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.
R P S Q
Understanding Paragraph Jumbling: Finding the Correct Sequence
Paragraph jumbling questions, also known as sentence rearrangement or passage jumbling, require you to arrange a set of jumbled sentences into a coherent paragraph. You are usually given the first (S1) and the last (S6) sentences, and you need to sequence the four middle sentences (P, Q, R, S) correctly.
Analyzing the Given Sentences on Egypt
Let's look at the sentences provided:
- 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.
Strategy for Sequencing P, Q, R, and S
To find the correct sequence, we need to look for logical connections between the sentences. Start by identifying sentences that could logically follow S1 or precede S6. Then, find links between the jumbled sentences (P, Q, R, S) based on pronouns, connecting words, or continuity of ideas.
Step-by-Step Analysis
- S1: Introduces Egypt and its location. A sentence giving a general characteristic or a comparison about Egypt would logically follow S1.
- Sentence R compares the size of Egypt to Great Britain ("It is four times as big..."). 'It' refers to Egypt. This is a good follow-up to S1 which introduces Egypt. So, R likely comes after S1.
- Sentence P describes the terrain ("Most of it is desert..."). 'It' refers to Egypt or its area. This describes the nature of the large area mentioned in R. So, P could follow R.
- Sentence S gives a specific detail about the cultivable area ("Only a twenty-fifth..."). This contrasts with the vast desert mentioned in P ("Most of it..."). S provides a specific consequence or detail related to the general description in P. So, S could follow P.
- Sentence Q talks about rainfall ("It has very little rainfall"). This explains *why* most of the country is desert (P) and only a small part is cultivable (S). Q provides a reason for the conditions described in P and S. So, Q could follow S.
- S6: States that the country depends on the Nile's water. This sentence explains how the country survives despite the lack of rainfall mentioned in Q. S6 provides the consequence of the low rainfall and the need for an alternative water source. Thus, S6 logically follows Q.
Forming the Correct Sequence
Following the logical flow identified: S1 introduces Egypt, R gives its size, P describes its dominant terrain, S details the small cultivable area, Q explains the lack of rainfall contributing to this, and S6 concludes by mentioning dependence on the Nile due to this lack of rainfall.
The sequence of the middle sentences is R → P → S → Q.
Let's assemble the full paragraph with the sequence R P S Q:
S1: Egypt lies in the north-east corner of Africa.
R: It is four times as big as Great Britain in size.
P: Most of it is desert or semi-desert.
S: Only a twenty-fifth of the total area is cultivable.
Q: It has very little rainfall.
S6: The whole country depends on the water of the Nile.
This sequence forms a cohesive and logical paragraph describing Egypt's geography and its reliance on the Nile.
Revision Table: Key Connections
| Sentence | Connection | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| S1 | Introduces Egypt | — |
| R | 'It' refers to Egypt; size comparison | Follows S1 |
| P | 'Most of it' relates to the large area in R; describes terrain | Follows R |
| S | 'Only a twenty-fifth' contrasts with 'Most of it' in P; specific detail | Follows P |
| Q | Explains the reason for P and S (lack of rainfall) | Follows S |
| S6 | Consequence of Q (dependence on Nile) | Follows Q |
Additional Information: Tips for Solving Paragraph Jumbles
Mastering paragraph jumbling requires practice and attention to detail. Here are some helpful tips:
- Read All Sentences: Get a general understanding of the topic and the main points discussed in all sentences.
- Identify S1 and S6 Clues: Use the fixed sentences to get context and clues about what should come immediately after S1 and immediately before S6.
- Look for Connectors: Pay attention to transition words (e.g., however, therefore, moreover), pronouns (it, they, this, that), and articles (a, an, the) that link sentences together.
- Find the Opening Sentence (after S1): The sentence immediately following S1 often introduces a new aspect or provides general information related to S1. Look for a sentence that flows naturally from S1.
- Find the Closing Sentence (before S6): The sentence before S6 should logically lead into the conclusion provided by S6. It might present a problem that S6 resolves or a condition that S6 addresses.
- Build Pairs: Try to identify pairs of sentences that logically follow each other (e.g., cause and effect, general statement and specific example, question and answer).
- Check the Flow: Once you have a potential sequence, read the sentences in that order to see if the paragraph makes sense and reads smoothly.
- Eliminate Options: Use the connections you identify to eliminate incorrect options provided in the question. If you are sure that R follows S1, look for options starting with R (after S1).
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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: 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.
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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
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: Science first began to become important after A.D. 1500.
S6: Men read them, became inquisitive again, and began to want to find things out.
P: As a result of this, books came to be circulated.
Q: During the Middle Ages the coming of Science was hindered by the Church.
R: In the middle of the fifteenth century, however, the Turks captured the city of Constantinople and the Greek books were scattered far and wide.
S: It considered the free inquiry into the nature of things to be wicked.
The correct sequence should be
