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It always pays to start small with simple questions.

In this article, I will cover all the


basic techniques there are to solve jumbled paragraphs.
For me, cracking the parajumbles revolves around one basic technique:
Suppose you establish the link !". #he given options are $a% &!' $b% !'& $c%
'!& $d% &!'. (ow you are le)t with option $c% and $d% to e*amine. +ou read the
sentences in the order given by these two options and use your methods again to
determine which one is correct.
Is establishing links between two sentences easy,
(ot !lways. -owever, easy or not, you can certainly establish links between two or
more sentences with the help o) some )riends )ound in the sentences. #hese )riends
are:
TRANSITION WORDS:
#ransition words make the shi)t )rom one idea to another very smooth. #hey
organi.e and connect the sentences logically. Observing the transition words
found in a sentence can often give you a clue about the sentence that will
come beforeafter that !articular sentence" /iven below are some commonly
used transition words:
also, again, as well as, besides, )urthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover,
similarly, consequently, hence, otherwise, subsequently, there)ore, thus, as a rule,
generally, )or instance, )or e*ample, )or one thing, above all, aside )rom, barring,
besides, in other words, in short, instead, likewise, on one hand, on the other hand,
rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, )irst o) all, to begin with, at
the same time, )or now, )or the time being, in time, later on, meanwhile, ne*t, then,
soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, a)terward, in conclusion,
with this in mind, a)ter all, all in all, to sum up.
So how does knowledge o) transition words helps us in para jumbles,0et1s try out
this '!# question:
#$AT %&&'(
!. ut in the industrial era destroying the enemy"s productive capacity means
bombing the )actories which are located in the cities.
. So in the agrarian era, i) you need to destroy the enemy"s productive capacity,
what you want to do is bum his )ields, or i) you"re really vicious, salt them.
'. (ow in the in)ormation era, destroying the enemy"s productive capacity means
destroying the in)ormation in)rastructure.
&. -ow do you do battle with your enemy,
2. #he idea is to destroy the enemy"s productive capacity, and depending upon the
economic )oundation, that productive capacity is di))erent in each case.
F. 3ith regard to de)ence, the purpose o) the military is to de)end the nation and be
prepared to do battle with its enemy.
4. F&2!' 5. F'!2& 6. &2!'F 7. &F2!'
Answer:
0ook at the transition word but" in the )irst sentence. It signi)ies that the sentence is
e*pressing an idea contrary to an idea e*pressed in some previous sentence. (ow
we need to )ind that previous sentence. I) we )urther look at the beginning o) the
)irst sentence, it says but in the industrial era"""" which suggests that the
contrariness is with respect to eras. 0ooking )urther, we see that sentence ) and $
are also starting with statement about eras. ut the transition word at the start o) $
is now" which e*presses present era and hence it cannot chronologically come
be)ore any other past era. #hat is, i) in)ormation era is the present era, talk about
any other era will come before this. So sentence ) is the correct sentence to come
be)ore the )irst sentence. 0ikewise, sentence $ is the correct sentence to come a)ter
the )irst sentence $sentence $ is continuing the idea%. #here)ore, we have the link
)A$.
3e see that option 4, 6 and 7 all have the link !'. Furthermore, all the three
options have the link *)A$. #here)ore, we only need to arrange D and +. #he
sentence + states that The !ur!ose is,"to battle with the enemy" and D
questions how do you battle with the enemy-" #here)ore, D will come a)ter +.
-ence +D*)A$ is the correct arrangement.
.*RSONA/ .RONO0NS:
8ersonal pronouns are he, she, it, him, her, they, you, your etc. 9emember that
personal pronouns always re)er to a person, place or thing etc. Therefore1 if a
sentence contains a !ersonal !ronoun without mentioning the !erson1 !lace
or ob2ect it is referring to1 the !erson1 !lace or ob2ect must have come in the
!revious sentence" :)ten, this is a good lead to identi)y a link. Solve this '!#
question:
#$AT %&&'(
!. !lthough there are large regional variations, it is not in)requent to )ind a large
number o) people sitting here and there and doing nothing.
. :nce in o))ice, they receive )riends and relatives who )eel )ree to call any time
without prior appointment.
'. 3hile working, one is struck by the slow and clumsy actions and reactions,
indi))erent attitudes, procedure rather than outcome orientation, and the lack o)
consideration )or others.
&. 2ven those who are employed o)ten come late to the o))ice and leave early unless
they are )orced to be punctual.
2. 3ork is not intrinsically valued in India.
F. ;uite o)ten people visit ailing )riends and relatives or go out o) their way to help
them in their personal matters even during o))ice hours.
4. 2'!&F 5. 2!&'F 6. 2!&F' 7. !F'2
Answer:
0ook at the personal pronoun they" in sentence : :nce in o))ice, they receive
)riends and relatives who )eel )ree to call any time without prior appointment. #his
they must be re)erring to some people. #he re)erence to some people only comes in
sentences !, &, and F. #here)ore, one o) the sentences will come be)ore sentence .
0et"s see the link !, &, and F<
/in3 A)4
!lthough there are large regional variations, it is not in)requent to )ind a large
number o) people sitting here and there and doing nothing. :nce in o))ice, they
receive )riends and relatives who )eel )ree to call any time without prior appointment.
/in3 D)4
2ven those who are employed o)ten come late to the o))ice and leave early unless
they are )orced to be punctual. :nce in o))ice, they receive )riends and relatives who
)eel )ree to call any time without prior appointment.
/in3 +)4
;uite o)ten people visit ailing )riends and relatives or go out o) their way to help
them in their personal matters even during o))ice hours. :nce in o))ice, they receive
)riends and relatives who )eel )ree to call any time without prior appointment.
3hich o) these links makes sense, :nly link D) seems coherent. (ow, we e*amine
the options with link D). 3e see that options 4 and 6 have link D) in them. !lso,
both the options have link AD)+. #here)ore, !&F is a link. (ow we only need to
place sentences * and $. 3e can do that by reading the sentences in the order given
in options 4 and 6.
O!tion ': /in3 *$AD)+4
3ork is not intrinsically valued in India. 3hile working, one is struck by the slow and
clumsy actions and reactions, indi))erent attitudes, procedure rather than outcome
orientation, and the lack o) consideration )or others. !lthough there are large
regional variations, it is not in)requent to )ind a large number o) people sitting here
and there and doing nothing. 2ven those who are employed o)ten come late to the
o))ice and leave early unless they are )orced to be punctual. :nce in o))ice, they
receive )riends and relatives who )eel )ree to call any time without prior appointment.
;uite o)ten people visit ailing )riends and relatives or go out o) their way to help
them in their personal matters even during o))ice hours.
O!tion 5: /in3 *AD)+$4
3ork is not intrinsically valued in India. !lthough there are large regional variations,
it is not in)requent to )ind a large number o) people sitting here and there and doing
nothing. 2ven those who are employed o)ten come late to the o))ice and leave early
unless they are )orced to be punctual. :nce in o))ice, they receive )riends and
relatives who )eel )ree to call any time without prior appointment. ;uite o)ten people
visit ailing )riends and relatives or go out o) their way to help them in their personal
matters even during o))ice hours. 3hile working, one is struck by the slow and
clumsy actions and reactions, indi))erent attitudes, procedure rather than outcome
orientation, and the lack o) consideration )or others.
oth the options seem plausible. 3e have to determine which one o) the links *$
and *A is better. -ere is the thumb rule when trying to determine plausibility o) a
link
In link *$, sentence * is talking about work not being valued whereas sentence $ is
talking about people being clumsy, indi))erent, inconsiderate etc. Sentence $ is NOT
talking about value o) work. It is talking about people"s behaviour. #here)ore, 2'
cannot be a logical )low.
In link *A, sentence * is talking about work not being valued and sentence A is
talking about people sitting idle. #his certainly says that people do not value work.
#here)ore, *A is the correct link. -ence, option 6 is correct.
-ere is another '!# question that seems tough but can be solved in a matter o)
seconds.
#$AT %&&'(
!. 8assivity is not, o) course, universal.
. In areas where there are no lords or laws, or in )rontier .ones where all men go
armed, the attitude o) the peasantry may well be di))erent.
'. So indeed it may be on the )ringe o) the un=submissive.
&. -owever, )or most o) the soil=bound peasants the problem is not whether to be
normally passive or active, but when to pass )rom one state to another.
2. #his depends on an assessment o) the political situation.
4. 2&!' 5. '&!2 6. 2&!' 7. !'&2
Answer: It cannot get easier than this. 0ook at the personal pronoun it" in sentence
$: So indeed it may be on the )ringe o) the un=submissive. 3hat is it" here re)erring
to, !nd it says that >it may be?un=submissive.> 3hat can be un=submissive, It
cannot be political situation" $sentence 2%, passivity" $sentence !%, or problem"
$sentence &%. :nly attitude" $sentence % can be un=submissive. #here)ore, )$ is a
link. #he link )$ is only present in option 7 and we need not look any )urther.
D*6ONSTRATI7* .RONO0NS:
#he demonstrative pronouns are >this,> >that,> >these,> and >those.> >#his> and
>that> are used to re)er to singular nouns or noun phrases and >these> and >those>
are used to re)er to plural nouns and noun phrases. 3henever a sentence contains a
demonstrative pronoun without mentioning the noun or the noun phrase, it means
that the previous sentence must be mentioning that noun or noun phrase. Finding
that noun or noun phrase helps us connect two sentences. -ere"s another '!#
question )or you to crack:
#$AT %&&'(
!. @ichael -o)man, a poet and translator, accepts this sorry )act without approval or
complaint.
. ut thanklessness and impossibility do not daunt him.
'. -e acknowledges too A in )act he returns to the point o)ten A that best translators
o) poetry always )ail at some level.
&. -o)man )eels passionately about his work, and this is clear )rom his writings.
2. In terms o) the gap between worth and rewards, translators come somewhere
near nurses and street=cleaners.
4. 2!'& 5. !&2' 6. 2!'& 7. &'2!
Answer:
!gain an easy one. (otice the demonstrative pronoun this" in sentence A: @ichael
-o)man, a poet and translator, accepts this sorry fact without approval or
complaint. Also note that sentence A is introducing 6ichael 8ofman #Michael
Hofman, a poet and translator,( and will thereby come before every sentence
containing the !ersonal !ronoun he or him. So which sorry )act is sentence A
re)erring to, It can only be the )act )ound in sentence *. !lso, other sentences
contain he" or him". #here)ore, *A is a link. 0ink *A is contained in option 4, 6 and
7. ut in 7, sentence & is coming be)ore sentence !, and this cannot happen because
sentence ! should be be)ore any other sentence re)erring to -o)man as sentence ! is
introducing -o)man. #here)ore, we are le)t with options 4 and 6. #he di))erence
between options 4 and 6 is the order o) sentence D and ). 0et"s e*amine the link
&:
O!tion ': /in3 D)4
-o)man )eels passionately about his work, and this is clear )rom his writings. ut
thanklessness and impossibility do not daunt him.
&oes this sound like a plausible )low, 'ertainly NOT. #here)ore, link D) is incorrect
and the correct answer is option 6.
$O6)ININ9 IT A// WIT8 /O9I$:
Sometimes using logic to decide the order o) sentences can yield high dividends. In
the previous e*ample, we had used logic to determine that sentence ! would come
be)ore any other sentence re)erring -o)man. Beep your eyes open )or clues such as
these. -ere"s is the last '!# question, using logic<
#$AT %&&'(
!. #he situations in which violence occurs and the nature o) that violence tends to be
clearly de)ined at least in theory, as in the proverbial Irishman"s question: Is this a
private )ight or can anyone join in,"
. So the actual risk to outsiders, though no doubt higher than our societies, is
calculable.
'. 8robably the only uncontrolled applications o) )orce are those o) social superiors to
social in)eriors and even here there are probably some rules.
&. -owever binding the obligation to kill, members o) )euding )amilies engaged in
mutual massacre will be genuinely appalled i) by some mischance a bystander or
outsider is killed.
4. &!' 5. !'& 6. '!& 7. &!'
Answer:
#he clue to this question came to me )rom the word calculable: in sentence : So
the actual risk to outsiders, though no doubt higher than our societies, is calculable.
-ow does something become calculable", #hen I noticed sentence ! and the phrase
clearly defined in theory?" Something becomes calculable when it is clearly
defined in theory. (o other sentence could give answers to calculable". #here)ore,
the link A) was clearly marked. #he link A) was present in option 4 only. 2asy,
rght,
(otice that I have been going to the option again and again to eliminate one or two
options. Form this habit sedulously. It will pay us rich dividends.
!cronym !pproach A )ull )orm vs short )orm
In 8C we encounter )ull and short names some times acronymes o) some term or
institution. e*=
3orld #rade :rganisation = 3#:
&r. @anmohan Singh = &r. Singh
Barl @ar* = @ar*
8resident /eorge 3. ush = 8resident bush or the president
#he rule is that i) both )ull )orm as well as short )orm is present in di))erent
sentences, then the sentence containing )ull )orm will come be)ore the sentence
containing short )orm
here is an e*ample =
!. I) you are used to having your stimulation come in )rom outside, your mind never
develops its own habits o) thinking and re)lecting
. @ar* thought that religion was the opiate, because it soothed people1s pain and
su))ering and prevented them )rom rising in rebellion
'. I) Barl @ar* was alive today, he would say that television is the opiate o) the
people.
&. #elevision and similar entertainments are even more o) an opiate because o) their
addictive tendencies.
a. !'& b. !&' c. &'! d. '&!
Sentence has @ar* $short Form% and sentence ' has Barl @ar* $Full )orm%. So '
will come be)ore . now look at the options. In a, b and c is placed be)ore ' =
hence rejected. & is the right answer.
Time Se;uence A!!roach #TSA( < either dates or time se;uence indicating
words
)e aware of the time indication either by giving years 4 or by using time
indicating words" Arrange the sentences using their !ro!er time se;uence"
8ere are a few time se;uence indicating words 4
)efore after later when
*=am!le
>" A" Then two astronomers?the 9erman1 @ohannes Ae!ler1 and the Italian1
9alileo 9alilei?started !ublicly to su!!ort the $o!ernican theory1 des!ite
the fact that the orbits it !redicted did not ;uite match the ones observed"
)" 8is idea was that the sun was stationary at the centre and that the earth
and the !lanets move in circular orbits around the sun"
$" A sim!le model was !ro!osed in '>'B by a .olish !riest1 Nicholas
$o!ernicus"
D" Nearly a century !assed before this idea was ta3en seriously"
a" $D)A b" $)DA c" )$AD d" $AD)
!nswer is '&!
year =
nearly a century passed
then
$It can be solved by using pronoun method which I will discuss later%
!nother e*ample =
C" !. y the time he got to 0inje)lug )our years later, he had learned many lessons,
in )act, he began his second stint as top dog by calling the entire company together
in a hanger and asking )or help, a )ar cry )rom his barking out commands just 7D
months back.
. !t S!S, he arrived at a time crisis.
'. #his book is chock=a=block )ull o) intrusive stories and practical advice, describing
'arton1s activities at Eingresor $where he assumed his )irst presidency at age 65%,
0inje)lug, and S!S in particular.
&. -e began at Eingresor as an order giver, not a listener = neither to his people nor
to his customers and made every mistake in the book.
a" )AD$ b" )A$D c" $)AD d" $DA)
2*planation:
& will come be)ore ! and . -ence '&!.
!lternate: In ' order is given = Eingressor, 0inje)lug, S!S = arrange according to this.
!lternate: ' will be the opening because only ' has noun $(!@2% )or he.
9ule 6: parajumble
*=am!les < after an hypothesis or theory
I) any sentence is working as an e*ample = place it a)ter Fnot necessarily just a)ter =
because one has to e*plain the idea% it1s hypothesisG theory. It should not be be)ore
the idea that it e*plains.
See this e*ample.
6. !. #he potential e*changes between the o))icials o) IF and the @aharashtra
ody=uilding !ssociation has all the trappings o) a drama we are accustomed to.
. In the case o) sportspersons, there is room )or some sympathy, but the apathy o)
the administrators, which has even led to sanctions )rom international bodies, is
unpardonable.
'. ! case in the point is the he)ty penalty o) HS I4J,JJJ slapped on the Indian ody=
uilding Federation )or not )ul)illing its commitment )or holding the !sian
'hampionships in @umbai in :ctober.
&. It is a matter o) deep regret and concern that the sports administrators o)ten
cause more harm to the image o) the country than sportsmen and sportswomen do
through their dismal per)ormances.
a. '!& b. &'! c. &!' d. '&!
-ere ' is an e*ample o) &. So it will come a)ter &. :nly option b and c remains. (ow
go by !'9:(+@ @ethod discussed earlier. $IF in !. and Indian ody=uilding
Federation in '.% ' will come be)ore !. So only b remains.
The Bth Rule of .ara @umble 4 Articles"
!tricles can be divided into two categorie = de)inite $the% and inde)inite $a and an%.
when the author uses 1a G an1 = he want to make a general statement = want to
introduce the noun )ollowed by aGan )or the )irst time but when he uses 1the1 he want
to re)er back to some previously discussed noun.
It means having 1the1 is very unlikely in the opening sentence.
I) 1aGan1 and 1the1 both are used )or the same noun then the sentence containing 1the1
will come a)ter the sentence containing aGan.
The >th Rule of .ara2umble 4
NO0N1 .RONO0N and AD@*$TI7* #N.A(
4. 8ronoun = whenever will come = will come in the immediate sentence containing
respective noun.
i. e. a sequence can be like this
(oun
8ronoun
pronoun
8ronoun
or like
(oun
8ronoun
.............. no pronoun
(oun
8ronoun
i.e. the pronun sequence will continue till it is halted by a break $i.e. a sentence
containing no pronoun% then i) necessary it will start with the noun again. 3e can1t
write pronoun a)ter a break. It is not a correct )orm o) writing.
O!ening < $losing sentence O$S
su!!orted or free1 general or need !revious e=!lanation
:'S is particularly use)ul in 7 sentence para jumble $where opening sentence is not
given%
0et1s see the characterestics o) an opening sentence =
I will introduce an idea )irst hand.
In most o) the cases it will use indefinite article aan. i.e. i) both de)inite and
inde)inite articles are used )or the same noun then the sentence containing noun
with inde)inite article aGan will come )irst $may be opening sentence%.
#he sentence can stand alone
It will not have !ronouns $e*ception: i) respective noun is not mentioned
anywhere%
It will not have contrast words G or words indicating continuation G or words like
hence , there)ore, so,
AWA 4 Aey Words A!!roach
Aey Words A!!roach AWA #hel!ful for D sentences( < Some words will be
re!eated in two consecutive sentences"
In most o) the cases we repeat some important wprds o) one sentence in the
sentence that )ollows.
hence i) you are seeing any important $not like he, she, that, is, are type% then
chances are that these two sentences will be consecutive. 9emember it gives you an
idea that which sentences can be consecutive but )or '! or !' yoy have to look )or
some other clue or meaning.
SA 4 Structure A!!roach
Structure !pproach S! A lin3 sentences logically i"e"
0ink the sentences logically i.e. see what is the role played by a speci)ic sentence =
8remise
'onclusion
Support
2*ample
'ontinuation
and then search )or some proper sentence thet should come be)ore or the one which
will )ollow
IWA 4 Indicating Words A!!roach
ta3e care of words that indicate something hel!ful to decide se;uence"
Some words indicates some speci)ic nature o) sentences that will come be)ore or that
will )ollow
0ook )or the words like
ut
So
#here)ore
!nd
-owever
think what they are indicating
Signal Indicating Word /ist
3riters use transitions to link their ideas logically. #hese transitions or signal words
are clues that can help you )igure out what the sentence actually means and its
sequence. 8ara=jumble sentences o)ten contain several signal words, combining
them in comple* ways.
NOT*: The list given below is not a com!rehensive list" Eou must collect the
signal words while reading"
$ause and *ffect Signals
0ook )or words or phrases e*plicitly indicating that one thing causes another or
logically determines another.
accordingly
in order to
because
so...that
consequently
there)ore
given
thus
hence
when...then
i)...then
Su!!ort Signal Words
0ook )or the words or phrases supporting a given sentences. #hese words containing
sentences will not be the opening sentence. #hese sentences will )ollow immediately
the sentence supported.
)urthermore
additionally
also
and
too
as well
besides
indeed
likewise
moreover
$ontrast Signals #*=!licit(
$8recisely and clearly e*pressed or readily observable< leaving nothing to
implication.%
0ook )or )unction words or phrases $conjunctions, sentence adverbs, etc.% that
e*plicitly indicate a contrast between one idea and another, setting up a reversal o) a
thought.
albeit
nevertheless
although
nonetheless
but
notwithstanding
despite
on the contrary
even though
on the other hand however
rather than
In contrast
still
In spite o)
while
Instead o)
yet
$ontrast Signals #Im!licit(
$Implied though not directly e*pressed< inherent in the nature o) something%
0ook out )or words which indicates contrast or turn a situation or something
une*pected possibly even unwanted, has occurred.
anomaly
anomalous
anomalously
illogic
illogical
illogically
incongruity
incongruous
incongruously
irony
ironic
ironically
parado*
parado*ical
parado*ically
surprise
surprising
surprisingly
une*pected
une*pectedly
Time se;uence indicating words
e)ore
a)ter
later
when
All the rules in beief
The a!!roaches for .ARA@06)/*F
a" Acronym A!!roach < )ull )orm vs short )orm
b. TSA 4 Time Se;uence A!!roach A either dates or time sequence indicating
words
c. *A 4 *=am!les A!!roach A a)ter an hypothesis or theory
d. Articles < de)inite and inde)inite
e. N.DA A!!roach 4 Noun < .ronoun1 and Demonstrative Ad2ective A limited
to not just noun
). O$SA 4 O!ening < $losing Sentence A supported or )ree, general or need
previous e*planation
g. AWA 4 Aey Words A!!roach $help)ul )or K sentences% A words repeated in two
consecutive sentences.
h. SA4 Structure A!!roach A link sentences logically i.e.
i. IWA 4 Indicating Words A take care o) words that indicate something help)ul to
decide sequence.
j. As3 Guestions about T*R6S a!!earing.

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