The National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) examinations are crucial for aspirants aiming to join the Indian Armed Forces. Among the various sections in these exams, the English section plays a pivotal role in determining the overall score and selection of candidates. Within this section, topics like Ordering of Words and Ordering of Sentences hold significant weight and can be a determining factor in a candidate’s success.
Directions: Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences, namely (a),(b), (c), and (d). You are required to re-arrange the jumbled parts of the sentence and mark your response accordingly.
Q) after that everything buzzes (P)/ and a formal meeting takes place; (Q)/ the princess names a date, (R)/ along pretty smoothly (S)
(a) RPSQ
(b) QPRS
(c) RQPS
(d) SRQP
Ans. (c)
Q) in 1855 (P)/ holiday was a tour of Germany (Q)/ organized by Thomas Cook (R)/ the first foreign package (S)
(a) RPSQ
(b) QPRS
(c) SRQP
(d) SQRP
Ans. (d)
Q) I went to Princeton University to (P)/ a few months ago (Q)/ see what the young people who (R)/ are going to be running our country in a few decades are like (S)
(a) RPSQ
(b) QPRS
(c) SRQP
(d) SQRP
Ans. (b)
Q) a company must stay (P)/ and extending its distinctive positioning (Q)/ the course even during times of upheaval,(R)/ while constantly improving (S)
(a) RPSQ
(b) PQRS
(c) PRSQ
(d) SQRP
Ans. (c)
Q) the long jump trials, I was startled (P)/ when the time came for (Q)/ to see a tall boy hitting (R)/ the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps (S)
(a) RPSQ
(b) PQRS
(c) QPRS
(d) SQRP
Ans. (c)
Directions: In questions below, each passage consist of six sentences. The first and sixth sentence are given in the beginning. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. These are labelled as P, Q, R and S. Find out the proper order for the four sentences.
Q) S1: The lions used to be widely distributed in Africa and Asia
S6: no hunting is permitted in such reserved areas.
P : there are special forest zones set aside for wildlife in various countries
Q : indiscriminate killing by hunters has been the cause of this drastic fall in their numbers
R : today, they are a relatively rare species
S : if the species survives at all, it will be only in National Parks
The proper sequence should be
(a)R S Q P (b) S Q R P (c) R Q S P (d) S R P Q
Ans. (c)
Q) S1: The woman who lives a normal life is able to check the swelling conceit and egotism of her menfolk simply because her outlook is so different
S6: and both ranges of interest make her what only fools deny her to be, namely, essentially practical, her eye is steadily fixed on the concrete thing and she mistrusts that chasing of the wild goose, which is one of the chief pastimes and delights of man
P : she is primarily concerned with little ordinary things, the minutiae of talk and behaviour e.g. on the one hand and with very big ones, the colossal elementary facts of life, such as birth, mating and death on the other
Q : the first are personal and particular, whereas the second, those enormous facts about life which women are never allowed to lose sight of, are, of course, universal, meaning just as much in the Fiji Islands as they do here
R : her interests are at once narrower and wider than those of men
S : it is more personal and yet more impersonal
The proper sequence should be
(a)P Q S R (b) P R S Q (c) S P Q R (d) S R P Q
Ans. (a)
Q) S1 : Yes, a mirage can be photographed.
S6 : That kind of mirage obviously can’t be photographed.
P : That is hallucination.
Q : Anything reflected by the lens of human eye will naturally be picked up by the photographic lens.
R : Sometimes, however, a person imagines he is seeing
something, but actually he is not.
S : The image of course will be hazy and simmering because of refraction of light.
The proper sequence should be
(a) S P R Q (b) Q R P S (c) P S Q R (d) Q S R P
Ans. (d)
Q) S1 : A mob went berserk at RG Kar Hospital on Friday.
S6 : Work at the hospital stopped for the rest of the day.
P : The agitators also smashed equipment and windows of the hospital.
Q : The boy had died on the operating table soon after being administered an aesthesia.
R : This happened after the death of a 15 years old boy.
S : The victim’s relatives and neighbours clashed with the police.
The proper sequence should be
(a) Q S P R (b) P R Q S (c) R Q S P (d) S Q P R
Ans. (c)
Q) S1 : Children are not the only ones who can fly kites.
S6 : Some of them play music too.
P : In some countries like Malaysia, there are kite festivals.
Q : These experts are mostly adult amateur kite fliers.
R : Kite flying is a good leisure activity for parents with their children.
S : Self-designed kites are flown by experts during such times.
The proper sequence should be
(a) P S Q R (b) S R P Q (c) Q S P R (d) R P S Q
Ans. (d)
For more questions, check out NDA-CDS 2 2024 Exam English Live – Revision – Class 4
Understanding Ordering of Words & Sentences
- Ordering of Words: This topic involves rearranging jumbled words into a coherent and grammatically correct sentence. This exercise tests the candidate’s understanding of syntax, grammar, and sentence structure. It requires a good grasp of English grammar rules, word usage, and sentence formation.
- Ordering of Sentences (Parajumbles): In this topic, candidates are provided with a set of jumbled sentences. The task is to arrange these sentences in a logical sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. This tests the aspirant’s ability to understand the flow of ideas, coherence, and cohesion in a text.
Importance of These Topics
- Assessing Grammatical Skills: Both topics test the candidate’s command over grammar and sentence structure, which are fundamental skills for effective communication. A strong grasp of these skills is essential for officers in the armed forces who often need to communicate complex information clearly and concisely.
- Enhancing Comprehension Abilities: Ordering sentences in a paragraph requires understanding the context and logical flow of ideas. This enhances the candidate’s comprehension abilities, which are crucial for interpreting orders, reports, and other official documents accurately.
- Improving Logical Thinking: These exercises develop logical thinking and reasoning skills. Candidates learn to identify patterns, make connections between ideas, and prioritize information. This is particularly important in strategic planning and decision-making roles in the military.
- Time Management: In the competitive setting of NDA and CDS exams, time management is key. Mastering these topics helps candidates quickly identify the correct sequence of words and sentences, allowing them to allocate more time to other sections of the exam.
Tips for Mastering Ordering of Words & Sentences
- Understand Basic Grammar and Syntax: A thorough understanding of basic grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement, correct use of tenses, and punctuation, is essential. This forms the foundation for constructing correct and meaningful sentences.
- Practice Regularly: Regular practice of ordering exercises can significantly improve speed and accuracy. Utilize previous years’ question papers and mock tests to familiarize yourself with the pattern and difficulty level of the questions.
- Develop a Logical Approach: When dealing with jumbled sentences, look for connecting words or phrases (such as however, therefore, firstly, in conclusion) that can guide the logical flow of the paragraph. Identifying the topic sentence and concluding sentence can also help in arranging the sentences correctly.
- Expand Vocabulary: A strong vocabulary aids in understanding the context and nuances of the sentences, making it easier to arrange them in a logical order.
- Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Sometimes, the paragraphs provided in the exams are based on current events or general knowledge topics. Staying updated with current affairs can provide context and make it easier to comprehend and order the sentences.
Conclusion
The topics of Ordering of Words and Ordering of Sentences are integral parts of the English section in the NDA and CDS exams. Mastery of these topics not only helps in scoring well in the exams but also prepares the candidates for effective communication and logical thinking, which are essential qualities for a successful career in the armed forces. With diligent practice and a strategic approach, aspirants can excel in these topics and enhance their overall performance in the exams.
