Given below are four jumbled sentences. Out of the given options, select the one that gives their correct order. A. I saw a middle-aged man sitting beneath the tree with his knees drawn up to his chest. B. When I was a street away from my house, I saw a huge banyan tree to my right. C. My heart went out to him as he was crying bitterly. D. His head was bowed and his body was shivering continuously.
BADC
Understanding the Task: Ordering Jumbled Sentences
The question asks us to arrange four jumbled sentences (A, B, C, and D) into a coherent paragraph that makes logical sense. To do this, we need to read all the sentences and identify the likely starting sentence, followed by sentences that sequentially develop the narrative or description.
Analyzing the Given Jumbled Sentences
Let's look at the sentences:
- A. I saw a middle-aged man sitting beneath the tree with his knees drawn up to his chest.
- B. When I was a street away from my house, I saw a huge banyan tree to my right.
- C. My heart went out to him as he was crying bitterly.
- D. His head was bowed and his body was shivering continuously.
Finding the Correct Sequence
We need to find the sentence that introduces the scene or the main subject. Sentence B introduces the location - a banyan tree - as the narrator is walking home. This sets the scene, making it a strong candidate for the opening sentence.
- Sentence B: Sets the scene (walking home, seeing a banyan tree).
- Sentence A: Describes a person seen *at* or *beneath* the tree mentioned in B. This logically follows B.
- Sentence D: Describes the physical state of the person introduced in A (bowed head, shivering). This description fits the person seen in A.
- Sentence C: Describes the person's emotional state (crying bitterly) and the narrator's reaction. This follows the physical description in D and provides the emotional climax.
The logical progression is setting the scene (B), noticing a person within that scene (A), describing the physical appearance of that person (D), and finally describing their emotional state and the narrator's reaction (C).
Thus, the most logical and coherent order is BADC.
Evaluating the Options
Let's check if the sequence BADC is available in the options:
- ADBC
- BADC
- BDCA
- ACDB
The sequence BADC matches Option 2.
Step-by-Step Derivation
- Read all sentences to get a general idea of the story or description.
- Identify the sentence that introduces the setting or main subject (Sentence B).
- Look for a sentence that directly relates to the sentence identified as the opener (Sentence A describes someone under the tree from B).
- Continue finding sentences that logically follow, adding details or developing the narrative (Sentence D describes the person in A, Sentence C describes the person's state and narrator's reaction after D).
- The resulting sequence is BADC.
- Compare this sequence with the given options.
The sequence BADC fits together to form a coherent narrative:
"When I was a street away from my house, I saw a huge banyan tree to my right. I saw a middle-aged man sitting beneath the tree with his knees drawn up to his chest. His head was bowed and his body was shivering continuously. My heart went out to him as he was crying bitterly."
Conclusion
The correct order of the jumbled sentences is BADC.
Revision Table: Jumbled Sentences Order
| Original Sentence | Correct Position | Role in Sequence |
|---|---|---|
| A. I saw a middle-aged man sitting beneath the tree... | 2nd | Introduces the person after the location is set. |
| B. When I was a street away from my house, I saw a huge banyan tree... | 1st | Sets the initial scene and location. |
| C. My heart went out to him as he was crying bitterly. | 4th | Describes emotional state and narrator's reaction, concluding the observation. |
| D. His head was bowed and his body was shivering continuously. | 3rd | Describes the physical state of the person introduced in A. |
Additional Information: Tips for Ordering Jumbled Sentences
Ordering jumbled sentences is a common type of question that tests your understanding of logical flow, coherence, and narrative structure. Here are some tips:
- Look for introductory sentences: These often set the scene, introduce a topic, or present a general statement. They might contain time phrases or location details.
- Identify connecting words: Words or phrases like 'then', 'after that', 'however', 'therefore', 'also', 'in addition', 'as a result', pronouns (he, she, it, they), or demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) often link sentences.
- Follow the sequence of events: In a narrative, events usually follow a chronological order.
- Look for cause and effect: One sentence might describe a cause, and the next might describe its effect.
- Identify descriptive flow: Descriptions often move from general to specific, or from physical attributes to emotional states, as seen in this example (location > person > physical state > emotional state).
- Read the formed paragraph: Once you have a potential order, read the sentences together to see if they flow smoothly and make complete sense.
- Eliminate options: Sometimes, starting with a sentence that clearly *cannot* be the first one can help eliminate options.
Important Questions from Sentence Jumbles
The following question consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and the 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 and mark your response accordingly.
S1: Egypt lies in the north-east corner of Africa.
S6: The whole country depends on the water of the Nile.
P: Most of it is desert or semi-desert.
Q: It has very little rainfall.
R: It is four times as big as Great Britain in size.
S: Only a twenty-fifth of the total area is cultivable.
The correct sequence should beThe following question consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and the 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 and mark your response accordingly.
S1: In mechanical efforts, you improve by perpetual practice.
S6: There is neither excuse nor temptation for the latter.
P: He cannot go on shooting wide or falling short, and still fancy that he is making progress.
Q: This is so because the object to be attained is a matter of actual experiment in which you either succeed or fail.
R: He must either correct his aim or persevere in his error with his eyes open.
S: If a man aims at a mark with a bow and arrow, he must either hit it or aim it.
The correct sequence should be
The following question consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and the 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 and mark your response accordingly.
S1: Isaac’s mother married again.
S6: He had a set of little tools and saw of various sizes made by himself.
P: But he was known to be very clever at making things.
Q: She sent him to school.
R: Isaac was left to the care of his good old grandmother.
S: In his early years Isaac did not appear to be a very bright student.
The correct sequence should be
The following question consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and the 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 and mark your response accordingly.
S1: The examination system must be regarded as the chief wrecker of young nerves.
S6: If I become a Vice-Chancellor, my first act would be to abolish all examinations in my university.
P: It makes me jump out of the bed, all in a sweat.
Q: It does this by building up a tension, for a part of the year, all through one’s youth.
R: And after four decades, the same nervousness sometimes recurs to me in nightmares.
S: I remember the desperate nervousness that used to grip me from January to April every year.
The correct sequence should be
The following question consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and the 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 and mark your response accordingly.
S1: History is a subject that is so little valued today that it is almost impossible to win world fame as a historian, yet that is exactly what Toynbee was able to.
S6: Among the civilizations that he studied was that of India.
P: We usually think of history as a chronological account of the development of various states and empires under the ruler.
Q: Toynbee’s view of history was different.
R: He tries to find the pattern behind the birth, growth and decay of civilization.
S: Though he used the recorded history of mankind, he was interested not merely in the chronology of single states or group but in the rise and fall of whole civilizations.
The correct sequence should be
