The question below consists of a set of labelled sentences. Out of the four options given, select the most logical order of the sentences to form a coherent paragraph. English may be a foreign A-countries, but not for B-those from India C-language for students from other
CAB
Understanding Sentence Reordering
The task is to arrange the given parts of a sentence in a logical order to form a coherent paragraph. We are given a starting phrase and three labelled parts: A, B, and C.
The starting phrase is: "English may be a foreign"
- A: countries, but not for
- B: those from India
- C: language for students from other
Finding the Logical Flow
Let's try to connect the parts to the starting phrase and to each other to find the most logical sequence that creates a grammatically correct and meaningful sentence.
The starting phrase "English may be a foreign" needs a noun or a noun phrase to follow it. Looking at the options:
- Adding A ("countries, but not for") immediately after "foreign" doesn't make sense: "English may be a foreign countries..."
- Adding B ("those from India") immediately after "foreign" doesn't make sense: "English may be a foreign those..."
- Adding C ("language for students from other") immediately after "foreign" makes perfect sense: "English may be a foreign language for students from other..."
So, C must be the first part after the starting phrase. The sentence starts with "English may be a foreign language for students from other".
Now, what logically follows "language for students from other"?
- After "other", we expect a noun, likely referring to a place or group. Part A starts with "countries," which fits this context: "...other countries, but not for".
- Part B ("those from India") doesn't fit immediately after "other": "...other those from India".
So, A logically follows C. The sequence is now C then A. The sentence fragment is "English may be a foreign language for students from other countries, but not for".
Finally, what follows "but not for"?
- After "but not for", we need to specify who it is *not* for. Part B ("those from India") fits perfectly: "...but not for those from India."
So, B logically follows A. The complete sentence is formed by the order C, then A, then B.
Constructing the Coherent Paragraph
Combining the starting phrase with the labelled parts in the order C-A-B:
Starting phrase: English may be a foreign
Part C: language for students from other
Part A: countries, but not for
Part B: those from India
Resulting sentence: English may be a foreign language for students from other countries, but not for those from India.
This sentence is grammatically correct and makes logical sense, conveying the idea that English is foreign for students from many countries, but not necessarily for those from India (implying it might be more common or official there).
Let's examine the order CAB:
| Position | Label | Fragment |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | language for students from other |
| 2nd | A | countries, but not for |
| 3rd | B | those from India |
This confirms that CAB forms the logical and coherent sentence when combined with the initial phrase.
Evaluating Other Options
Let's briefly look at why the other orders don't work:
- BCA: English may be a foreign those from India language for students from other countries, but not for. (Illogical flow)
- BAC: English may be a foreign those from India countries, but not for language for students from other. (Illogical flow)
- ACB: English may be a foreign countries, but not for language for students from other those from India. (Illogical flow)
Only the order CAB creates a sensible sentence when preceded by "English may be a foreign".
Revision Table: Sentence Reordering Analysis
| Step | Action | Result | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Analyze starting phrase | "English may be a foreign" | Needs a noun or noun phrase. |
| 2 | Evaluate first part options | C follows logically | "language for students from other" fits after "foreign". |
| 3 | Evaluate second part options | A follows logically after C | "countries, but not for" fits after "...students from other". |
| 4 | Evaluate third part options | B follows logically after A | "those from India" fits after "...but not for". |
| 5 | Form final sentence | English may be a foreign language for students from other countries, but not for those from India. | Order CAB is confirmed. |
Additional Information: Tips for Sentence Reordering Questions
Sentence reordering questions test your understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and logical flow. Here are some tips:
- Identify the starting point: Look for the sentence part that seems to introduce the topic or idea. It often contains a subject and verb and makes sense standing alone or following an initial phrase.
- Look for connections: Pay attention to transition words (like 'but', 'however', 'therefore', 'also'), pronouns (referring to a previously mentioned noun), and phrases that logically connect ideas (like 'for example', 'in addition').
- Understand the grammar: Ensure that the parts fit together grammatically. A subject should be followed by a verb, an adjective should precede a noun, etc.
- Follow the logic: The sequence of sentences should tell a story or present an argument in a logical progression. Look for cause and effect, general statement followed by specifics, or chronological order.
- Read the completed paragraph: Once you think you have the correct order, read the full paragraph aloud (or in your head) to check if it sounds natural and makes sense.
- Eliminate options: Test the given options. If an option creates an illogical or ungrammatical sentence, eliminate it.
Practice with various sentence reordering exercises helps improve your ability to quickly identify the correct sequence and form a coherent paragraph.
Important Questions from Sentence Jumbles
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.
The correct sequence should beThe 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.
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: 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
