Given below are four jumbled sentences. Select the option that gives their correct order. A. Ben was eating an apple, and seemed to be in high spirits. B. Ben Rogers came into view presently, the very boy whose ridicule he had been dreading. C. Tom went on dipping the brush into the paint and whitewashing the fence, and paid no attention to Ben. D. Tom took up his brush and calmly resumed his work.
DBAC
Sentence Reordering: Finding the Correct Logical Order
This question asks us to arrange four jumbled sentences (A, B, C, and D) into a coherent paragraph that tells a story or describes a sequence of events. To solve this, we need to read each sentence carefully and identify the main subject, actions, and any connecting clues like pronouns, time references, or conjunctions. We look for a starting sentence, connecting sentences, and a concluding sentence if applicable.
Let's look at the given sentences:
- A. Ben was eating an apple, and seemed to be in high spirits.
- B. Ben Rogers came into view presently, the very boy whose ridicule he had been dreading.
- C. Tom went on dipping the brush into the paint and whitewashing the fence, and paid no attention to Ben.
- D. Tom took up his brush and calmly resumed his work.
We need to find the most logical flow for these events involving Tom, Ben Rogers, and the act of whitewashing a fence.
Step-by-Step Analysis for Ordering Sentences
Let's consider the possible starting sentences and how the others might connect:
- Sentence D: "Tom took up his brush and calmly resumed his work." This sentence describes Tom beginning or continuing an action (whitewashing). It sets the scene for Tom working. This could be a potential starting point.
- Sentence B: "Ben Rogers came into view presently, the very boy whose ridicule he had been dreading." This introduces Ben Rogers appearing on the scene. This event happens *after* the scene is set, perhaps after Tom starts working, or at least while he is present. The phrase "came into view presently" suggests Ben arriving.
- Sentence A: "Ben was eating an apple, and seemed to be in high spirits." This sentence describes Ben's state and action (eating an apple, high spirits) *after* he has arrived or is present. It describes what Ben is doing when he is seen.
- Sentence C: "Tom went on dipping the brush into the paint and whitewashing the fence, and paid no attention to Ben." This sentence describes Tom's action and reaction *to Ben's presence*. The phrase "paid no attention to Ben" directly links this sentence to the appearance of Ben. It also mentions Tom continuing the whitewashing work mentioned in sentence D.
Considering the sequence of events, it is most logical for Tom to be working (D), then Ben to appear (B), then Ben's actions/state to be described (A), and finally Tom's reaction to Ben's appearance (C). This leads to the order DBAC.
- D: Tom is working (setting the scene).
- B: Ben arrives/appears on the scene *while* Tom is working.
- A: Describes Ben's state/action *upon* or *after* arriving.
- C: Describes Tom's reaction to Ben's presence and his continued action.
Let's read the sentences in the order DBAC:
D. Tom took up his brush and calmly resumed his work.
B. Ben Rogers came into view presently, the very boy whose ridicule he had been dreading.
A. Ben was eating an apple, and seemed to be in high spirits.
C. Tom went on dipping the brush into the paint and whitewashing the fence, and paid no attention to Ben.
This sequence makes perfect sense chronologically and logically. Tom starts working, Ben appears (whom Tom was dreading), Ben is enjoying an apple and is happy, and Tom reacts by ignoring him and continuing his work.
Thus, the correct order is DBAC.
Revision Table: Tips for Sentence Ordering
| Tip | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Read All Sentences | Understand the general theme and characters involved. |
| Identify the Subject | Determine who or what the paragraph is mainly about. |
| Look for the Introduction | Find a sentence that introduces the main subject or sets the scene. This is often a good starting point. |
| Find Connections | Look for pronouns (he, she, it, they), conjunctions (and, but, so), time markers (then, presently, afterwards), and cause-and-effect relationships to link sentences. |
| Follow Chronology | Arrange events in the order they happened. |
| Check for Logic | Read the sentences in your proposed order to ensure they form a smooth, logical paragraph. |
Additional Information: Types of Connectors in Sentence Ordering
Understanding how sentences connect is crucial for reordering. Here are some common types of connectors:
- Pronoun References: Pronouns (like he, she, it, they) usually refer back to a noun mentioned in a previous sentence. Identify which noun each pronoun refers to. For example, sentence B mentions "Ben Rogers", and sentences A and C use "Ben" and "he" referring to him.
- Conjunctions and Transition Words: Words like "and," "but," "so," "therefore," "however," "also," "furthermore," etc., show the relationship between ideas in consecutive sentences (addition, contrast, cause-effect, etc.).
- Time Sequences: Words or phrases indicating time (e.g., "presently," "then," "afterwards," "meanwhile," specific time references) help establish the chronological order of events. Sentence B uses "presently."
- Cause and Effect: One sentence describes a cause, and the next describes the effect.
- Idea Flow: Sentences often move from general to specific, or from an introduction of a topic to details about it.
By looking for these clues and establishing the sequence of events, we can correctly arrange the jumbled sentences to form a meaningful paragraph.
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
