The Language Comprehension section in CMAT contains 25 questions and not less than 3-4 questions will be based on jumbled paragraphs. Scoring around 20 percent more, that too with a little understanding to put the sentences in a sequential order, can improve your performance.
A jumbled paragraph may be termed as a group of the sentences not arranged in a proper sequence. You might remember the spoken slangs or solving the cross words, wherein you had to form a meaningful word. Similarly in a group of jumbled sentences, the candidate is expected to arrange all the sentences in logical & sequential order. In another words it is the test of the student’s versatile reading, understanding of language, writing ability based on deep stock of vocabulary, grammar and correct use of tenses.
Score more – it is less difficult. CMAT provides you the opportunity of scoring better on account of solving 3-4 parajumbles. So, try to have fun while solving jumbled paragraphs instead of finding them a burden. Unlike CAT, CMAT has shorter jumbled paragraphs to solve. The main features for CMAT parajumbles distinctive than that of CAT can be summarised in brief as follows –
| CMAT | CAT |
| Level of difficulty is slightly low | Higher level of difficulty |
| Para may begin with reference words also, like, This, that, these, those, thus, making it easy to understand. | Para ,usually does not begin with such words |
| Para is written in more simple language on simple conceptual thoughts, current affair or every situation, although no such mention is there | Para has more complex language with rich vocabulary and can be on anything under the sun-economic, business, spiritual, social, opinions, ideas etc. |
| No jumbled paragraph with ‘out of context’ type of questions | Different types of parajumbles as well as question to pick out the out of context sentence in them |
| Paragraph consists of 4-5 short sentences hence the para itself is of small size | Para has longer and complex sentences hence it is larger than that of CMAT |
Strategy to solve-
Step-1 – Mark the idea and tone of the sentences. This will enable you to identify the Opening and/or closing sentence making the task easier. You may opt for elimination method
Step-2 – Search for connectors to sentences e.g. conjunctions, personal (He/she/it/they/their etc), relative (Who, whose, that, which etc.), Demonstrative (These, those, this, that etc.) pronouns as they indicate that they must have been used in place of some noun-proper/common etc. So find the link between the sentences.
Step-3- A few paragraphs have time factors in it-indicating that the events mentioned for the earlier time should come first and could help you to put them in chronological order-
e.g. A. First war of independence took place in 1857
B. East India Company came to India in 1600 with business motive
C. hence, Quit India Movement of 1942 was mobilised to push back the Britishers
D. It spread its wings all over the country despite declaring its business intentions
E. Giving a serious thought on global situation our leaders found it the right moment to start nation-wide movement
F. Second world war, that began in 1939 started to show its impact globally
You can very well decode it – ‘BDAFEC’
Step-4 – You may find certain words which may be leading towards next para or concluding part – like, Summing up, in a nutshell, Nevertheless, therefore, However, hence, So, Simultaneously, Apart from etc. They denote change of thought process and transform sentence to next stage. Such words may be noted.
Step-5- Please practice more and improve the reading skills and accuracy.
Practicing various types of jumbled paragraphs
The jumbled paragraph could be any of the following types. Sample exercises to practice the same will definitely improve your confidence level and will boost your morale –
Type -1- Random – You may be offered sentences in random order and you would be required to arrange them in such a sequence to form a coherent paragraph-
Direction-In the following question sentences of a paragraph are jumbled up and given. Each sentence is labelled A, B, C & D. Find out the order in which the sentences are to be arranged to form a logically coherent paragraph
A. they disclosed that the full consignment was in fact for 52 steel tubes
B. yesterday succeeded only in compounding the puzzle.
C. Sheffield Forgemasters, at the centre of the lraqi supergun affair,
D. The number seized by customs and Excise had been a mere eight.
1. ABCD 2. BDAC 3.CBAD 4. DCBA
Ans. 3. CBAD Explanation- Action started with C when the company at the centre of affairs compounded the puzzle –B, what they disclosed (A) was different than what was seized (D).
Type-2- Opening sentence is given- You are given the opening sentence and the other sentences are jumbled. You have to rearrange the remaining jumbled sentences beginning with the given opening sentence. The task is slightly easier as you know where to start from.
Direction- In the Following paragraph opening sentence is given followed by a group of sentences, which if placed in correct sequence will form a coherent paragraph. You have to select the most appropriate option out of the given ones that follow the paragraph.
Opening sentence - Neil Simon started his career when only sixteen years old,
A. two and a half years with the highly successful Bilko series
B. With the advent of television he progressed to shows like The Ed Sulli van programme and, in particular,
C. which is still showing throughout the world.
D. writing with his brother Daniel, scripts for radio.
A.DBAC B. BACD C. ABCD D. DACB
Ans. A. DBAC -Explanation- Think & try to put the sentences in chronological order. Opening sentence starts the story the character started his career when radio was there (Time factor as radio came before TV) so D; then progressed for Television programmes when the same started(B); a part of achievement BILKO series (A) still showing (C).
Type-3-Closing sentence given – You are not given the opening sentence but closing sentence is given with a jumbled group of preceding sentences. You are required to put them in correct sequence in the coherent manner to reach the concluding sentence of the paragraph.
Direction- In the Following paragraph concluding sentence is given followed by a group of sentences, which if placed in correct sequence will form a coherent paragraph. You have to select the most appropriate option out of the given ones that follow the paragraph.
Closing sentence – “and if there had been a vestry we were all satisfied that he would have signed his name in it.”
A. So Scrubbins pattered in and behaved with perfect discretion and decorum
B.the marriage, it appeared, would not be legal unless it were open to all comers to attend
C.Somebody got up to shut the door but the Registrar hastily interposed;
D.He added a cheerful note to the rather grim ceremony,
1.ABCD 2. CBAD 3. BCDA 4. DCBA
Ans. 2. CBAD - Explanation- C opens the paragraph with an action of getting up to close the door; Marriage could not be legal if the door got shut (B); someone named Scrubbins (may be a dog) entered(A); he added a cheerful note(D) the sentence leads to the concluding sentence. Important part in view of the author is not the ceremony but what happened thereat is more important.
Type-4- Opening and closing sentences given – Another type, easier than any of the above, is, when you have the opening and closing sentences. In between are the jumbled sentences. Now you have the beginning and conclusion of discussion and are more comfortable with this type of question.
Direction- In the Following paragraph Opening and concluding sentences are given followed by a group of sentences, which if placed in correct sequence will form a coherent paragraph. You have to select the most appropriate option out of the given ones that follow the paragraph.
Opening sentence- ‘Room with bed for two’, said the proprietor, flinging open a door at the extreme end.
Concluding sentence- The smell of the room was the same as the corridor outside with some indefinable additions
A) Somewhere nearby a fun-fair was testing its loud-hailing apparatus, warming up for a night of revelry.
B) He contrived to invest it with an air of extreme indelicacy, which in no way prepared us for the reality.
C) The sheets were almost clean but on them there was the unmistakable impress of a human form
D) It was a nightmare room, the room of a drug fiend or a miscreant or perhaps both.
1.ADBC 2. DCAB 3. BDCA 4. BCAD
Ans. 3. BDCA-Explanation- B –we arrived at the lodge or inn whatever it was, so the opening sentence of paragraph begins with entering the room ; D-the room was observed and described, so subsequent sentence; C-Description continued now with bed; A- concluding part describing the outside of the lodge or inn before closing it with final comment.
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