Rearrangement of Sentences - English Language & Comprehension for SSC CGL

Introduction

Rearrangement of sentences, often called para jumbles, requires arranging a set of jumbled sentences to form a coherent and meaningful paragraph. Typically six sentences are given in a mixed order; sometimes the first and the last sentences may be fixed and need not be moved. 

Key idea and approach

Rearrangement of sentences, or para jumbles, consists of sentences that are either numbered (1, 2, 3…) or lettered (a, b, c…) and given in a jumbled form. The sentences are followed by choices of possible combinations of arrangements of these sentences. You have to choose the most logical order of arrangement of these sentences to form a meaningful, coherent paragraph.

Important steps while solving a sentence rearrangement

1. Skim all sentences quickly to form a rough impression of the subject and possible opener/conclusion.
2. Mark connectors and pronouns, and pair sentences that clearly link (for example, a sentence that contains "this" must have a sentence earlier that introduces "this").
3. Place any sentence that looks like a general statement or topic sentence at the start and any summarising/result sentence at the end.
4. Join pairs and small chains where links are clear, then look for how those chains can be connected using transitional words or repeated words.
5. If multiple orders seem possible, use the elimination method: test each feasible beginning and see which produces a coherent chain without unresolved pronouns or abrupt topic shifts.
6. Finally, read the paragraph as a whole to check for grammatical correctness, tense consistency and natural flow; revise if any pronoun or referential mismatch remains.

Types of sentence-rearrangement formats

Parajumble questions appear in a few common formats. Recognising the format helps choose a solution strategy quickly.

• Basic format: All statements are jumbled and the candidate must arrange every statement in logical order.
• Static first statement: The first statement is fixed; arrange the remaining sentences so that the paragraph begins with the given sentence and follows logically.
• Static last statement: The last statement is fixed; arrange the preceding sentences to lead into the given final statement coherently.
• Static first and last statements: Both the first and the last sentences are fixed; arrange the middle sentences to connect the two safe anchors.

Solved examples

Example 1
Sentence Reordering
(a) killed/they are/beaten/chained/and/mercilessly/trained.
(b) their/heed/but/hears/and/pays/nobody/to/cries.
(c) friends/auxiliaries/animals/necessary/are our/and/survival/for our
(d) animal/matters/our vision/a world/should be/where/welfare

Answer:
(a) They are beaten, chained, trained and killed mercilessly.
(b) But nobody hears and pays heed to their cries.
(c) Animals are our friends, auxiliaries and necessary for our survival.
(d) Our vision should be a world where animal welfare matters.

Example 2: Given below are jumbled statements, arrange the following in logical form:
(a) Rani fills the form to the dance show
(b) A talent hunt show is looking for Classical dancers like Rani
(c) Rani is called for auditions
(d) Rani is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer
(e) Rani gets selected

The Correct Arrangement:
(d) Rani is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer
(b) A talent hunt show is looking for Classical dancers like Rani
(a) Rani fills the form to the dance show
(c) Rani is called for auditions
(e) Rani gets selected
From the above arrangement, the questions which may be asked are as follows:

• What is the correct order of the statements when arranged logically?
  Answer: dbace
• Which statement is the 3rd statement from the beginning?
  Answer: Rani fills the form to the dance show.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Avoid choosing a sentence as an opener merely because it begins with a capital letter; ensure it does not contain references (pronouns, demonstratives) that require a previous sentence.
• Do not rely only on chronological words; some paragraphs use cause-effect or general-to-specific ordering instead.
• Watch for trap sentences that seem to fit in more than one place; check their pronouns and connectors carefully before fixing their position.
• Be careful with sentences beginning with conjunctions such as "But" or "However"; they usually follow a sentence that presents the statement they contrast.

Practice tips

• Practice by grouping sentences into ideas and forming short summaries of each sentence in the margin; this makes matching easier.
• Time yourself. Start by solving lightly-timed sets and gradually reduce time as you improve accuracy.
• Maintain a list of common linking words and their usual functions (contrast, addition, cause, sequence) and refer to it during practice.
• Read quality editorials and short passages regularly; exposure to coherent writing trains the eye to spot natural paragraph order.