Para jumblesWhat are Para jumbles?Para jumbles are jumbled paragraphs. Basically, you are given a paragraph – but the sentences are not in the right order. It’s up to you to untie this knot and rearrange the sentences so that they logically make sense. You’ll find this type of question in CAT   exam in the verbal logic section.How paragraph jumbles are like jigsaw puzzlesWhen you were a kid, you probably tried to make jigsaw puzzles. You needed to find similar looking pieces so they would fit together. Para jumbles are like this. You need to find sentences which connect with each other – a sentence that “links” or “fits” with another.

Some helpful tips

Find proper opening sentences.You can look for a proper beginning sentence. This sentence introduces an idea for the rest of the paragraph. 

Look for concluding sentences.If you find a sentence which sums up an idea or comes to a conclusion, this is probably a concluding sentence. Be careful, though – sometimes paragraph have conclusions at the beginning and then the argument is explained in further detail afterward.

Look for connecting sentences.You will usually find sentences, which you know for certain, connect with each other. From there you can build upon the information that will fit in between. Figure out the sentences which match with each other, and looks for these pairs in your choice selections.

Look for keywords.Sometimes sentences aren’t able to stand on their own. They use pronouns and other keywords which can help you find the order of the sentences.

For example:

He, she, it, him, her, they

Look for transitions.This will help you link sentences together.

For example:

Besides, although, but, yet, however, also, while, therefore, in addition, for example, fortunately/unfortunately

Para jumble formatYou will be given 4 sentences – A, B, C and D. Once you read all 4 sentences, it is up to you to rearrange them in the correct orderExample:A. For example, when the early homo-sapiens left their homes in search for food, they would risk death and injury from dangerous animals.B. Throughout human history, the universe has presented an innumerable amount of dangers to explorers.

C. Today, many adventure enthusiasts seek to find the thrills and adrenaline rush which their ancestors had experienced in the wild.D. The tradition of humans going out to experience the dangers of unknown nature still exists.

Answer choices:

1) ABCD2) ABDC3) BADC4) DABC5) CBAD

The correct answer is 3). 

Sentence B provides an introduction of background information. Sentence A quickly follows B, giving an example of the previous sentence’s argument. Sentence D is a notion which expands on the previous two sentences – linking the past to the present. Finally, Sentence C provides a resolution to the rest of the paragraph.