Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: PRQS
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This para jumble question asks you to arrange four labelled sentences P, Q, R and S into a coherent short paragraph. The sentences describe a particular man, his appearance, his work habits and how others viewed him. Your task is to choose the order that presents a smooth, logically organised description from introduction to conclusion.
Given Data / Assumptions:
The four sentences are:
- P: He was a funny looking man with a high, bald, dome shaped head, a face very small in comparison and a long wavy beard.
- Q: He did not work at his trade, a stonecutter, more than what was necessary to keep his wife and three boys alive.
- R: His unusual features were a standing joke among his friends.
- S: He was a poor man, an idler.
We assume no extra sentences and must choose among the given orders only.
Concept / Approach:
A well organised descriptive paragraph often starts by introducing the person and then describes appearance, how others see him and then habits or economic status. Sentence P vividly describes his physical features and naturally introduces him as 'a funny looking man'. Sentence R comments on his unusual features being a joke among friends, which clearly refers back to P. Sentence Q gives information about his occupation and lazy working attitude, and S summarises his condition as a poor idler. The order that best reflects this progression is P R Q S.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look for a natural opening sentence. P begins with 'He was a funny looking man...' and paints a detailed picture of his appearance, which works well as an introduction.
Step 2: After P, it is logical to comment on the effect of his unusual features on others. R does exactly this by stating that his unusual features were a standing joke among his friends, so R should follow P.
Step 3: Next, we can move from looks to lifestyle. Q tells us that he did not work much at his trade and provides details of his family responsibilities, deepening our understanding of his life.
Step 4: Finally, S sums up his social and economic status in general terms: 'He was a poor man, an idler.' This works as a concluding sentence that wraps up both his poverty and laziness.
Step 5: The resulting order P R Q S corresponds to option PRQS.
Verification / Alternative check:
Read the full paragraph in the PRQS order: first you visualise his strange appearance (P), then you learn that others joke about those features (R), then you hear about his minimal work as a stonecutter to support his family (Q), and finally you get a short summary of his overall condition as a poor idler (S). This forms a smooth, natural flow. Other options such as QPSR or SRPQ either start in the middle of the story (with his trade or his poverty) or refer to 'unusual features' before those features have been described, which reduces coherence.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
QPSR is wrong because starting with Q focuses immediately on his work habits without first telling the reader who he is or what he looks like; then the description of his appearance appears out of place. RQPS is wrong because it begins by talking about 'his unusual features' before those features have been described, creating a sudden, confusing start. SRPQ is wrong because starting with 'He was a poor man, an idler' gives a conclusion first and then jumps to jokes about his looks without prior description, disrupting the natural narrative order.
Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error in para jumbles is to pick an order that mentions an interesting fact first without checking whether that sentence depends on earlier information. If a sentence uses phrases like 'his unusual features' (R), it must usually come after a sentence that explains those features (P). Always check for such referencing words and pronouns, and use them as clues to link sentences in the proper order.
Final Answer:
The most logical and coherent order is P R Q S, corresponding to option PRQS.
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