Tips and Tricks to Solve Para Jumbles

Sentence rearrangement is a very important topic in all competitive exams that applicants worry about. Jumbled paragraphs are known as para jumbles. Here, a paragraph is given with sentences or phrases or words that aren’t in the correct order and is asked to rearrange the sentences in a logical manner to make sense.

Here are some ways or approaches to solving the para jumbles with absolute accuracy:

1. Identify Transition words:
Transition words help to make the transition from one thought to the next go smoothly. They rationally structure and connect the sentences. It is often possible to learn something about the sentence that will come before or after it by paying attention to the transition words used in a sentence.

Some often used transition terms are: Likewise, moreover, similarly, as a rule, generally, for example, for one thing, above all, aside from, barring, besides, in other words, in short, instead, on one hand, on the other hand, rather, similarly, yet, but etc.

2. Identify Personal Pronouns
He, she, it, him, her, they, you, your, and so on are examples of personal pronouns. Personal pronouns always refer to a person, place, or thing, for example. As a result, if a sentence contains a personal pronoun without specifying the person, place, or thing it refers to, the person, place, or thing must have appeared in the preceding sentence. This is frequently an excellent lead for finding a connection.

3. Demonstrative Pronoun
“This”, “that”, “these” and “those” are demonstrative pronouns. When a sentence contains a demonstrative pronoun without stating the noun or noun phrase, it implies that the noun or noun phrase was mentioned in the preceding sentence. We can connect two sentences by finding that word or noun phrase.

4.  Acronym Approach
We also call it the “Full form vs. short form” approach. We come across complete and abbreviated names or acronyms of some phrase or institution in para jumbles. For example, “WHO” for “World Health Organization”. If both full form and short form are present in a sentence, the sentence having full form will come before the sentence containing short form, according to the rule.

5. Time Sequence Approach
Keep an eye on the time indication, which can be done by utilising years or time indicating phrases. Arrange the sentences in the correct time order. Such examples of time sequences include words like “before”, “after”, “later”, “when” etc.

6. Theory Approach
If any sentence serves as an example, it should be placed after the sentence for which it is serving as an example, rather than immediately following, because the idea must be explained; it is hypothesis/ theory. It should not be explained before the notion.

7. Articles Approach
When the author uses ‘a/an’, he is making a general remark and wishes to introduce the noun followed by a/an for the first time, whereas when he uses ‘the,’ he is referring to a previously addressed noun. It means that having ‘the’ in the first sentence is highly unlikely. The sentence with “the” will come after the sentence with “a/an” if both words are used for the same noun.

8. Noun, Pronoun and Adjective Approach
When a pronoun appears, it will appear in the same sentence as the noun it refers to. The pronoun sequence will continue until it encounters a break (i.e. a sentence with no pronoun), at which point it will resume with the noun.

9. Opening – Closing Sentence Approach
We must determine whether any of the sentences is supported or unsupported, generic or require prior explanation. In four-sentence para jumbles, the beginning or closing sentence technique is especially beneficial (where the opening sentence is not given). Look for the statement that will present an idea for the first time.

The statement is complete on its own. It will be devoid of pronouns (exception: if the respective noun is not mentioned anywhere). It will not contain contrast terms/or words showing continuation/or words like – as a result, thus, hence, etc.

10. Key Words Approach
In most circumstances, some key terms are repeated from one statement in the following sentence. As a result, if you see any keywords (not like he, she, that, is, or are), these phrases are likely to be next to each other. Remember that it offers you an indication of which phrases may be consecutive, but you must look for another clue or meaning to determine the actual order.

11. Structure Approach
Link the sentences logically, i.e. determine what role each sentence plays. Then look for a proper statement that should come before or after the one you’re writing. The logical order of the passage should be:

Premise – Continuation – Support – Example – Conclusion

12.  Indicating Words Approach 
Keep an eye out for words that can assist you to decide on a sequence. Some words suggest the character of the phrases that will come before or after them. Look for terms like But, So, However, Therefore etc. Consider what they’re implying. This generally concludes the para jumbles section.

We hope this article helped you to understand that Para Jumbles are after all not that difficult or impossible to do. One or more of these methods can be used to solve each Para Jumble. Keep in mind that you should apply these suggestions based on the specific Para Jumble question that is presented to you.