held a meeting
R: demanding a probe into the illegal drug
P: trade operating from a colony

Combined: "The residents of the city held a meeting demanding a probe into the illegal drug trade operating from a colony."

This sentence is grammatically correct and makes complete sense. It clearly states that the city residents held a meeting where they demanded an investigation into the illegal drug trade originating from a colony.

Analyzing Other Options for Jumbled Sentences

Let's briefly look at why the other sequences don't work:

  • Q R S P: "held a meeting demanding a probe into the illegal drug the residents of the city trade operating from a colony" - Starts with a verb ("held") without a clear subject at the beginning. The rest is incoherent.
  • S P Q R: "the residents of the city trade operating from a colony held a meeting demanding a probe into the illegal drug" - "the residents of the city trade operating from a colony" is an awkward subject phrase, and "trade operating from a colony held a meeting" doesn't make grammatical sense.
  • R S Q P: "demanding a probe into the illegal drug the residents of the city held a meeting trade operating from a colony" - Starts with a participial phrase ("demanding") without a main clause. The sentence structure is incorrect.

Based on the logical flow and grammatical correctness, the sequence S Q R P is the only viable option.

Part Content Role in Sentence
S the residents of the city Subject (Who the sentence is about)
Q held a meeting Main Verb Phrase (What the subject did)
R demanding a probe into the illegal drug Describes the purpose/action in the meeting
P trade operating from a colony Specifies the illegal drug activity mentioned in R

Revision Table: Key Jumbled Sentence Tips

Strategy Point Explanation
Identify the Subject Look for nouns or noun phrases that can start the sentence (often 'The...', a name, etc.).
Find the Verb Locate the action related to the subject.
Look for Connectors Words like 'because', 'although', 'therefore', pronouns (he, she, it), relative pronouns (who, which) help link parts.
Establish Cause and Effect See if one part explains the reason for another or is a consequence.
Check Pronoun References Ensure pronouns correctly refer back to nouns mentioned earlier.
Read Aloud Reading the rearranged sentence helps identify awkward phrasing or grammatical errors.

Additional Information: Mastering Sentence Rearrangement Questions

Jumbled sentence questions are common in verbal ability tests. They assess your understanding of sentence structure, grammar, and logical flow of ideas. Practicing these questions helps improve your reading comprehension and writing skills.

Tips for success include:

  • Read all parts carefully before attempting to rearrange.
  • Look for opening and closing parts (a part starting with a capital letter and not a connector might be the start; a part ending with a full stop is likely the end).
  • Identify necessary pairings (e.g., an adjective phrase modifying a noun, a verb followed by its object, a clause modifying another clause).
  • Test your sequence by reading the complete sentence to ensure it flows well and is grammatically sound.

These questions require patience and a systematic approach. By identifying the core elements like the subject and verb and then building around them, you can effectively solve most jumbled sentence problems.

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