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: Ghost is a subject which baffles everyone everywhere throughout the world. S6: Yet it is a subject which has held people spellbound and the belief in them continues to flourish. P: But human beings have always been curious to know more about them. Q: Needless to say, such attempts have proved to be useless. R: There have been attempts even to photograph these creatures of darkness. S: Even after the advancement of science, the reality of ghosts remains a mystery to this day. The correct sequence should be
S P R Q
Solving Jumbled Sentences: Ghosts and Mystery
This question asks us to arrange the four jumbled sentences (P, Q, R, and S) in the correct order so that they form a coherent passage when placed between the given first sentence (S1) and the sixth sentence (S6).
Understanding the Sentences
- S1: Ghost is a subject which baffles everyone everywhere throughout the world. (Introduces ghosts as a universally confusing topic).
- S6: Yet it is a subject which has held people spellbound and the belief in them continues to flourish. (Concludes by noting the enduring fascination and belief despite the mystery).
- P: But human beings have always been curious to know more about them. (Introduces human curiosity about ghosts).
- Q: Needless to say, such attempts have proved to be useless. (Comments on the failure of 'attempts').
- R: There have been attempts even to photograph these creatures of darkness. (Gives an example of an 'attempt').
- S: Even after the advancement of science, the reality of ghosts remains a mystery to this day. (Highlights the persistent mystery of ghosts).
Analyzing the Flow and Connections
We need to build a logical bridge between S1 and S6 using P, Q, R, and S. S1 establishes the mystery of ghosts. S seems to follow logically from S1, reinforcing that even science hasn't solved the mystery. P introduces human curiosity about this mystery. R gives a specific example of how this curiosity leads to 'attempts'. Q then comments on the outcome of these 'attempts'. S6 concludes by stating that despite the mystery and failed attempts, belief persists.
Testing the Sequence S P R Q
- S1: Ghost is a subject which baffles everyone everywhere throughout the world.
- S: Even after the advancement of science, the reality of ghosts remains a mystery to this day. (Connects to S1 by emphasizing the unresolved mystery).
- P: But human beings have always been curious to know more about them. (Connects to S by introducing curiosity *despite* the mystery).
- R: There have been attempts even to photograph these creatures of darkness. (Provides an *example* of the curiosity mentioned in P leading to 'attempts').
- Q: Needless to say, such attempts have proved to be useless. (Comments on the failure of the 'attempts' mentioned in R).
- S6: Yet it is a subject which has held people spellbound and the belief in them continues to flourish. (Provides a concluding thought, noting the enduring belief despite the mystery and failed attempts).
This sequence flows smoothly, creating a coherent paragraph about the baffling nature of ghosts, human curiosity, attempts to understand them, the failure of these attempts, and the continued belief.
Step-by-Step Justification of S P R Q
- S must come after S1 as it elaborates on the "baffles everyone" idea by stating science hasn't solved it.
- P logically follows S. It introduces the human element – curiosity – which exists despite the mystery highlighted in S. The "But" in P signals a contrast or addition to the statement in S.
- R follows P because it provides a concrete example ("attempts... to photograph") of the curiosity ("curious to know more") mentioned in P.
- Q must follow R as it refers directly to the "such attempts" mentioned in R and comments on their outcome ("proved to be useless").
- The entire sequence S P R Q fits well between S1 and S6, leading naturally to S6's point about enduring fascination and belief despite failed attempts.
Final Verified Sequence
Based on the logical connections between the sentences, the correct sequence is S P R Q.
Revision Table: Jumbled Sentence Practice
| Sentence | Key Idea | Possible Connections |
|---|---|---|
| S1 | Ghosts are baffling. | Leads into discussion of mystery. |
| S | Ghosts remain a mystery (even with science). | Follows S1; leads to reasons for curiosity or attempts. |
| P | Humans are curious about them. | Follows S; leads to actions based on curiosity (attempts). |
| R | Attempts made (like photography). | Example following P; leads to outcome of attempts. |
| Q | Attempts are useless. | Follows R; leads to overall status/belief (S6). |
| S6 | Belief persists, people are spellbound. | Conclusion after attempts and mystery. |
Additional Information: Paragraph Formation and Cohesion
When solving jumbled sentence questions or writing paragraphs, look for these connecting elements:
- Opening and Closing: Identify the likely starting and ending sentences (often given as S1 and S6).
- Keyword Repetition: Look for repeated words or synonyms that link sentences (e.g., "attempts" in R and Q).
- Pronoun Reference: See if pronouns (like "them" in P referring to "ghosts") or demonstratives (like "such attempts" in Q referring to attempts in R) help connect sentences.
- Transitional Words/Phrases: Words like "But" (in P), "Even" (in S), "Needless to say" (in Q), and "Yet" (in S6) indicate relationships between ideas (contrast, addition, result).
- Logical Flow: Ideas should progress naturally, often from general statements to specific examples, cause to effect, or problem to solution (or lack thereof).
- Chronology: For some passages, sequence events in time. (Not the primary focus here).
Practicing with different types of passages helps improve your ability to identify these links and build coherent paragraphs.
Similar Questions
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Important Questions from Sentence Jumbles
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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.
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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.
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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.
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