Episode 8 — Aptitude and Reasoning / 8.25 — Sentence Ordering
8.25 -- Quick Revision: Sentence Ordering
Opening Sentence Checklist
| Is First | Is NOT First |
|---|---|
| Introduces proper noun (full name) | Starts with He/She/It/They |
| Gives a definition | Starts with This/That/These/Those/Such |
| Sets broad context or time frame | Starts with However/But/Yet/Nevertheless |
| Uses "A/An + noun" (first mention) | Starts with Moreover/Furthermore/Also |
| Asks a rhetorical question | Starts with Therefore/Thus/Hence/So |
Closing Sentence Indicators
- "Thus," "Therefore," "Hence," "As a result," "Finally," "Eventually"
- States the outcome, moral, lesson, or future outlook
- Summarises the paragraph: "In conclusion," "In short," "Overall"
Connector Quick Reference
| Connector Type | Words | Links To |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | Also, Moreover, Furthermore, Besides | Previous point (same direction) |
| Contrast | However, But, Yet, Nevertheless, Although | Previous point (opposite direction) |
| Cause-Effect | Therefore, Thus, Hence, Consequently, So | Previous cause |
| Sequence | First, Then, Next, Later, Finally | Previous step in order |
| Example | For example, For instance, Such as | Previous general claim |
| Conclusion | In conclusion, To sum up, Overall | Entire paragraph |
Pronoun Reference Rule
| Pronoun | Must Follow |
|---|---|
| He/Him/His | A named or described male person |
| She/Her | A named or described female person |
| They/Them/Their | A group of people or things |
| It/Its | A singular thing or concept |
| This/That | A specific idea or event |
| These/Those | Multiple items or ideas |
| Such | A type or category |
The 6-Step Solving Method
- Read all sentences -- get the topic.
- Find the first sentence -- no pronouns, no connectors, introduces the topic.
- Find the last sentence -- concluding tone, result, or future outlook.
- Find mandatory pairs -- pronoun links, connector links, noun repetition.
- Arrange the middle -- use topic flow and logical order.
- Read the final order -- verify smooth flow.
MCQ Elimination Shortcut
- Fix the first sentence --> eliminate options with a different start.
- Fix the last sentence --> eliminate options with a different end.
- Check one mandatory pair --> pick the surviving option.
Common Paragraph Structures
| Structure | Flow |
|---|---|
| Biographical | Birth --> Education --> Career --> Achievement --> Legacy |
| Problem-Solution | Problem --> Cause --> Effect --> Solution --> Conclusion |
| Concept | Definition --> Features --> Example --> Importance --> Future |
| Cause-Effect | Cause --> Mechanism --> Effect --> Response |
Common Mistakes
- Choosing a pronoun-starting sentence as first
- Ignoring connectors like "However" and "Moreover"
- Forcing time order on a non-chronological paragraph
- Not reading the full arrangement at the end
Exam Target: Under 90 seconds per question. Use elimination, not reconstruction.