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. SI: The bureaucrat and the social workers are men of totally different orientations and styles of functioning. S6: The world will be a better place to live in if they learn a little from each other. P: The other is considered to be a man ever on the move. Q: He is portrayed as a man fond of rules above all other things. R: The one is regarded as given to sedentary habits, doing a lot of paperwork. S: Driven by an urge to help others he is impatient with red tape and unnecessary delays. The proper sequence should be
R Q P S
Understanding Jumbled Sentences Questions
Jumbled sentences questions require you to rearrange a set of sentences (usually four or five, labelled P, Q, R, S, etc.) that are out of order, so they form a coherent and logical passage. The first (S1) and last (S6) sentences are typically fixed, providing context and a starting/ending point for the jumbled sentences.
Step-by-Step Analysis of the Passage
Let's break down the given sentences to identify the correct sequence:
- S1: The bureaucrat and the social workers are men of totally different orientations and styles of functioning. (Introduces the two main subjects and states they are different).
- S6: The world will be a better place to live in if they learn a little from each other. (Concludes the passage, suggesting mutual learning).
- P: The other is considered to be a man ever on the move.
- Q: He is portrayed as a man fond of rules above all other things.
- R: The one is regarded as given to sedentary habits, doing a lot of paperwork.
- S: Driven by an urge to help others he is impatient with red tape and unnecessary delays.
Finding Connections Between Sentences
We need to link the sentences P, Q, R, and S logically, keeping S1 and S6 in mind.
- S1 introduces "the bureaucrat" and "the social worker" as two distinct types.
- Look for sentences that describe these types. R starts with "The one...". This suggests it's describing one of the types mentioned in S1. "Sedentary habits" and "paperwork" strongly point towards the bureaucrat. So, R likely refers to the bureaucrat.
- Q starts with "He is portrayed...". "He" likely refers back to the person described in the previous sentence. If R describes the bureaucrat, Q could be adding more detail about the bureaucrat. "Fond of rules" aligns well with the image of a bureaucrat. So, R followed by Q seems logical (R describes, Q elaborates on "He").
- P starts with "The other...". This contrasts with "The one" in R. If R describes the bureaucrat, P must describe the social worker. "Ever on the move" fits the description of a social worker. So, P likely follows the description of the bureaucrat.
- S starts with "Driven by an urge... he is impatient...". "he" likely refers back to the person described in P, the social worker. "Impatient with red tape and unnecessary delays" contrasts directly with the bureaucrat (described as fond of rules and paperwork in Q and R) and fits the social worker's likely frustration with bureaucracy when trying to help others. So, S likely follows P.
Forming the Sequence
Based on the connections: R describes the bureaucrat, Q elaborates on the bureaucrat. P introduces the social worker (the other type), S elaborates on the social worker. This suggests the sequence R followed by Q, and P followed by S. The overall structure seems to be describing the bureaucrat first, then the social worker, building upon the distinction made in S1. Therefore, the sequence R Q P S emerges.
Let's test the flow:
- S1: Introduces bureaucrat and social worker as different.
- R: Describes the bureaucrat ('the one' - sedentary, paperwork).
- Q: Describes the bureaucrat further ('He' - fond of rules).
- P: Introduces the social worker ('The other' - ever on the move).
- S: Describes the social worker further ('he' - driven to help, impatient with rules).
- S6: Concludes by suggesting they learn from each other.
This sequence provides a smooth and logical transition from introducing the two types to describing their characteristics and concluding with a suggestion for mutual learning.
| Sentence | Subject | Description | Link To |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Bureaucrat & Social Worker | Introduces distinction | Starts the passage |
| R | The one (Bureaucrat) | Sedentary, paperwork | Follows S1, links to Q |
| Q | He (Bureaucrat) | Fond of rules | Follows R, links to P |
| P | The other (Social Worker) | Ever on the move | Follows Q, links to S |
| S | He (Social Worker) | Driven to help, impatient | Follows P, links to S6 |
| S6 | Both | Conclusion on mutual learning | Ends the passage |
The analysis confirms that the order R Q P S creates a coherent passage.
Final Answer Derivation
By carefully analyzing the transitional words and the logical flow of ideas describing the two different individuals introduced in S1, we determined that the sequence RQP S correctly orders the jumbled sentences to form a meaningful passage between S1 and S6.
Revision Table - Jumbled Sentences
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read S1 and S6 carefully | Understand the topic and overall context |
| 2 | Read P, Q, R, S sentences | Get familiar with the individual statements |
| 3 | Look for links (pronouns, keywords, contrasting ideas) | Identify potential pairs or sequences (e.g., R to Q, P to S) |
| 4 | Connect sequences to S1 and S6 | Build the complete passage flow |
| 5 | Read the complete passage with the chosen sequence | Verify coherence and logical flow |
Additional Information - Passage Ordering Techniques
Solving jumbled sentences questions often relies on identifying different types of connections:
- Transitional words: Words like 'however', 'therefore', 'also', 'similarly', 'but', 'and', 'furthermore', 'initially', 'finally' provide clues about the relationship between sentences.
- Pronouns: Pronouns like 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they', 'this', 'that' refer back to nouns or ideas mentioned in previous sentences. Identifying what the pronoun refers to helps link sentences.
- Keywords/Nouns: Repetition or rephrasing of key nouns or concepts can indicate a connection. A sentence might introduce a topic (a noun), and the next might use a pronoun or related term to discuss it further.
- Cause and Effect: One sentence might describe a cause, and the next might describe its effect.
- General to Specific: A passage might start with a general statement and then provide specific examples or details.
- Chronological Order: For narratives or processes, sentences might follow a time sequence.
- Contrast/Comparison: Words like 'however', 'on the other hand', 'similarly' signal comparisons or contrasts between ideas. In this passage, "The one" and "The other" explicitly signal a contrast.
Practicing these techniques helps improve speed and accuracy in solving passage ordering problems.
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
