The following question gives four labelled sentences. Select the most logical order of the sentences to form a coherent paragraph about man, his inner spirit, and the purpose of a moral maxim.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: RQPS

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This para jumble question presents four related sentences that reflect on the nature of man, his inner spirit, and the purpose of a moral maxim. The task is to arrange these sentences in a logical order so that they form a coherent paragraph. Success in such questions depends on recognising introductory statements, pronoun references, and the logical progression from general ideas about human nature to the explanation of a specific teaching or maxim.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • R: Man is something much greater than an intelligent being using his intellect to make newer inventions from time to time.
  • Q: He has within him a spirit which is ever exhorting him to cut down his needs and learn to be happy with what he has.
  • P: The real purpose underlying this maxim lies in its utility in the worldly sense.
  • S: It tells us to be up and doing, not to be passive in our attitude to life.
  • Options: QPSR, RQPS, SRPQ, None.
  • We assume that this maxim has been named in a previous sentence not included in the set, so this maxim and It can refer back to earlier context.


Concept / Approach:
We begin by searching for the most general statement about the subject, which is usually the best candidate for the opening sentence. R gives a broad philosophical statement about man being more than just an intelligent inventor, making it suitable as an introduction. Q logically follows, explaining what else is within man, namely a spirit that urges him to reduce his needs and be content. After describing man and his inner spirit, the paragraph shifts to this maxim and its real purpose in P, and then S explains what the maxim tells us. Thus, the order R Q P S provides a smooth progression from nature of man to the teaching and its implications.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Choose the introductory sentence. R introduces man in a general, philosophical way and does not depend on any earlier sentence within this set, so it is a natural start. Step 2: Look for a sentence that elaborates on man by using a pronoun He. Q states, He has within him a spirit which is ever exhorting him, clearly referring back to man in R. Step 3: After R and Q, the paragraph turns to a specific moral teaching referred to as this maxim. P explains that the real purpose underlying this maxim lies in its utility in the worldly sense. Step 4: Sentence S begins with It tells us, where It clearly points back to this maxim mentioned in P, so S must follow P. Step 5: Combine these observations to give the order R Q P S, which corresponds to option RQPS. Step 6: Check that the resulting paragraph flows naturally from human nature to inner spirit to the maxim and then to its practical message.


Verification / Alternative check:
Read the assembled paragraph: Man is something much greater than an intelligent being using his intellect to make newer inventions from time to time. He has within him a spirit which is ever exhorting him to cut down his needs and learn to be happy with what he has. The real purpose underlying this maxim lies in its utility in the worldly sense. It tells us to be up and doing, not to be passive in our attitude to life. The reasoning is clear: first the writer describes man, then his inner spirit, then introduces the maxim and finally states what it teaches. Trying QPSR or SRPQ leads to pronouns He or It appearing before their antecedents, which makes the paragraph confusing.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
In QPSR, the first sentence begins with He, but the person referred to has not been introduced, breaking coherence. In SRPQ, S begins with It, yet this maxim has not been mentioned, so the reference is unclear and the reader is confused. None is incorrect because we have found a valid, coherent order within the given options. Therefore, RQPS remains the only sequence that respects pronoun references and logical development of the ideas.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to ignore pronouns like He and It and focus only on thematic preference, thereby placing Q or S at the start. Another pitfall is to overlook the word this maxim, which signals that some teaching has been introduced just before P, making P unsuitable as the first sentence in isolation. To succeed in para jumbles, always track pronouns and demonstratives carefully, and ensure that each one has a clear antecedent within the constructed paragraph.


Final Answer:
The most logical order of the sentences is R Q P S, so the correct option is RQPS.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion