Sentence Arrangement

Sentence arrangement, jumbled sentences and reconstruction of paragraphs all come under the same category. In the last session we have seen the different forms in which the questions may appear in different competitive examinations. In continuation of that let us see a technique which helps us to solve this section.

TIME-SAVER CQE(Qualifier Elimination Technique) TECHNIQUE:

This technique is applicable to type one and type two and will also be helpful in type three of sentence arrangement. In most cases the first and the last sentences are specified and the remaining four are to be arranged. Four answer sets are provided as the alternative choice to the candidates. Only one choice is correct which the candidates have to spot out. First of all, we shall find some clues in the set. On the basis of the clue we shall locate a qualifier. Aqualifier is a sentence that is telling us something about another sentence. That another sentence is the qualified sentence. The qualifier will be placed by the side of the qualified. It is just possible that there may be two qualifiers of the same sentence. In that case we have to decide the preference based on the sequence.

Now there are three possibilities.

Possibility (1) The qualifier may be qualifying the first sentence. In this case our answer choice will begin with the qualifier.

Example 1: Duryodhana was a wicked prince.

P.One day Bhima made Duryodhana fall from a tree from which Duryodhana was stealing fruits.

Q. He did not like Pandavas being loved by the people of Hastinapur.

R. Among the Pandavas, Bhima was extraordinarily strong and powerful.

S. Duryodhana specially hated Bhima.

6. This enraged Duryodhana so much that he began to think of removing Bhima from his way.

Options:       A) PSQR       B) QRSP       C) QSRP        D) PSRQ

Here Q is the qualifier of sentence (1) because he is the pronoun used for Duryodhana. So our answer will begin with Q. But both choices B and C begin with Q. Therefore we have to decide by sequence and then B will be the correct answer.

Possibility (2) Our qualifier may qualify any sentence other than the first and last. In this case we have to spot out the answer where the qualifier is by the side of the qualified.

Example 2: Love for the country is a necessity.

P. But it should in no way exceed the limits and take the shape of jingoism.

Q. Similarly nationalism has to be satisfied at the altar of internationalism.

R. There is no reason why the nations of the world cannot treat one another as belonging to one family of nations.

S. Provincialism has to be sacrificed in the interest of the nation as a whole.

6.God created the globe, but man drew lines on it to demarcate countries and sow the seeds of hatred and enmity on it.

Options:       A) QRSP       B) PSQR       C) RQPS        D) SPRQ

Q is the qualifier of S because as it connects the word nationalism to provincialism. Thus our answer should show SQ together. Among the four choices only B has SQ together. Therefore B is the answer.

Possibility (3) The last sentence may be a qualifier in some cases. In that situation our answer should end with the qualified sentence.

Example 3: Once king Shantanu met a young and beautiful fisher girl.

P.He went to the fisherman and asked him for her hand in marriage.

Q. The king was extremely sad and returned to the palace.

R. He fell in love with the fisher girl.

S. The fisherman agreed to it on the condition that the son of his daughter should be the heir to the throne of Hastinapur.

6.Devavrata, the king's son, asked him the reason of his sadness.

Options        A) PQRS       B) RPSQ       C) QSPR        D) PSQR

Here, sentence number 6 is the qualifier of Q because sadness and sad are connected. Thus our answer will end with Q. Among the choices given only B ends with Q. Therefore B is the answer.

Whenever we have more than one choice we have to depend on our sense of sequence.

This technique can be illustrated with a figure.

TIME-SAVER CQE TECHNIQUE

Step 1: Find clues to locate a qualifier

Step 2: Locate a qualifier

Step 3: Eliminate alternatives with the qualifier

Step 4: Read and catch the sequence if more than one alternative is present.

PRACTICE TEST

1. Why are horses the same?

P. It may be old and lame, and in time it will die.

Q. A particular horse 'flows', naturally.

R.But there is something all horses have in common.

S.You probably don't think they are at all.

6. But the form of the horse is eternal and immutable.

Options:       a) SRPQ        b) RPQS        c) RQSP        d) SRQP

2.The headmaster looked at the boy more closely.

P. Although he must have been about eighteen years old, he wore a child's suit.

Q. He noticed the strange mixt-ure of clothes that he wore.

R.His shoes were too broken and old even for a beggar.

S. It was amazingly short in the arms and legs and yet wide enough for his thin body.

6. Besides, one of his feet had been hurt.

Options:       a) SQPR        b) RQSP        c) QPSR        d) PRQS

3.So the father gave his younger son a third part of all that he had.

P. Then he left his village and went to the town.

Q. The son sold his share of the land and the animals.

R.Soon all his money was gone.

S. He wasted his money on feasting and drinking.

6. He became poor and returned to the village.

Options:       a) QPSR        b) PQRS        c) SPQR        d) RPQS

KEY:

1) D               2) C                3) A