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. In other words, chess and basketball are contests.B. As games, chess and basketball are obviously different from leapfrog and playing house.C. One can win a game of basketball, but it makes no sense to ask who has won a game of leapfrog.D. The first two games are competitive, the second two are not.

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding Sentence Rearrangement for Paragraphs

Sentence rearrangement questions test your ability to understand the logical flow and coherence of a paragraph. You are given a set of jumbled sentences and need to arrange them in the correct order to form a meaningful and coherent passage. To solve these questions, look for:

Introductory sentences: These often introduce the main topic or subject and can stand alone. They usually don't start with conjunctions like 'and', 'but', 'so', or referring words like 'this', 'that', 'it', 'they' unless the reference is clear from a previous implicit context (which is rare in jumbled sentences).
Connecting ideas: Look for sentences that logically follow the introductory sentence. Pay attention to transition words ("in other words", "therefore", "however", "also"), pronouns (referring to nouns in previous sentences), and repeated keywords or concepts.
Concluding sentences: These often summarize the main point or provide a final thought.

Analyzing the Jumbled Sentences

Let's look at the given sentences:

A. In other words, chess and basketball are contests.
B. As games, chess and basketball are obviously different from leapfrog and playing house.
C. One can win a game of basketball, but it makes no sense to ask who has won a game of leapfrog.
D. The first two games are competitive, the second two are not.

Step-by-Step Arrangement (BDCA)

Let's evaluate the provided correct arrangement BDCA:

Sentence B: "As games, chess and basketball are obviously different from leapfrog and playing house." This sentence introduces the four games and states that there is a difference between the first two (chess and basketball) and the last two (leapfrog and playing house). This seems like a good starting point as it sets up the comparison.
Sentence D: "The first two games are competitive, the second two are not." This sentence directly explains the difference mentioned in sentence B. It clarifies the nature of the difference: competitiveness. It follows logically from B.
Sentence C: "One can win a game of basketball, but it makes no sense to ask who has won a game of leapfrog." This sentence provides a concrete example that illustrates the point made in sentence D. Winning is a characteristic of competitive games (like basketball), whereas non-competitive games (like leapfrog) don't have winners. This sentence perfectly exemplifies the competitive vs. non-competitive distinction.
Sentence A: "In other words, chess and basketball are contests." This sentence rephrases or summarizes the nature of chess and basketball, which have been identified as competitive games in sentence D and exemplified in sentence C. The phrase "In other words" indicates it's a restatement of a point already made. It reinforces the idea that chess and basketball are competitive activities, using the word "contests" as a synonym for competitive games.

Putting it all together, the sequence BDCA creates a smooth and logical flow, starting with the comparison, defining the difference, providing an example, and finally restating the characteristic of the first group.

The Coherent Paragraph

Arranging the sentences in the order BDCA forms the following paragraph:

"As games, chess and basketball are obviously different from leapfrog and playing house. The first two games are competitive, the second two are not. One can win a game of basketball, but it makes no sense to ask who has won a game of leapfrog. In other words, chess and basketball are contests."

This paragraph flows well and makes sense, discussing the difference between competitive and non-competitive games using examples.

Sentence Flow Analysis
Sentence	Content/Function	Connection to Previous Sentence
B	Introduces the comparison between two pairs of games.	Establishes the topic.
D	Explains the nature of the difference introduced in B.	Defines the distinction (competitive vs. not).
C	Provides an example illustrating the distinction from D.	Shows 'competitive' (winning) vs. 'not competitive'.
A	Restates the competitive nature of chess and basketball.	Summarizes/rephrases the characteristic of the first two games.

Revision Table: Key Learnings

Reviewing Sentence Rearrangement Strategies
Strategy	How it was Applied Here
Identify Topic Sentence	Sentence B introduces the comparison between games.
Look for Connectors/Pronouns	"The first two games" in D refers to "chess and basketball" from B. "In other words" in A indicates a restatement.
Find Examples/Explanations	Sentence D explains the difference mentioned in B. Sentence C gives an example of the difference explained in D.
Check for Logical Flow	BDCA presents a clear progression from general difference to specific explanation and example.

Additional Information: Types of Sentences in Paragraphs

Understanding the common roles sentences play can help in rearrangement tasks:

Topic Sentence: Usually the first sentence, stating the main idea.
Supporting Sentences: Provide details, examples, explanations, or evidence for the topic sentence.
Transition Sentences: Link ideas between sentences or paragraphs.
Concluding Sentence: Summarizes the main points or offers a final thought.

In this specific question, B acts as a topic sentence, D and C are supporting sentences (D explaining, C exemplifying), and A serves as a form of restatement or conclusion based on the preceding points about competitive games.