Odd One Out Practice Questions for CAT- 1 | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) PDF Download

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: 

• On reading the sentences, we can infer that the author draws an analogy between translators and bumblebees in the paragraph.
• 1 should be the opening sentence since it introduces the fact that the paragraph is going to be about the similarities of translators and bumblebees. After sentence 1, the author should have explained how they are analogous.
• 5 states that the French entomologist August Magnan pronounced the flight of bumblebees to be aerodynamically impossible. Sentence 3 talks about similar statements made about translations. Sentence 4 should be the last sentence since it concludes by saying that both translators and bees have continued their work unaware of these deliberations. Sentences 1534 can be put together into a coherent paragraph.
• Sentence 2 does not add any valuable information to the topic of discussion. The author does not use the fact that the factoid (impossibility of the flight of the bumblebee) has been disproved to support his argument. Sentence 2 should be the one out of context and hence, 2 is the correct answer.

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 central theme revolves around the advancements and applications of AI in various sectors. Statements 1, 2, 3, and 5 discuss the evolution, impact, breakthroughs, and applications of AI, maintaining a coherent narrative about its development and implementation. Statement 4, however, introduces a separate debate regarding AI's impact on employment, which does not align directly with the central theme of AI's advancements and applications. Therefore, Statement 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: 

• On reading the sentences, we can infer that the paragraph revolves around the displacement of people in Bengal due to erosion. 3 should be the opening sentence since it introduces the topic of discussion – displacement in Bengal. 3 should be followed by sentence 2 since it elaborates that the displacement is due to the shifting of the course of the Ganges and the erosion. We have to decide the pair between 5, 4, and 1.
• Sentence 4 is definitely a part of the paragraph since it fits well with both the sentences. Also, it states an important detail – the displacement is spread out over a period of time and hence, remains invisible. Since the displacement is not rapid, its magnitude is not significant. Sentences 4 and 1 form a pair and hence, sentence 5 is the one out of context.

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.
3. Volcanologists study active volcanoes to understand their behavior and to predict future eruptions.
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.
Ans: 3
Sol: Statements 1, 2, 4, and 5 are closely related as they discuss the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its aftermath, specifically focusing on the city of Pompeii, its archaeological significance, and the preservation of its ruins. Statement 3, while related to volcanoes, deviates from the central theme by discussing the study of active volcanoes in general, rather than the specific historical event of Pompeii's destruction. Therefore, Statement 3 is 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: 

• The use of the word “such apps” in 4 indicates that 4 must be preceded by a line that mentions a type of app. We find this in 5 and 2. So the pairs could be 5-4 or 2-4. If we see the sentences 5 and 1 they introduce the topic under discussion and provide context for the details provided in 2 and 4. Hence, 1 and 5 should come at the start of the paragraph and 2-4 should be the end of the paragraph. Between 5 and 1, 5 provides a better opening line as it introduces the main topic of discussion. Hence, the order of the paragraph should be 5-1-2-4.
• Sentence 3 which talks of “guilty conscience” is out of context with the rest of the paragraph.

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: Statements 1, 2, 3, and 5 focus on the Amazon Rainforest, its ecological importance, the threats it faces, and the sustainable practices of indigenous tribes. They collectively paint a picture of the Amazon's significance and the challenges it encounters. Statement 4, on the other hand, shifts the focus to a broader issue of global warming and its effects on polar ice caps, which, although an environmental concern, is not directly related to the Amazon Rainforest. Hence, Statement 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:

• If we read all the sentences together, we see that the author is arguing for India preparing itself in advance for future natural disasters. Sentence 4, which introduces the broader context makes for a good opening line. Sentences 1 and 2 together make the main point that the author is trying make through the paragraph – that India should prepare itself for future natural disasters. Sentence 5 emphasizes the main point by adding that natural disasters will occur in the future and thus makes for a good concluding line.
• Sentence 3, that talks about extreme temperatures does not lead off to any of the other sentences nor does it add to any of the other sentences. Hence, it is the ODD ONE.

Additional Explanation:

• 1-2 is a block, both are talking about things that authorities should do
• 45 are rhetorical opinions of the author on the weather.
• 3 is a fact. We use facts to draw reasonable conclusions.
• This standalone fact cannot be used to draw any conclusion.
• The style of the author’s writing in 4 and 5 are more opinionated than factual. So 3 is a misfit.
• Moreover, we cannot make a connection between 1-4,
• 1 says we need contingencies for natural disaster(suggestive) whereas, 4 says whether is changing(rhetorical).

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: Statements 1, 2, 4, and 5 are interconnected as they discuss various aspects of the Great Wall of China, including its construction, purpose, and current status as a historical and tourist site. Statement 3 introduces the topic of the Silk Road, which, although significant in ancient Chinese history, does not directly relate to the narrative about the Great Wall. Therefore, Statement 3 is 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:

• After reading all the sentences it can be inferred that the passage talks about the impact of ocean plastic on marine organisms.
• Sentence 4 introduces the important and pervasive environmental problem of having plastic in the oceans.Hence it is the first sentence of the passage. Sentence 1 gives the reason behind why ocean plastic is problematic, elucidating that marine animals eat it. Hence it should follow sentence 4.  Sentence 5 gives the consequences of marine animals eating ocean plastic. Sentence 3 further elaborates sentence 5 and follows it.
• Hence the correct order of sentences is 4-1-5-3. Sentence 2 does not fit in with the rest of the passage and is the correct option.

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: Statements 1, 2, 3, and 5 revolve around the theme of jazz music, its origins, characteristics, influence on other genres, and notable musicians. Statement 4, however, shifts focus entirely to the construction of the Eiffel Tower, a topic unrelated to jazz music. Hence, Statement 4 is the ODD ONE out.