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Para Jumbles: Practice Questions with Answers

10 practice questions on Para Jumbles, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

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1. Q.1

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: For this reason, experts recommend a full night’s sleep over last-minute, late-night cramming.

   B: However, research shows that sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating memory.

   C: Many people believe that studying late at night is the most effective way to prepare for exams.

   D: Students who sleep well after studying tend to retain information better than those who stay up all night.

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   Answer: C, B, D, A

   Solution:

   1. C opens the paragraph by stating a common belief, with no pronoun needing an antecedent.
   2. B follows C: "However" signals a contrast between the common belief in C and what research actually shows.
   3. D follows B: it elaborates on B’s claim with a specific comparison, supporting the point about sleep and memory.
   4. A closes the paragraph: "For this reason" draws the recommendation from the case just built in B and D.

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2. Q.2

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press, introduced in the 15th century, changed this completely.

   B: With it, identical copies of a text could be produced quickly and cheaply.

   C: Before the invention of the printing press, books had to be copied out by hand, a slow and expensive process.

   D: As a result, literacy rates rose and ideas spread faster than ever before.

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   Answer: C, A, B, D

   Solution:

   1. C opens the paragraph: it describes the "before" state with no pronoun needing an earlier reference.
   2. A follows C: "changed this completely" — "this" refers to the slow, expensive hand-copying described in C.
   3. B follows A: "With it" — "it" refers to the printing press just introduced in A.
   4. D closes the paragraph: "As a result" draws the consequence from the fast, cheap copying just described in B.

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3. Q.3

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: This infrastructure gap remains one of the biggest obstacles to a full transition away from fossil fuels.

   B: Many governments have set ambitious targets to shift towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

   C: However, achieving these targets requires significant investment in storage and grid infrastructure.

   D: Without reliable storage, excess energy generated on sunny or windy days is often wasted.

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   Answer: B, C, D, A

   Solution:

   1. B opens the paragraph with a general claim (governments’ renewable energy targets) and no pronoun needing an antecedent.
   2. C follows B: "these targets" refers to the targets just named in B, and "However" introduces the catch.
   3. D follows C: it elaborates specifically on "storage", one of the two things C says is needed.
   4. A closes the paragraph: "this infrastructure gap" sums up the storage-and-grid problem described in C and D.

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4. Q.4

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: For instance, recycling one tonne of paper can save about seventeen trees.

   B: Given these benefits, many cities now offer separate collection bins for recyclable waste.

   C: Recycling helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

   D: It also conserves natural resources such as trees, water and minerals that would otherwise be used to make new products from scratch.

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   Answer: C, D, A, B

   Solution:

   1. C opens the paragraph with a general claim (recycling reduces landfill waste) and no pronoun needing an antecedent.
   2. D follows C: "It also conserves..." — "It" refers to recycling from C, and "also" signals a second benefit being added.
   3. A follows D: "For instance" illustrates D’s point specifically — D names trees as one of the conserved resources, and A gives the tree-saving example.
   4. B closes the paragraph: "these benefits" sums up the two benefits from C and D, concluding with the real-world response.

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5. Q.5

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: This pollen is then transferred to the next flower they visit, fertilising it.

   B: Honeybees play a vital role in pollinating flowering plants.

   C: Without this process, many fruits, vegetables and nuts that we eat would not exist.

   D: As they fly from flower to flower in search of nectar, pollen sticks to their bodies.

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   Answer: B, D, A, C

   Solution:

   1. B introduces the topic in general terms (honeybees and pollination) with no pronoun needing an antecedent — it’s the opening sentence.
   2. D follows B: "they" refers to the honeybees just introduced, and it explains the mechanism (pollen sticking to their bodies).
   3. A follows D: "This pollen" refers to the pollen just mentioned in D.
   4. C closes the paragraph: "this process" sums up the pollination process described in D and A, and states why it matters.

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6. Q.6

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: However, consuming caffeine too close to bedtime can disrupt the body’s ability to fall asleep.

   B: Caffeine is widely used to combat tiredness and improve alertness during the day.

   C: For this reason, experts recommend avoiding caffeine at least six hours before going to bed.

   D: This disruption occurs because caffeine blocks adenosine, a chemical that promotes sleepiness.

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   Answer: B, A, D, C

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7. Q.7

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: Despite this brief duration, the achievement marked the beginning of modern aviation.

   B: The Wright brothers achieved the first powered, sustained flight in 1903.

   C: Within decades, powered flight transformed travel, trade and warfare around the world.

   D: Their aircraft, the Flyer, stayed airborne for just twelve seconds on its first flight.

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   Answer: B, D, A, C

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8. Q.8

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: They provide habitat and shelter for thousands of species of fish and other marine life.

   B: Rising ocean temperatures, however, are causing widespread coral bleaching.

   C: Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth.

   D: This threatens not just the coral itself but the entire web of life that depends on it.

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   Answer: C, A, B, D

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9. Q.9

   Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

   A: However, today, free online encyclopedias allow anyone with an internet connection to access a vast range of knowledge instantly.

   B: Access to information was once limited to those who could visit a library or afford expensive reference books.

   C: This shift has democratised learning on a scale that would have been unimaginable a century ago.

   D: As a result, people in remote areas now have the same access to basic knowledge as those in major cities.

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   Answer: B, A, D, C

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10. Q.10

    Arrange A, B, C and D into the correct order to form a coherent paragraph.

    A: Critics argue, however, that remote work can weaken team collaboration and company culture.

    B: This shift has reduced commuting time and given workers more flexibility over their schedules.

    C: As a result, many organisations are experimenting with hybrid models that combine both approaches.

    D: Many companies now allow employees to work from home at least part of the week.

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    Answer: D, B, A, C

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