Parajumbles

1. When the purpose is to explain something the author would start with a line that presents a general approach to the idea, and progresses from that to a narrower or more specific reference. 2. When the purpose is to raise awareness the author would first present information and detail that would then bring the issue or problem into focus. 3. When the purpose is to raise anxiety or concern - the author would focus on the issue or problem in a manner that raises the reader's concern, and would then present the features of the issue that are the reasons for the concern or anxiety. 4. When the purpose is to present solutions the author would first explain the issue or problem, and then move to the possible rectification or solutions. 5. When the purpose is to surprise, or amaze, or cause wonder - the statement of surprise would be presented first and would be followed by the features of the idea or issue that would explain why the surprise.....and so on. With this recognition, in the case of PFQs, identifying the opening sentence (sometimes the closing sentence, sometimes the clear link between 2 sentences) becomes possible. Using these and a combination of recognition of thought flow, recognition of grammatical connectives used (pronouns, relative pronouns, demonstrative adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions) and simultaneous evaluation of choices for elimination, the student should be able to arrive at the correct formation of the paragraph. The FM may advise the students that application of such recognition becomes important for paragraph completion questions too, whether one is trying to spot intermediate sentences, or last sentences. When identifying last sentences it is important to pick that line that effectively brings the thought-flow and the discussion, in the paragraph, to a close (and not a line which continues with the thought-flow but leaves the discussion incomplete). The recognition of thought flow and context would also help them in summaries and in cloze passages. Some words as indicators: 1. Introduction A, An, Nowadays, Beginning. 2. Conclusion Clearly, Thus, Therefore, Eventually, Finally. 3. Comparison Indicators Similarly, Likewise.. 4. Contrast Indicators On the one hand, But, Yet, However, Nevertheless, Although.. 5. Additional Information Indicators Also, Additionally 6. Sequence Indicators Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, Lastly 7. Cause and Effect Due to, as, since.. To revise, a broad approach in solving Parajumble Questions would be: 1. Read the sentences and try to understand the message of the paragraph. 2. Identify the topic and theme. Eg. Topic Inflation (general); Theme Congress responsible for Inflation (Specific) 3. Quickly identify the tone (emotional aspect of the paragraph) and style (manner of writing) 4. Look for crucial clues or linking words, mandatory pairs, Introductory statement or Conclusion statement as discussed earlier. 5. Take the help of the options to solve the question. Guidelines for solving Para-jumbles or PFQs: 1. Forming a mandatory pair: Mandatory pair is a set of statements which seem to come one after the other. Whenever you sense a mandatory pair, just look at the choices. If only one choice has the pair, that might be the answer. But obviously if more than one choice has the same mandatory a. Pronoun antecedent method: The noun that precedes a pronoun is called antecedent to the pronoun. Let us take an example. Sentence 1: Shahrukh khan is the best actor in India. Sentence 2: He has amply demonstrated his versatility through the years. Now, Shahrukh khan is the antecedent to the pronoun He. You need to look for a male antecedent. If there is a she then female antecedent, they plural antecedents and so on.. b. Linking words: Whenever two sentences come one after the other, there is usually a word which links them. If you can observe these links then you may be able to arrive at a mandatory pair easily. c. Chronological order: Many times it is easy to form a mandatory pair based on Chronological dates, words like initially, then, later etc. Most of the times these words appear at the start of the lines. d. Logical relationships like cause effect: Many times mandatory pair can be identified by logical flow of ideas/cause effect relationship. (Use your own examples/creativity to explain this)

2. Identifying an obvious opener or Topic sentence or Introductory sentence or Lead sentence: Here we are defining an obvious opener as one which can be a good starting point for the jumble. An obvious opener could be one which seems like a relatively independent statement which introduces something. It would normally not start with the following words a. Carry forward words: Words like and, so, moreover which carry forward a line of thought expressed in the earlier statement. b. Contrast words: Words like but, however, nevertheless which create a Contradiction with the earlier line of thought. c. Conclusive words: Words like finally, thus, eventually etc. which conclude. If a particular statement looks like a good starting point, then look at the choices to eliminate wrong options. 3. Obvious conclusion: If a particular statements looks like one which has to come at the end then that is called an obvious conclusion. It usually happens when one of the conclusive words comes in the sentence. 4. Logical flow: Even though 1 and 2 can provide good clues, many students are able to look at the logical flow of ideas and crack the Para-jumble. 1 and 2 are tools which can supplement logic. 5. Make use of options: In case you cannot identify the Topic or Introductory sentence for whatever. reason (may be the text is difficult to comprehend or the Para-jumble is taken from the middle of the passage); look at the options. If you can see a pattern in the choices then you can sequence the statements based on the choices or see which of the choice sequence makes sense. Guidelines for Summary of paragraphs: The Question type may also appear as Which of the following best captures the essence of the text? The strategy here should be similar to central idea/ theme question type in Reading Comprehension. Gauge the central idea of the given paragraph keeping track of the details. Generally the wrong options have the following characteristics: Incomplete information/Narrow: When you read this option you get a feeling that it is incomplete in summarizing the passage. Excessive information/verbosity: When you read this choice you get a feeling that the choice is long winded and verbose. Wrong Information / verbosity: This is very common. The choice seems to sum up the paragraph but one or two elements are deliberately twisted or distorted. Hence it is a misleading choice. Extra information / Beyond scope: This choice talks about points not given in the paragraph. Guidelines for Para Completion: 1. Identify the core idea or the theme of the paragraph. 2. Look for clues in the choices. Normally the correct choice is the one which falls under the theme. 3. The choice may expand / extend the idea or contrast the idea running in the paragraph. So pay attention to the thought flow in the paragraph. Also pay attention to the tense maintained in the paragraph. 4. Many times the last but one sentence of the paragraph can also provide a clue. 5. Usually the correct choice will not deviate from the subject matter too much. If the paragraph is not an abstruse [i.e. where there is an abrupt shift in topic] one, then the topic has to remain the same. 6. Short, creative end: Sometimes the correct choice turns out to be a short creative one which adds on/carries forward the last but one line in an emphatic manner. 7. Tone: The tone of the correct choice is usually in line with the tone of the paragraph. If the tone is opposite then it would be preceded by a contrast word like but/however. Usually a paragraph ends with a remark, result or suggestion presenting the authors attitude or outlook regarding the topic.