In view of Prof S K Agarwal, expert on Verbal Ability in CAT 2015 preparation, it is expected that CAT 2015 would serve you with 2 questions based on completion of a paragraph in Verbal Ability section. This type of question was missing in CAT 2014 but it could re-appear in CAT 2015, so be on your guard and prepare well.+
Choosing the correct answer options would give you an edge of 6 marks and would improve your percentile by 12 to 15. The first time when this type of question appeared in Verbal Ability section in 2006, it created a lot of panic among the CAT takers. Since then 1-3 questions of this type invariably appear in CAT Verbal Ability section every year except in CAT 2014.
CAT despite having gone for perceptible changes since 2006 has not changed much the basics of question type. CAT 2015 is expected to place the question in a different manner to find the first sentence along with the last sentence of paragraph. Prof S K Agarwal, Expert on Verbal Ability shares below the expected type of such questions and how to prepare for them.
So far you have found in CAT the para completion questions asking you to pick out the last sentence of paragraph out of the possible answer options. This question may get a different shape in CAT 2015 asking you to choose the first sentence of the paragraph to complete it.
VA or Critical reasoning
Question on completion of first sentence of paragraph in fact belongs to Critical Reasoning which is part and parcel of Logical Reasoning. Since it is more inclined towards verbal ability, an aspirant with better command over VA will be better equipped to solve such problems.
Structure of the question
This question asks the test taker to find out the most appropriate sentence option that completes the incomplete paragraph. Hence the question appears with an incomplete paragraph, leaving the first sentence which is required to be picked out of the four alternative answer options to complete the paragraph in the most appropriate way.
It is not much difficult to guess the beginning sentence if different options express different directions. But the agonizing part is that all the options appear quite close to one another and each option looks as if correct. However, those who understand the text, idea and tone of the author can do well and answer them correctly.
How to prepare
Completion of a paragraph is nothing but a test of your comprehension skills. However, knowing well that CAT is always full of surprises and the difficulty level is rather high, we should be aware how to be ready to attempt such questions with some tips beforehand.
- Understanding the unity and coherence in the paragraph is a must. Beginning of the paragraph may well provide a lead to its topic and tone. The paragraph develops its main body by discussing the details and facts. Try to link the sentences by spotting the key words and logical arguments. This can be achieved by reading more variety of stuff. Go for Editorials and articles in newspapers, read them and find out what you can miss without the first sentence.
- Identify the gist of the paragraph by following the thread of thought with steps cited above.
- Getting close to the first sentence – keep yourself away from the first line but be in touch of the thought that would complete the paragraph. The first sentence in fact, starts a new thought or idea while the last one restates or sums up whatever has been detailed in the paragraph. The first sentence thus begins the discussion.
- Do not get involved in the jugglery of words used in the paragraph, as the same may waste your time, instead get the general meaning that may lead you to your goal.
- Practise more such questions, it will give you an edge over others.
You can very well expect surprises in formation of 2-3 questions on first or Last sentence of paragraph.
The preparation strategy for this surprise element is not much different. This time you will simply move upwards from last line to the first line, in the reverse order..
You already have concluding thought that sums up the paragraph, you also have the main idea and tone of the paragraph in the body of the same, now you need the sentence that introduces the paragraph. The first sentence in fact contains what is going to be discussed in the coming paragraph. So any sentence that conveys closing thought or giving contradictory thought may not be the first sentence of paragraph.
Example
Direction-question 1: Below the incomplete paragraph, options are given to complete the same. Identify the most appropriate option that begins the paragraph in the best suitable manner.
The waiting period will only be temporary in nature. The only thing that can create a serious problem for you is to lose your patience or to lose your hope or to forget that the situation is temporary and not permanent
1. No pessimism should therefore persist despite all the odds
2. If you are in trouble you can ask for the help from your near and dear as you know
3. Optimism means knowing that one will eventually be rescued since
4. You must wait for the right moment to strike the goal as
- A 2. B 3. C 4. D
How to approach the answer
Take the reverse order. What sums up the para has the clue to introduce the para. Hope is an optimistic idea which should begin the sentence. Other sentences with therefore, referred trouble, referring the right moment to strike for some persisting trouble may not be the beginning sentences
Answer:
Q 1: 3 C. All other sentences refer to some earlier discussions or direct to other facts away from this paragraph.
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