Odd One Out Practice Questions for CAT- 1

Q1. Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out. Choose its number as your answer and key it in.
1. Translators are like bumblebees.
2. Though long since scientifically disproved, this factoid is still routinely trotted out.
3. Similar pronouncements about the impossibility of translation have dogged practitioners since Leonardo Bruni's De interpretatione recta, published in 1424.
4. Bees, unaware of these deliberations, have continued to flit from flower to flower, and translators continue to translate.
5. In 1934, the French entomologist August Magnan pronounced the flight of the bumblebee to be aerodynamically impossible.
Ans. 2
Sol. 

• The sentences form an extended analogy between translators and bumblebees: 1 introduces the analogy, 5 gives a historical claim about the bumblebee's flight, 3 shows a parallel claim about translation, and 4 provides the concluding observation that both bees and translators continue their work despite such pronouncements.
• 2, however, comments only on the scientific refutation of the bumblebee factoid and does not advance the analogy or the argument. It does not fit the logical sequence that links the historical claims to the conclusion. Therefore, 2 is the odd one out.

Q2. Five jumbled-up sentences, related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out and key in the number of the sentence as your answer.
1. AI's rapid evolution has been fueled by leaps in machine learning and neural networks, making it an indispensable tool across various sectors.
2. However, the energy consumption and environmental impact of large AI models are concerning and necessitate sustainable practices.
3. Breakthroughs in AI have enabled it to surpass human performance in tasks ranging from image recognition to strategic game playing.
4. Some argue that AI's growth may lead to unprecedented unemployment rates due to automation.
5. The integration of AI in healthcare has not only improved diagnostic procedures but also personalized treatment plans.
Ans. 4
Sol. The four coherent sentences (1, 2, 3 and 5) describe AI's technological advances, practical applications and the consequences these advances bring (including environmental costs). Sentence 4 introduces a separate socio-economic debate about unemployment due to automation that does not flow directly from the technological-and-impact narrative of the other sentences. Hence, sentence 4 is the odd one out.

Q3. Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out.
1. Displacement in Bengal is thus not very significant in view of its magnitude.
2. A factor of displacement in Bengal is the shifting course of the Ganges leading to erosion of river banks.
3. The nature of displacement in Bengal makes it an interesting case study.
4. Since displacement due to erosion is well spread over a long period of time, it remains invisible.
5. Rapid displacement would have helped sensitize the public to its human costs.
Ans. 5
Sol. 

• Sentences 3, 2, 4 and 1 form a logical chain: 3 introduces the topic, 2 identifies river-bank erosion from the shifting Ganges as a cause, 4 explains why this displacement remains largely invisible (because it is gradual), and 1 concludes that the overall magnitude therefore appears not very large.
• 5 discusses a hypothetical rapid displacement that would raise public awareness; this contrasts with the paragraph's emphasis on slow, dispersed erosion. It therefore does not fit and is the odd one out.

Q4. Five jumbled-up sentences, related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out and key in the number of the sentence as your answer.
1. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD led to the tragic burial of the ancient city of Pompeii under volcanic ash.
2. Archaeological discoveries in Pompeii have provided invaluable insights into Roman urban life and social structure.
4. Many artifacts recovered from Pompeii are in remarkable condition, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of its inhabitants.
5. The preservation of Pompeii's ruins allows visitors to walk its streets as if they were citizens of ancient Rome.
3. Volcanologists study active volcanoes to understand their behavior and to predict future eruptions.
Ans. 3
Sol. Statements 1, 2, 4 and 5 form a tight, coherent unit about Pompeii: the eruption (1), archaeological findings and well-preserved artifacts (2 and 4), and the site's state of preservation for visitors (5). Statement 3, while true, addresses the general scientific study of active volcanoes rather than the historical and archaeological narrative about Pompeii and is therefore the odd one out.

Q5. Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out. Choose its number as your answer and key the number in:
1. Our smartphones can now track our diets, our biological cycles, even our digestive systems and sleep-patterns.
2. Researchers have even coined a new term, "orthosomnia", to describe the insomnia brought on by paying too much attention to smartphones and sleep-tracking apps.
3. Sleep, nature's soft nurse, is a blissful, untroubled state all too easily disturbed by earthly worries or a guilty conscience.
4. The existence of a market for such apps is unsurprising: shift work, a long-hours culture and blue light from screens have conspired to rob many of us of sufficient rest.
5. A new threat to a good night's rest has emerged - smart-phones, with sleep-tracking apps.
Ans. 3
Sol.

• Sentences 5, 1, 2 and 4 form a clear sequence: 5 introduces the problem (smartphones and sleep apps), 1 gives examples of what phones now monitor, 2 names a specific consequence (orthosomnia), and 4 explains why there is demand for such apps.
• 3 is a lyrical observation about sleep in general and does not connect directly to the technological and cultural points about smartphones and sleep-tracking. Thus 3 is the odd one out.

Q6. Five jumbled-up sentences, related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out and key in the number of the sentence as your answer.
1. The Amazon Rainforest, often described as the \"lungs of the Earth,\" plays a crucial role in global oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption.
2. Deforestation in the Amazon is driven by agriculture, logging, and urban expansion, leading to habitat loss and biodiversity decline.
3. Rainforests are home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species, many of which are still undiscovered.
4. Global warming is leading to the melting of polar ice caps, raising sea levels, and threatening coastal communities.
5. Indigenous tribes in the Amazon have developed sustainable ways of living that minimize their impact on the forest ecosystem.
Ans. 4
Sol. The four sentences 1, 2, 3 and 5 collectively describe the Amazon's ecological importance, the threats it faces and the sustainable practices of its indigenous peoples. Sentence 4 addresses impacts of global warming on polar regions and coasts, which, though an environmental issue, is not directly connected to the Amazon-centred discussion. Therefore 4 is the odd one out.

Q7. Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out.
1. As India looks to increase the number of cities, our urban planning must factor in potential natural disasters and work out contingencies in advance.
2. Authorities must revise data and upgrade infrastructure and mitigation plans even if their local area hasn't been visited by a natural calamity yet.
3. Extreme temperatures, droughts, and forest fires have more than doubled since 1980.
4. There is no denying the fact that our baseline normal weather is changing.
5. It is no longer a question of whether we will be hit by nature's fury but rather when.
Ans. 3
Sol.

• Sentences 4, 1, 2 and 5 form a coherent argument: 4 states that baseline weather is changing, 1 argues that urban planning must account for disasters, 2 calls for authorities to update data and infrastructure, and 5 stresses urgency by asserting that a disaster is a matter of time.
• 3 is a factual statistical claim about the increase in certain extreme events. While factual, it stands apart from the policy-oriented, advisory tone of the other sentences and does not integrate smoothly into the argument about planning and preparedness. Hence 3 is the odd one out.

Additional Explanation:

• 1 and 2 are prescriptive actions aimed at planners and authorities.
• 4 and 5 provide the rhetorical and contextual basis for those actions.
• The statistical fact in 3 does not link directly to the sequence of advice and urgency and therefore does not fit the paragraph's flow.

Q8. Five jumbled-up sentences, related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out and key in the number of the sentence as your answer.
1. The Great Wall of China, stretching over 13,000 miles, is a testament to ancient Chinese engineering and defensive strategies.
2. The wall was built over several dynasties, primarily to protect the Chinese Empire from northern invasions.
3. In ancient China, the Silk Road facilitated trade and cultural exchange between the East and the West.
4. Today, the Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
5. Many sections of the wall feature watchtowers, barracks, and garrison stations, illustrating its military purpose.
Ans. 3
Sol. The sentences 1, 2, 5 and 4 form a focused paragraph about the Great Wall: its scale and engineering (1), its purpose and construction history (2 and 5), and its present status (4). Sentence 3 discusses the Silk Road, which, though historically related to China, diverts the paragraph away from the specific subject of the Great Wall and is therefore the odd one out.

Q9. Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out. Choose its number as your answer and key it in.
1. Ocean plastic is problematic for a number of reasons, but primarily because marine animals eat it.
2. The largest numerical proportion of ocean plastic falls in small size fractions.
3. Aside from clogging up the digestive tracts of marine life, plastic also tends to adsorb pollutants from the water column.
4. Plastic in the oceans is arguably one of the most important and pervasive environmental problems today.
5. Eating plastic has a number of negative consequences such as the retention of plastic particles in the gut for longer periods than normal food particles.
Ans. 2
Sol.

• Sentences 4, 1, 5 and 3 present a coherent sequence: 4 states the scale of the problem, 1 identifies ingestion by marine animals as a primary concern, 5 details physiological consequences of ingestion, and 3 adds that ingested plastic also carries adsorbed pollutants.
• 2 is a technical statistical observation about size fractions of plastic. It does not fit the cause-effect explanation focused on harm to marine life and therefore is the odd one out.

Q10. Five jumbled-up sentences, related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the ODD ONE out and key in the number of the sentence as your answer.
1. Jazz music, born in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, originated in African American communities in New Orleans.
2. The improvisational nature of jazz distinguishes it from other music genres and emphasizes the musicians' creativity and interaction.
3. Jazz has influenced numerous other genres, including rock, classical, and hip-hop, showcasing its versatility and enduring appeal.
4. The construction of the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 World's Fair symbolized France's industrial prowess and architectural innovation.
5. Legendary jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington have left an indelible mark on the music world with their innovative styles.
Ans. 4
Sol. Sentences 1, 2, 3 and 5 collectively describe jazz: its origins (1), defining characteristic of improvisation (2), its influence on other genres (3), and key practitioners (5). Sentence 4 concerns the Eiffel Tower, an unrelated subject, and is therefore the odd one out.