Para Completion Tricks with Examples | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

Introduction

Para Completion (PC) has been a regular feature of CAT papers since 2005. Before we solve the Para Completion questions, we must try to understand what the questions test. Para Completion Questions test the candidate’s thought process, their ability to conclude, summarize, continue or keep track of an idea or an argument. 

Type 1 - Complete the Para: Last Sentence

• In this type of question, you are provided with a paragraph that contains an unfinished thought or story. Following the paragraph, there will be four options, each presenting a possible conclusion or continuation of the paragraph. Your task is to carefully analyze the content and context of the paragraph to determine which of the provided options would serve as the most suitable and logical ending.
• These questions assess your ability to comprehend the main idea and logical flow of a passage. You must consider the tone, theme, and content of the paragraph to select the option that effectively wraps up the thought or story presented. Additionally, you need to evaluate the coherence and consistency of the options with the information provided in the paragraph.
• To excel in this type of question, it is crucial to read the paragraph attentively, identifying key details, main ideas, and the overall message conveyed. Then, compare the options with the content of the paragraph to determine which one seamlessly integrates with the existing text, providing a satisfying conclusion or continuation.

What should the last line have and not have

>> If the last line is a conclusion, then:

1. The last line should bring the paragraph to a smooth end; it should not be abrupt.
2. The conclusion should be logically derivable from the premises already stated or from pieces of evidence already cited and should reflect the correct line of reasoning
3. The outcome should focus on the main idea of the passage.
4. The conclusion must be relevant to the critical issues discussed in the passage.

>> If the last line is a continuation of an idea, then:

1. The last line must not have a new element, not at all related to the ideas discussed earlier
2. The last line should have structure and order very similar to the preceding ideas
3. The logical arrangement of the last line should be such that it gives a logical flow to the entire paragraph
4. The idea in the last line should reflect a smooth transition from the idea in the preceding lines

Example 1: The audiences for crosswords and Sudoku, understandably, overlap greatly, but there are differences, too. A crossword attracts a more literary person, while Sudoku appeals to a keenly logical mind. Some crossword enthusiasts turn up their noses at Sudoku because they feel it lacks depth. A good crossword requires vocabulary, knowledge, mental flexibility and sometimes even a sense of humor to complete. It touches numerous areas of life and provides an "Aha!" or two along the way. ___________

1. Sudoku, on the other hand, is just a logical exercise, each one similar to the last.
2. Sudoku, incidentally, is growing faster in popularity than crosswords, even among the literati.
3. Sudoku, on the other hand, can be attempted and enjoyed even by children.
4. Sudoku, however, is not exciting in any sense of the term.

Ans: Option 1

The paragraph discusses the differences between crosswords and Sudoku. It highlights how crosswords appeal to literary individuals while Sudoku attracts those with a logical mindset. Some crossword enthusiasts view Sudoku as lacking depth. The final sentence contrasts Sudoku with crosswords, stating that Sudoku is merely a logical exercise with repetitive puzzles. Option 1 aligns with this by emphasizing Sudoku's repetitive nature. Options 2 and 3 provide irrelevant information, while option 4 lacks specificity. Therefore, option 1 effectively concludes the paragraph by reinforcing the contrast between the two puzzle types.

Example 2: Most people have noticed that vision can play tricks. A straight stick submerged in water looks bent, though it is not; railroad tracks seem to converge in the distance, but they do not; and a page of English-language print reflected in a mirror cannot be read from left to right, though in all other circumstances it can. Each of these phenomena is misleading in some way.________________

1. But does seeing a straight stick out of water provide a good reason for thinking that, when it is in water, it is not bent?
2. But how does one know that the wheels on the train do not converge at that point also?
3. Thus, the difficulty cannot be resolved by appealing to input from the other senses.
4. Anyone who believes that the stick is bent, that the railroad tracks converge, and so on is mistaken about how the world really is. 

Ans: Option: 4

The word "thus" in option C is not justified by the preceding lines of the paragraph. Hence it must go out. The author in the last line categorically states: Each of these phenomena is misleading in some way. So, if the author has already stated that the phenomena is misleading, then why should he question his own assertion by doubting the very phenomenon he used earlier to arrive at the conclusion. Both choice A and B can be eliminated. Option D is consistent with the rest of the paragraph.

Example 3:What is meant by coming 'to feel at home' in a new place, or with new people? It is simply that, at first, when we take up our quarters in a new room, we do not know what draughts may blow in upon our back, what doors may open, what forms may enter, what interesting objects may be found in cupboards and corners. When after a few days we have learned the range of all these possibilities, the feeling of strangeness disappears.___________________

1. The same is true when a great happiness awaits us.
2. Let now this haunting sense of futurity be thrown off its bearings or left without an object, and immediately uneasiness takes possession of the mind.
3. And so it does with people, when we have got past the point of expecting any essentially new manifestations from their character.
4. None of the above 

Ans: Option 3 is correct.

Option 3 precisely takes the ahead the idea of "disappearance of the feeling of strangeness", which is stated in the last sentence of the question, in the right direction. In short, option 3 means: the feeling of strangeness disappears once we have got past the point of expecting any essentially new manifestations from their character". As it is with home, so it is with people. The ease with which we connect option 3 with the paragraph is just not there when we try to connect option 1 with the paragraph. 

Type 2 - Find the Correct Place of Sentence 

• In this type of question, you'll be provided with a paragraph along with one sentence. 
• Your task is to determine the most suitable position within the paragraph where this given sentence should be placed.

Example 4: There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence: Most were first-time users of a tablet and a digital app.

Paragraph: Aage Badhein's USP lies in the ethnographic research that constituted the foundation of its development process. Customizations based on learning directly from potential users were critical to making this self-paced app suitable for both a literate and non-literate audience. ___(1)___ The user interface caters to a Hindi-speaking audience who have minimal to no experience with digital services and devices. ___(2)___ The content and functionality of the app are suitable for a wide audience. This includes youth preparing for an independent role in life or a student ready to create a strong foundation of financial management early in her life. ___(3)___ Household members desirous of improving their family's financial strength to reach their aspirations can also benefit. We piloted Aage Badhein in early 2021 with over 400 women from rural areas. ___(4)___ The digital solution generated a large amount of interest in the communities.
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4

Ans: (d)
Solution: Note that the missing line is in the past tense. So, we cannot fit it in in options 2 or 3 as the sentences before and after the blank in both these options are in present tense. Between options 1 and 4, placing the missing line in option 4 works better. The subject of the missing line is 'most'. The use of this pronoun makes sense when it is used in blank 4, as 'most' in this case would refer to women from rural areas. If the missing sentence were to be placed in blank 1, there would be a pronoun antecedent error.

The answer is 'Option 4'

Tips & Tricks for Solving Para Completion

• Read the Entire Paragraph First: Before you start considering where the given sentence might fit, read through the entire paragraph carefully. Understanding the context and flow of ideas will help you identify the most appropriate placement for the given sentence.
• Identify the Main Idea: Determine the main idea or theme of the paragraph. This will help you understand the purpose of each sentence and how they contribute to the overall message.
• Look for Transitional Cues: Pay attention to transitional words and phrases (e.g., however, therefore, consequently) within the paragraph. These can give you clues about the logical progression of ideas and where the given sentence might fit.
• Consider Sentence Structure: Analyze the structure of both the given sentence and the surrounding sentences in the paragraph. Look for similarities in topic, tone, or argumentation that can help you identify the best placement.
• Check for Coherence: Ensure that the placement of the given sentence maintains coherence and logical flow within the paragraph. It should seamlessly integrate with the surrounding sentences and contribute to the development of the paragraph's main idea.
• Eliminate Wrong Choices: If there are multiple options for where the sentence could fit, eliminate choices that disrupt the flow of the paragraph or create logical inconsistencies.
• Read Aloud: Sometimes, reading the paragraph aloud can help you identify the most natural placement for the given sentence. This can also help you gauge how well the sentence fits with the overall tone and rhythm of the paragraph.
• Practice with Different Texts: Familiarize yourself with various types of paragraphs and practice placing sentences within them. This will help you develop a better understanding of sentence structure, coherence, and logical progression.
• Focus on the last sentence: The last sentence should wrap up the paragraph effectively, so give it particular attention while evaluating the options.