Main point of the paragraph
Read all sentences. Try to understand what the main point of the paragraph is. Find the sentence where the subject of the paragraph - person, event or idea is first introduced. This sentence is likely to be the first sentence or would at least be in the first few sentences.
Verbal connectives
Verbal connectives like but, on the other hand, nevertheless etc provide important clues regarding the paragraph. If you find a negative connective like but, nevertheless etc find the idea being rejected in that statement. The line that states this idea would immediately precede this line. However, a note of caution : Some paragraphs can begin with connectives like However, but etc.
Logical connectives
When a statement lists two reasons, or two concerns or any enumeration of this sort find the two sentences with the reasons. These sentences should follow the line.
Analogies
If an analogy is given it should precede the real life example. For example if the author states that when a stone is dropped in water, its ripples are felt for some time after the event. If there is a sentence which gives the example of how we are still feeling the ripples of a great event, this line with the real life example must be after the line with the analogy.
Pronouns
Find lines where pronouns like he, it are used. They should immediately follow lines where this noun is defined.
Tips:
Preparation
Practice, practice, practice! A student can improve a lot in para jumbles by practicing. You get used to the process of looking for connectives and joining different threads together into a coherent chain of thought
The skills used in Para Jumbles are the same as the skills used in Reading Comprehension. Therefore you should get into the habit of reading everyday. Read opinion articles in any of the major dailies. Analyze the information given in them and summarize each paragraph. In Banking exams, there are generally 6 sentences in the jumbled paragraph and there is a group of 5 questions that need the candidate to identify the sentences in the correct order.
Directions: Rearrange the given five sentences in a proper sequence so as to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the given questions.
A. With so many products and opportunities available in the market, it is very easy to get this planning wrong.
B. Planning, therefore, is imperative and should begin as early as possible.
C. What amount will we need and when will we need it?
D. Most of us would put our children’s education above any other priority in life including our own retirement.
E. So, let’s try to find the best solution by asking two important questions.
The five questions that follow basically ask the candidate to identify the correct order of the re-arranged sentences. To identify the first sentence we need to look for keywords. D is the first sentence as it discusses a topic that is further continued in the next sentences. A has “this planning” which implies, there is a sentence before it that talks about planning (B). E has “so” and is hence continuing an argument from a previous sentence (A). C asks 2 questions and is continuing the discussion from E. So, the correct order is D-B-A-E-C.
