Missing Sentence: CAT Previous Year Questions
Q. 1 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: “Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico,” Ava emphasizes.
Paragraph: The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments. ____(1) ____. When crafting a Mexican guitarron used in mariachi music, they use tacote wood for the top of the instrument. Once the wood is cut, they carve the neck and heel from a single block using tools like hand saws, chisels and sandpaper rather than modern power tools — and believe that this traditional method improves the tone of the instrument. ____(2) ____. Their store has a three-year waitlist for instruments that take months to create. ____(3) ____. The family’s artisanship has attracted stars like Los Lobos, who own custom guitars made by all three generations of the Delgado family. ____(4) ____. For the sisters, involvement in the family business started at an early age. They each built their first instruments at age 9.
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The sentence “Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico,” Ava emphasizes” directly relates to the sisters’ approach to instrument building. It elaborates on their commitment to traditional methods mentioned in the preceding sentence, which discusses how they follow their great-grandfather’s building and repairing techniques. Therefore, placing it at option 1 provides a natural flow and emphasis on the traditional aspect of their craft.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 2 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: Historically, silver has been, and still is, an important element in the business of ‘show’ visible in private houses, churches, government and diplomacy.
Paragraph: ____(1) ____. Timothy Schroder put it succinctly in suggesting that electric light and eating in the kitchen eroded this need. As he explained to the author, ‘Silver, when illuminated by flickering candlelight, comes alive and almost dances before the eyes, but when lit by electric light, it becomes flat and dead.’ ____(2) ____. Domestic and economic changes may have worked against the market, but the London silver trade remained buoyant, thanks to the competition of collectors seeking grand display silver at the top end, and the buyers of ‘collectables’, like spoons and wine labels and ‘novelties’, at the bottom. ____(3) ____. Another factor that came into play was the systematic collection building of certain American museums over the period. Boston, Huntington Art Gallery and Williamsburg, among others, were largely supplied by London dealers. ____(4) ____.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The explanation examines the societal function and commercial sphere of silver. It initially clarifies silver’s past significance, subsequently its diminished relevance, and finally the factors sustaining its commerce. The statement under consideration provides historical perspective by illustrating silver’s former importance: it served as a conspicuous emblem in personal, spiritual, and diplomatic contexts. This concept facilitates the linkage between the reduction in household utility and the reasons for the trade’s continuation.
Considering the paragraph’s organization, following discussions on electric illumination and shifts in domestic life, the text states: “
While domestic and economic shifts might have negatively impacted the market, the London silver trade continued to thrive…
” Prior to this juncture, a recollection of silver’s established purpose is necessary, as this lends greater significance to its decline and underscores the unexpected resilience of its trade.
Inserting the statement at location (3) fulfills this objective. It revisits silver’s enduring role in ostentatious display, which aids in rendering the subsequent discourse on collectors, repositories, and institutional purchasers coherent and pertinent. The statement is less effective at (1), as the decline has not yet been presented. It is also unsuitable for (2), as this position follows an excerpt concerning visual aspects. By point (4), the paragraph has already transitioned to acquisitions by American institutions. Therefore, the statement is most appropriately placed at position 3 (option 3).
Q. 3 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: While taste is related to judgment, with thinkers at the time often writing, for example, about “judgments of taste” or using the two terms interchangeably, taste retains a vital link to pleasure, embodiment, and personal specificity that is too often elided in post-Kantian ideas about judgment—a link that Arendt herself was working to restore.
Paragraph: ____(1) ____. Denneny focused on taste rather than judgment in order to highlight what he believed was a crucial but neglected historical change. ____(2) ____. Over the course of the seventeenth century and early eighteenth century, across Western Europe, the word taste took on a new extension of meaning, no longer referring specifically to gustatory sensation and the delights of the palate but becoming, for a time, one of the central categories for aesthetic—and ethical—thinking. ____(3) ____. Tracing the history of taste in Spanish, French, and British aesthetic theory, as Denneny did, also provides a means to recover the compelling and relevant writing of a set of thinkers who have been largely neglected by professional philosophy. ____(4) ____.
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The sentence discusses how “taste” retains a link to pleasure, embodiment, and personal specificity, contrasting it with post-Kantian ideas about “judgment.” The paragraph, before option 3, establishes that “taste” gained a new meaning in the 17th and 18th centuries, becoming a central category for aesthetic and ethical thinking. Option 3 follows a discussion of how tracing the history of taste helps recover neglected thinkers. Placing the given sentence at option 3 logically bridges the idea of taste’s expanded meaning and its connection to aesthetic/ethical thinking with the subsequent point about recovering neglected thinkers who wrote about taste. It elaborates on the nature of taste as it evolved in aesthetic thought, which is then followed by the benefit of studying these thinkers.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 4 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence- The region’s Western customers found it hard to believe that Dhaka muslin could possibly have been made by human hands – there were rumour that it was woven by mermaids, fairies and even ghosts.
Once upon the silty banks of the Meghna River, a miracle was spun — a fabric so light it was called “baft-hawa”, or woven air. This was Dhaka Muslin — the world’s most coveted cloth. ____(1)____. Handspun from a rare cotton called Phuti Karpas, found nowhere else on Earth, and woven with a 16-step sacred ritual — beginning with cleaning the cotton using the teeth of a river catfish! ____(2)____. Every spring, the maple-like leaves pushed up through the grey, silty soil to produce a single daffodil yellow flower twice a year, which gave way to a snowy floret of cotton fibres. ____(3)____. Spun at dawn on boats by sharp-eyed young women, its threads were so fine the elderly could barely see them. Motifs of wildflowers, river breeze, and soul were etched into each piece — some so light, a 91-metre bolt could pass through a ring, or a 60′ length fit inside a snuffbox. It draped Greek goddesses, Roman nobles, Mughal emperors, and European aristocrats. Marie Antoinette, Empress Joséphine — even Jane Austen adored its floating grace. ____(4)____.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The phrase “the region’s Western customers” suggests that the area under discussion is located outside of the West. Consequently, the locale referred to must be Dhaka and its environs, where the Muslin was manufactured and distributed. The sentence preceding Blank-4 lists diverse locations, making Blank-4 an unsuitable position for the given Sentence. The segment commencing with “Handspun from a rare cotton…” and concluding with “…. a 60′ length fit inside a snuffbox,” details the creation of Dhaka Muslin. Inserting the Sentence at Blank-4 would interrupt the paragraph’s coherence and its surrounding narrative. Blank-1 presents the most appropriate insertion point, as the Sentence can logically follow the prior references to the “silty banks of Meghna river” and Dhaka. Option B is the correct choice.
Q. 5 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: In each of the affected males, the genetic defect was located to the X chromosome in the region of p11-12.
Paragraph: The first suggested evidence of a human genetic mutation associated with aggressive behaviour came from a study in 1993. _____(1)____. Genetic and metabolic studies were conducted on a large Dutch family in which several of the males has a syndrome of borderline mental retardation and abnormal behaviour. _____(2)____. The undesirable behaviour included impulsive aggression, arson and exhibitionism. _____(3)____. A point mutation was identified in the eighth exon of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) structural gene which changes glutamine to a termination codon. _____(4)____.
Check Solution
Ans: A
The statement detailing the defect’s “placement on the X chromosome within the p11-12 area” is most appropriate following the account of the unusual conduct, specifically at position (3). The passage commences by introducing the research and its background, proceeding to state that “Extensive genetic and metabolic investigations were carried out on a sizable Dutch family…”. Subsequently, it elaborates on “certain problematic behaviors” such as “rash aggression, arson, and public exposure.” Following the elucidation of these behaviors, it is logical to present the primary genetic discovery regarding the defect’s locus (the X chromosome, region p11-12), and then delve into the specifics that “a single-point alteration was discovered in the eighth exon of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) structural gene…”.
If this sentence were inserted at position (1), it would introduce the chromosomal coordinates prior to outlining the nature of the research or the family under consideration. At position (2), it would disrupt the linkage between the study’s introduction and the statement regarding the execution of genetic and metabolic analyses. At position (4), it would appear subsequent to the specific information about the point mutation, which should logically follow the general chromosomal localization. Consequently, the sole placement that maintains a coherent narrative flow—from the research to its methodologies, then to the observed behaviors, followed by the chromosomal location, and finally to the precise mutation—is position (3).
Q. 6 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: Productivity gains, once expected to feed through to broader living standards, now primarily serve to enhance returns to wealth.
Paragraph: Economists now argue that inequality is no longer a by-product of growth but a condition of it. ____ (1) ____. Unlike wages, wealth reflects not just income but also access to assets, favourable institutional conditions – such as low interest rates – and public policies like low taxes and housing shortages. ____ (2) ____. In other words, wealth depends on political choices in ways that income currently does not. It’s not just the inequality itself that is the issue but the erosion of mechanisms that once constrained it. ____ (3) ____. Wealth and income inequality are linked, but where wages have stagnated and collective bargaining has weakened, capital income – derived from profits, rents and interest – has been boosted by design. ____ (4) ____.
Check Solution
Ans: B
This passage posits that disparities are inherent to contemporary economic expansion. It elaborates that since affluence is determined by property, frameworks, and governmental choices, its accumulation diverges from that of earnings. The text then illustrates how returns on capital have been intentionally amplified, while the systems that previously curbed disparity have diminished.
The offered statement is most effective when placed at position 4, as it encapsulates the idea presented directly preceding it. This statement articulates the outcome after asserting that returns on capital have been “enhanced deliberately” and wages have plateaued: advances in output now predominantly benefit wealth instead of improving lifestyles. This functions as the clear culmination of the argument.
Introducing the statement at position 1 would be too early, as the passage has not yet detailed the divergence between wealth and wages, which the statement addresses. Placing the sentence at position 2 would disrupt the exposition of how organizations and policy influence wealth. Inserting it at position 3 would impede the shift from explanation to impact, as position 3 marks a point of transition. Consequently, position 4 is the most fitting placement.
Q. 7 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Comprehending a wide range of emotions, Renaissance music nevertheless portrayed all emotions in a balanced and moderate fashion.
Paragraph
: A volume of translated Italian madrigals were published in London during the year of 1588. This sudden public interest facilitated a surge of English Madrigal writing as well as a spurt of other secular music writing and publication. ___(1)___. This music boom lasted for thirty years and was as much a golden age of music as British literature was with Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I. ___(2)___. The rebirth in both literature and music originated in Italy and migrated to England; the English madrigal became more humorous and lighter in England as compared to Italy. Renaissance music was mostly polyphonic in texture. ___(3)___. Extreme use of and contrasts in dynamics, rhythm, and tone colour do not occur. ___(4)___. The rhythms in Renaissance music tend to have a smooth, soft flow instead of a sharp, well-defined pulse of accents.
Check Solution
Ans: B
Explanation:The sentence “Comprehending a wide range of emotions, Renaissance music nevertheless portrayed all emotions in a balanced and moderate fashion” directly follows the description of Renaissance music as being polyphonic. It elaborates on how these emotions were handled within that musical texture. Placing it at option 2 would interrupt the flow of discussion about musical characteristics. Option 3 would separate the discussion on emotional portrayal from the description of polyphony. Option 4 discusses rhythmic flow, which is a different aspect from emotional portrayal. Therefore, option 3 (which refers to placement after the sentence “Renaissance music was mostly polyphonic in texture.”) is the most logical position.
Correct_Option:B
Q. 8 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Understanding central Asia’s role helps developments make more sense not only across Asia but in Europe, the Americas and Africa.
Paragraph
: The nations of the Silk Roads are sometimes called ‘developing countries’, but they are actually some of the world’s most highly developed countries, the very crossroads of civilization, in advanced states of disrepair. ___(1)___. These countries lie at the centre of global affairs: they have since the beginning of history. Running across the spine of Asia, they form a web of connections fanning out in every direction, routes along which pilgrims and warriors, nomads and merchants have travelled, goods and produce have been bought and sold, and ideas exchanged, adapted and refined. ___(2)___ .They have carried not only prosperity, but also death and violence, disease and disaster. ___(3)___. The Silk Roads are the world’s central nervous system, connecting otherwise far-flung peoples and places…. ___(4)___. It allows us to see patterns and links, causes and effects that remain invisible if one looks only at Europe, or North America.
Check Solution
Ans: D
The only suitable placement for the provided sentence is Blank 4. This sentence highlights the widespread, worldwide relevance of Central Asia’s function; it conveys the notion that grasping the Silk Roads illuminates historical and global interdependence.
As the provided sentence pivots from detailing the historical and cultural value of the Silk Roads to their worldwide consequences, which extends beyond the current discussion, inserting it into Blanks 1, 2, or 3 would disrupt the continuity between the statements describing specific aspects of the Silk Roads. For instance, Blank 1 is unsuitable because the subsequent sentence refers to “These countries,” which points back to the “developing countries” mentioned in the sentence before the blank. Likewise, “They” in the sentence following Blank 2 refers to the routes or Silk Roads previously discussed. We can similarly rule out Blank 3; the sentence immediately after this blank employs the metaphor of the Silk Roads as a central nervous system, underscoring their global reach. The given sentence does not resonate with the emphasis on the Silk Roads’ concrete effects or the figurative representation of their interconnectedness; consequently, situating it in Blank 3 would prematurely shift the emphasis to comprehending their role on a global scale.
Q. 9 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence:
The brain isn’t organized the way you might set up your home office or bathroom medicine cabinet.
Paragraph
: ___(1)___. You can’t just put things anywhere you want to. The evolved architecture of the brain is haphazard and disjointed, and incorporates multiple systems, each of which has a mind of its own. ___(2)___. Evolution doesn’t design things and it doesn’t build systems—it settles on systems that, historically, conveyed a survival benefit. There is no overarching, grand planner engineering the systems so that they work harmoniously together. ___(3)___. The brain is more like a big, old house with piecemeal renovations done on every floor, and less like new construction. ___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: B
Explanation:The sentence “The brain isn’t organized the way you might set up your home office or bathroom medicine cabinet” introduces the idea that the brain’s organization is not neat or systematic. The following sentence, “You can’t just put things anywhere you want to,” directly elaborates on this lack of systematic organization, implying a contrast with how one *would* organize a home office or medicine cabinet. The rest of the paragraph then goes on to explain *why* the brain is organized in this way (evolved architecture, multiple systems, no grand planner) and uses an analogy (old house with renovations) to further illustrate this point. Placing the sentence at option 1 creates a logical flow, establishing the non-uniform nature of brain organization before delving into the details of its architecture and evolutionary basis.
Correct_Option:B
Q. 10 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Science has officially crowned us superior to our early-rising brethren.
Paragraph
: My fellow night owls, grab a strong cup of coffee and gather around: I have great news. ___(1)___. For a long time, our kind has been unfairly maligned. Stereotyped as lazy and undisciplined. Told we ought to be morning larks. Advised to go to bed early so we can wake before 5am and run a marathon before breakfast like all high-flyers seem to do. Now, however, we are having the last laugh. ___(2)___. It may be a tad more complicated than that. A study published last week, which you may have already seen while scrolling at 1am, suggests that staying up late could be good for brain power. ___(3)___. Is this study a thinly veiled PR exercise conducted by a caffeine-pill company? Nope, it’s legit. ___(4)___. Research led by academics at Imperial College London studied data on more than 26,000 people and found that “self-declared ‘night owls’ generally tend to have higher cognitive scores”.
Check Solution
Ans: D
D) Choice 2 is the correct selection.
The sentence preceding choice 2 reads, “Now, however, we are having the last laugh.” The justification for this statement is found in the subsequent sentence: “Science has officially crowned us superior to our early-rising brethren.” Consequently, this placement seamlessly integrates and creates a cohesive paragraph.
A) Choice 4
Positioning the sentence here would feel somewhat disjointed. The sentences immediately before and after Blank 4 exhibit a continuous flow, and inserting the sentence at this point would interrupt that progression.
B) Choice 3
This placement would disturb the natural progression of the text surrounding Blank 3. The research previously mentioned, prior to Blank 3, serves as the point where the night owl’s stance is affirmed. Introducing the concept of “superiority” at this juncture would be premature and feel repetitive.
C) Choice 1
While this placement might appear reasonable at first glance, it would be inappropriate to discuss the assertion without first addressing the negative perceptions associated with it. This makes this position less impactful.
Q. 11 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: [T]he Europeans did not invent globalization.
Paragraph
: The first phase of globalization occurred long before the introduction of either steam or electric power…Chinese consumers at all social levels consumed vast quantities of spices, fragrant woods and unusual plants. The peoples of Southeast Asia who lived in forests gave up their traditional livelihoods and completely reoriented their economies to supply Chinese consumers….___(1)___. These exchanges of the year 1000 opened some of the routes through which goods and peoples continued to travel after Columbus traversed the mid- Atlantic. ___(2)___. Yet the world of 1000 differed from that of 1492 in important ways….the travellers who encountered one another in the year 1000 were much closer technologically. ___(3)___. They changed and augmented what was already there since 1000. ___(4)___. If globalization hadn’t yet begun, Europeans wouldn’t have been able to penetrate the markets in so many places as quickly as they did after 1492.
Check Solution
Ans: D
Here’s a revised explanation, maintaining the structure and logic while altering the language:
The provided sentence can be positioned by dividing the text into three parts:
The section leading up to the second blank can be viewed as the initial part. It presents the concept that global interconnectedness was in motion long before the industrial age. It underscores the economic ties connecting consumers in China with providers in Southeast Asia, pointing out that trade pathways and economic realignments were already influencing societies. The sentence in question doesn’t belong in the first or second blank because this section concentrates on early commercial exchanges, not the part Europeans played in global connectivity.
The portion between the second and third blanks can be designated as the second part. It investigates the development of trade routes around the year 1000, preceding Christopher Columbus’s voyages. It establishes a contrast between distinct historical eras – 1000 and 1492 – yet the ultimate point of this comparison remains undefined.
This is where the final section, following the third blank, becomes relevant. It articulates the central thesis of the passage: the engagement of Europeans in international commerce wasn’t an inception but rather a progression of established systems. It reiterates that the economic frameworks and trade arteries established before 1492 were crucial in facilitating European expansion. The sentence provided would most appropriately fit in the third blank because it makes a statement (“Europeans did not initiate globalization”) and is then followed by supporting details that bolster this claim (“They modified and enhanced what had already existed since the year 1000”).
Therefore, Option D is the correct selection.
Q. 12 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Yet each day the flock produced eggs with calcareous shells though they apparently had not ingested any calcium from land which was entirely lacking in limestone.
Paragraph
: Early in this century a young Breton schoolboy who preparing himself for a scientific career began to notice a strange fact about hens in his father’s poultry yard. ___(1) ___. As they scratched the soil they constantly seemed to be pecking at specks of mica, a siliceous material dotting the ground. ___(2)___. No one could explain to Louis Kervran why the chickens selected the mica, or why each time a bird was killed for the family cooking pot no trace of the mica could be found in its gizzard. ___(3) ___. It took Kervran many years to establish that the chickens were transmuting one element into another. ___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: B
Analyzing the choices:
Choice 1: The statement beginning with “Yet each day…” would be out of place. This section introduces Kervran’s preliminary discoveries regarding the hens. Including this sentence would feel awkward as the preceding text has not yet clarified the importance of the eggs.
Choice 2: This sentence would also not integrate well here. The emphasis at this juncture is on the hens’ actions (pecking mica), and the mention of eggs seems unrelated to this particular point in the account.
Choice 3: The sentence concerning the eggs aligns seamlessly here, as it elucidates a vital aspect of the enigma: the hens are generating eggs with calcareous shells despite a lack of apparent calcium. This offers critical insight into the reason for Kervran’s perplexity. It directly relates to the discrepancy he is examining.
Choice 4: It is unsuitable here because the paragraph has already transitioned to Kervran’s inference regarding the chickens’ transmutation of elements. Introducing the sentence about eggs at this stage would present new information belatedly, detracting from the focus on Kervran’s ultimate findings.
Consequently, the sentence finds its most appropriate placement in Choice 3. It aids in clarifying Kervran’s perplexing observations and enhances the mystery he endeavors to unravel, all while preserving the coherence of the narrative. The alternative choices either disrupt the progression or introduce new details prematurely or too late.
Q. 13 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: This reality is putting stress on employees who have to pay for transport, desk lunches, more childcare, clothing and that after-work socialisation – costs they haven’t incurred for nearly two years.
Paragraph
: ___(1)___. Prices are rising at their fastest rate in 40 years; consequently, return-to-office-related costs have shot up – think petrol and food, for instance.___(2)___. Yet wages haven’t kept up with inflation – even despite the salary growth many workers have enjoyed during a favourable pandemic labour market. ___(3)___.This is especially jarring for workers who were able to save during remote work, when these expenditures weren’t a factor. ___(4)___. In April 2022, Umus, a London university lecturer, told BBC Worklife that they were spending nearly a quarter of what they made every day on return-to-work costs.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The provided statement highlights the effect of escalating expenses on workers—a concept not yet presented. Inserting it into
Blank 1
would prematurely divert attention from a general economic observation to employee-specific outcomes, thereby hindering the logical progression. Likewise,
Blank 2
presents a less optimal placement, as it would disrupt the ongoing discussion about wages failing to match inflation. The wider backdrop of inflation and wages requires thorough development before narrowing the focus to the challenges faced by employees.
Blank 3
appears to be a suitable option. The sentence preceding this blank establishes the core issue: wages are falling behind increasing expenditures. The sentence that follows emphasizes the significant difference between savings achieved during remote work and present financial strain, with the example of the London University lecturer further reinforcing this point. Consequently,
Blank 4
is also an unsuitable location. By situating the given statement in Blank 3, we connect the two ideas discussed above by detailing how these rising costs and stagnant wages directly affect employees. It introduces the concrete difficulties employees encounter, which amplifies the impact of the subsequent sentence concerning savings during remote work.
Therefore, Option B is the correct selection.
Q. 14 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Many have had to leave their homes behind, with more than 1.3 million people being displaced due to the drought.
Passage
: Somalia has been dealing with an enormous humanitarian catastrophe, driven by the longest and most severe drought the country has experienced in at least 40 years. ___(1)___. Five consecutive rainy seasons have failed, causing more than 8 million people – almost half of the country’s population – to experience acute food insecurity. ___(2)___. More than 43,000 people are believed to have lost their lives, with half of the lives lost likely being children under five. The damage the drought has caused is far-reaching. ___(3)___. Farmers have lost all their agricultural income, while pastoralists have lost more than 3 million livestock, impoverishing entire communities, and leaving them on the brink of famine. ___(4)___. Some, like the pastoralists, may never be able to go back as their livelihoods have been irreversibly wiped out.
Check Solution
Ans: A
A helpful technique for pinpointing the optimal placement for the provided sentence involves identifying points where the progression of thought appears strained or disjointed. Upon reviewing the sentences adjacent to the first potential insertion point, we observe a natural progression, transitioning smoothly from the overarching challenge of the drought to its direct outcome, food scarcity. This principle also holds true for the second and third potential insertion points; no significant breaks in the logical sequence are apparent. The textual organization remains clear and consistent even without incorporating the given sentence into these positions.
In contrast, when we consider the fourth potential insertion point, a discontinuity emerges. The sentence preceding this point refers to farmers and pastoralists, and the subsequent sentence continues to discuss pastoralists. However, a slight disconnect exists in the linkage. If these sentences were intended to be tightly connected, the author might have employed pronouns or reworded the second sentence to refer to pastoralists more seamlessly. Furthermore, a shift in emphasis occurs: the paragraph transitions from discussing the prospect of “leaving them on the brink of famine” to the notion of “never being able to go back as their livelihoods have been irreversibly wiped out.” This leap in concepts indicates a requirement for a transitional sentence to connect the two ideas. The provided sentence effectively fulfills this role. Additionally, the “Many… Some…” construction proves beneficial here. Initially, the author addresses the broader category of farmers and pastoralists and their displacement. Subsequently, the sentence refines the focus to a subset of this group, emphasizing that even those who were not displaced experienced such severe impacts on their livelihoods that recovery may be impossible. This deliberate progression renders the inclusion of the given sentence at the fourth insertion point both reasonable and essential for preserving the text’s coherence.
Therefore, the correct option is A.
Q. 15 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Taken outside the village of Trang Bang on June 8, 1972, the picture captured the trauma and indiscriminate violence of a conflict that claimed, by some estimates, a million or more civilian lives.
Paragraph
: The horrifying photograph of children fleeing a deadly napalm attack has become a defining image not only of the Vietnam War but the 20th century. ___(1)___. Dark smoke billowing behind them, the young subjects’ faces are painted with a mixture of terror, pain and confusion. ___(2)___. Soldiers from the South Vietnamese Army’s 25th Division follow helplessly behind. ___(3)___. The picture was officially titled “The Terror of War,” but the photo is better known by the nickname given to the naked 9-year-old at its centre: “Napalm Girl”. ___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: C
To pinpoint the optimal placement for the provided statement, we need to analyze how the ideas connect between sentences. The statement in question offers crucial background and historical details pertinent to the photograph. The author commences by detailing the visual elements of the image and concludes the paragraph with the official designation of the photo. While statements that supply historical background are generally positioned at the outset, introducing the statement in either Blank 1 or 2 would interrupt the progression of the image’s portrayal. This indicates that the statement should be situated in either Blank 3 or 4. Presenting contextual information after the title has already been mentioned at the conclusion appears unusual; consequently, we can dismiss Blank 4.
Upon re-examining Blank 3, we observe that by this juncture in the paragraph, the author has just depicted soldiers from the South Vietnamese Army’s 25th Division trailing behind the children. This establishes a sense of vulnerability that underscores the disarray and savagery of the event. The statement concerning the war’s suffering and violence logically succeeds the description of the soldiers, as it elucidates the wider ramifications of the photograph’s content, furnishing a framework for the violence and its extensive repercussions. Following the discussion of the soldiers, the statement bridges the immediate, individual suffering depicted in the photograph with the broader panorama of the Vietnam War’s influence, which then smoothly leads into the photograph’s official title. The official title, “The Terror of War,” directly relates to the overarching theme of violence and devastation that the statement elaborates upon. Therefore, the given statement effectively prepares the ground for introducing the official title and the well-known moniker, “Napalm Girl,” thereby ensuring a seamless and cohesive transition.
Consequently, Option C represents the correct selection.
Q. 16 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: The discovery helps to explain archeological similarities between the Paleolithic peoples of China, Japan, and the Americas.
Paragraph: The researchers also uncovered an unexpected genetic link between Native Americans and Japanese people. ___(1)___. During the deglaciation period, another group branched out from northern coastal China and travelled to Japan. ___(2)___. “We were surprised to find that this ancestral source also contributed to the Japanese gene pool, especially the indigenous Ainus,” says Li. ___(3)___. They shared similarities in how they crafted stemmed projectile points for arrowheads and spears. ___(4)___. “This suggests that the Pleistocene connection among the Americas, China, and Japan was not confined to culture but also to genetics,” says senior author Qing-Peng Kong, an evolutionary geneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The sentence is most appropriate in Blank 3 because it logically extends the preceding mention of the unexpected genetic connection between Native Americans and Japanese individuals. Following the establishment of this genetic relationship, the sentence offers further context by detailing the archaeological consequences of the finding. It posits that this shared genetic heritage manifests archaeologically, resulting in resemblances among Paleolithic populations in China, Japan, and the Americas. Its inclusion at this juncture effectively bridges the genetic discoveries with wider archaeological and cultural dimensions.
Blank 1: The sentence preceding Blank 1 highlights an unexpected genetic tie between Native Americans and Japanese populations. Inserting the given sentence into Blank 1 would interrupt the coherent flow of information. Blank 1 should ideally present content that directly links to or follows from the mention of this unexpected genetic connection, whereas the given sentence serves better to elaborate on the broader implications *after* the genetic link has been introduced.
Blank 2: Positioning the sentence here is illogical, as there has been no prior mention of any discovery to which it could refer.
Blank 4: Placing the sentence in Blank 4 would disrupt the passage’s coherence. The text preceding Blank 4 describes observed similarities. Following Blank 4, the passage states, “This suggests…”. The pronoun “This” clearly references the aforementioned similarities.
Q. 17 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: This philosophical cut at one’s core beliefs, values, and way of life is difficult enough.
Paragraph
: The experience of reading philosophy is often disquieting. When reading philosophy, the values around which one has heretofore organised one’s life may come to look provincial, flatly wrong, or even evil. ___(1)___. When beliefs previously held as truths are rendered implausible, new beliefs, values, and ways of living may be required. ___(2)___. What’s worse, philosophers admonish each other to remain unsutured until such time as a defensible new answer is revealed or constructed. Sometimes, philosophical writing is even strictly critical in that it does not even attempt to provide an alternative after tearing down a cultural or conceptual citadel. ___(3)___. The reader of philosophy must be prepared for the possibility of this experience. While reading philosophy can help one clarify one’s values, and even make one self-conscious for the first time of the fact that there are good reasons for believing what one believes, it can also generate unremediated doubt that is difficult to live with. ___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: D
The sentence in question fits best in the second blank as it elaborates on the unsettling experience previously described. Prior to the second blank, the text establishes the unsettling aspect of engaging with philosophical texts. The sentence then expands on this by detailing how philosophical inquiry can undermine the foundational values of one’s life, rendering them seem narrow, incorrect, or even morally reprehensible. This sentence effectively conveys the challenge and unease inherent in such deep philosophical examination, making it a logical follow-up to the initial point about the unsettling nature of philosophical reading.
Furthermore, the sentence concludes with the phrase “…and way of life is difficult enough.” This is directly followed by a section that emphasizes an even more challenging situation: “What’s worse, philosophers admonish each other to remain unsutured until such time as a defensible new answer is revealed or constructed.” Thus, the sentence in the second blank serves as a direct precursor to this subsequent statement.
Q. 18 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: Dualism was long held as the defining feature of developing countries in contrast to developed countries, where frontier technologies and high productivity were assumed to prevail.
Paragraph: ___(1)___. At the core of development economics lies the idea of ‘productive dualism’: that poor countries’ economies are split between a narrow ‘modern’ sector that uses advanced technologies and a larger ‘traditional’ sector characterized by very low productivity.___(2)___. While this distinction between developing and advanced economies may have made some sense in the 1950s and 1960s, it no longer appears to be very relevant. A combination of forces have produced a widening gap between the winners and those left behind.___(3)___. Convergence between poor and rich parts of the economy was arrested and regional disparities widened.___(4)___. As a result, policymakers in advanced economies are now grappling with the same questions that have long preoccupied developing economies: mainly how to close the gap with the more advanced parts of the economy.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The sentence is most suitable for Blank 2 as it directly expands on the idea of ‘productive dualism’ presented prior to Blank 2. It offers further details regarding the divergence between the “modern” and “traditional” segments within the economies of impoverished nations and emphasizes a historical viewpoint that juxtaposes developing and developed countries. This sentence effectively prepares the ground for the ensuing conversation on the contemporary significance of this distinction.
Q. 19 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: And probably much earlier, moving the documentation for kissing back 1,000 years compared to what was acknowledged in the scientific community.
Paragraph: Research has hypothesised that the earliest evidence of human lip kissing originated in a very specific geographical location in South Asia 3,500 years ago.___(1)___. From there it may have spread to other regions, simultaneously accelerating the spread of the herpes simplex virus 1. According to Dr Troels Pank Arbøll and Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, who in a new article in the journal Science draw on a range of written sources from the earliest Mesopotamian societies, kissing was already a well-established practice 4,500 years ago in the Middle East.___(2)___. In ancient Mesopotamia, people wrote in cuneiform script on clay tablets.___(3)___. Many thousands of these clay tablets have survived to this day, and they contain clear examples that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy in ancient times.___(4)___. “Kissing could also have been part of friendships and family members’ relations,” says Dr Troels Pank Arbøll, an expert on the history of medicine in Mesopotamia.
Check Solution
Ans: D
Explanation:The sentence “And probably much earlier, moving the documentation for kissing back 1,000 years compared to what was acknowledged in the scientific community” directly relates to the dating of the practice of kissing. The paragraph starts by hypothesizing the earliest evidence of kissing originating 3,500 years ago. The sentence discusses “documentation for kissing” and pushing that back significantly in time. This aligns perfectly with the discovery in ancient Mesopotamia, which predates the 3,500-year-old hypothesis and pushes back the known documentation of kissing. Placing it at option (2) allows the sentence to logically follow the initial hypothesis and introduce the further evidence from Mesopotamia that challenges the established timeline. Options (1), (3), and (4) are less suitable because they disrupt the flow of information or precede the introduction of the key evidence that the sentence is commenting on. Option (1) is too early and doesn’t logically follow the initial hypothesis. Option (3) discusses the writing material of Mesopotamians, which is a detail that comes after the introduction of the Mesopotamian evidence. Option (4) is a quote from a researcher that fits well at the end of the paragraph, discussing the broader social contexts of kissing.
Correct_Option:D
Q. 20 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: Beyond undermining the monopoly of the State on the use of force, armed conflict also creates an environment that can enable organized crime to prosper.
Paragraph: ___(1)___. Linkages between illicit arms, organized crime, and armed conflict can reinforce one another while also escalating and prolonging violence and eroding governance.___(2)___. Financial gains from crime can lengthen or intensify armed conflicts by creating revenue streams for non-State armed groups (NSAGs).___(3)___. In this context, when hostilities cease and parties to a conflict move towards a peaceful resolution, the widespread availability of surplus arms and ammunition can contribute to a situation of ‘criminalized peace’ that obstructs sustainable peacebuilding efforts.___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The sentence is most suitable for Blank 3 as it directly connects to the theme presented prior to this blank. Before Blank 3, the text elaborates on the relationships between illegal weapons, criminal syndicates, and violent confrontations. The given sentence then clarifies how violent confrontations foster conditions conducive to the growth of organized crime. Consequently, Blank 3 is the logical position for this sentence, improving the paragraph’s flow and thematic consistency.
Blanks 1 and 4 can be readily dismissed because the sentence in question does not function as a suitable opening or closing statement.
The sentence under consideration introduces a distinct point, concentrating on the wider consequences of violent confrontations for organized crime, rather than the financial aspects discussed subsequent to Blank 2.
Q. 21 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence:
For theoretical purposes, arguments may be considered as freestanding entities, abstracted from their contexts of use in actual human activities.
Paragraph
: ___(1)___. An argument can be defined as a complex symbolic structure where some parts, known as the premises, offer support to another part, the conclusion. Alternatively, an argument can be viewed as a complex speech act consisting of one or more acts of premising (which assert propositions in favor of the conclusion), an act of concluding, and a stated or implicit marker (“hence”, “therefore”) that indicates that the conclusion follows from the premises.___(2)___. The relation of support between premises and conclusion can be cashed out in different ways: the premises may guarantee the truth of the conclusion, or make its truth more probable; the premises may imply the conclusion; the premises may make the conclusion more acceptable (or assertible).___(3)___. But depending on one’s explanatory goals, there is also much to be gained from considering arguments as they in fact occur in human communicative practices.___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: D
This sentence is most suitable for Blank 3 as it continues the line of thought from the preceding sentences. Prior to Blank 3, the text explores diverse approaches to comprehending the connection between supporting evidence and conclusions, outlining various viewpoints on how arguments can be examined or understood. The sentence here introduces an additional dimension by proposing that, for theoretical consideration, arguments can be viewed apart from their practical applications. This positioning improves the paragraph’s coherence by introducing a conceptual outlook on the essence of arguments.
Q. 22 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Having made citizens more and less knowledgeable than their predecessors, the Internet has proved to be both a blessing and a curse.
Paragraph
: Never before has a population, nearly all of whom has enjoyed at a least a secondary school education, been exposed to so much information, whether in newspapers and magazines or through YouTube, Google, and Facebook. ___(1)___. Yet it is not clear that people today are more knowledgeable than their barely literate predecessors. Contemporary advances in technology offered more serious and inquisitive students access to realms of knowledge previously unimaginable and unavailable. ___(2)___. But such readily available knowledge leads many more students away from serious study, the reading of actual texts, and toward an inability to write effectively and grammatically. ___(3)___. It has let people choose sources that reinforce their opinions rather than encouraging them to question inherited beliefs. ___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: D
This sentence is most suitable for position 4 as it bridges the concepts discussed within the passage. The passage highlights the abundance of information accessible today and questions whether this equates to increased wisdom. It also suggests that readily available information might deter students from in-depth study and contribute to weakened writing skills. The omitted sentence introduces the dual impact of the internet on understanding and education. It aligns perfectly with option 4 by linking to the notion that the internet enables individuals to select information confirming their views, rather than prompting a re-evaluation of established beliefs, which serves as the concluding thought of the passage.
Q. 23 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a “big day” is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret.
Paragraph
: Wedding season is upon us and – after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back- you may think the temptation would be to go all out. ___(1)___. But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it’s no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. ___(2)___. Plus, it can’t hurt that in celebrity circles getting married in secret is all the rage. ___(3)___. “I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common,” says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice, which specialises in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. “People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. ___(4)___. They just want to get to the part where they are married.”
Check Solution
Ans: B
This sentence is the most suitable for the second blank as it connects the concepts discussed in the passage. The passage elaborates on the shift in wedding celebration attitudes following the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial two sentences introduce this evolving mindset. The provided sentence is ideal for blank 2 because it reiterates the notion from the preceding line, highlighting that numerous couples are opting for clandestine unions to alleviate stress and apprehension. Consequently, option B is the accurate choice.
Q. 24 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: Most were first-time users of a tablet and a digital app.
Paragraph
: Aage Badhein’s USP lies in the ethnographic research that constituted the foundation of its development process. Customizations based on learning directly from potential users were critical to making this self-paced app suitable for both a literate and non-literate audience. ___(1)___ The user interface caters to a Hindi-speaking audience who have minimal to no experience with digital services and devices. ___(2)___ The content and functionality of the app are suitable for a wide audience. This includes youth preparing for an independent role in life or a student ready to create a strong foundation of financial management early in her life. ___(3)___ Household members desirous of improving their family’s financial strength to reach their aspirations can also benefit. We piloted Aage Badhein in early 2021 with over 400 women from rural areas. ___(4)___ The digital solution generated a large amount of interest in the communities.
Check Solution
Ans: D
The phrase “A significant portion had no prior experience with tablets or similar digital applications” aligns best with blank 4. This statement elaborates on the demographic profile of participants in the app’s trial. The sentence before it establishes that the app underwent testing in early 2021, involving more than 400 women from rural settings. The inserted phrase further details the technological familiarity of these individuals. This context clarifies that the trial group comprised individuals potentially new to digital tools and platforms, highlighting the app’s potential influence on their digital engagement.
Positioning this sentence in blank 4 makes sense as it offers pertinent and precise details regarding the app’s trial, which is the subject at hand in that section of the text. Conversely, inserting the phrase in any other blank would be less coherent, as it would introduce information tangential to the primary focus of those other parts of the paragraph.
Therefore, Option D is the accurate selection.
Q. 25 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence
: This was years in the making but fast-tracked during the pandemic, when “people started being more mindful about their food”, he explained.
Paragraph
: For millennia, ghee has been a venerated staple of the subcontinental diet, but it fell out of favour a few decades ago when saturated fats were largely considered to be unhealthy. ___(1)___ But more recently, as the thinking around saturated fats is shifting globally, Indians are finding their own way back to this ingredient that is so integral to their cuisine. ___(2)___ For Karmakar, a renewed interest in ghee is emblematic of a return-to-basics movement in India. ___(3)___ This movement is also part of an overall trend towards “slow food”. In keeping with the movement’s philosophy, ghee can be produced locally (even at home) and has inextricable cultural ties. ___(4)___ At a basic level, ghee is a type of clarified butter believed to have originated in India as a way to preserve butter from going rancid in the hot climate.
Check Solution
Ans: C
Explanation:The sentence “This was years in the making but fast-tracked during the pandemic, when ‘people started being more mindful about their food’, he explained” directly follows the idea of a renewed interest in ghee, linking it to a broader trend accelerated by the pandemic. Option 3 is the most logical place because it directly connects the personal explanation of the speaker (implied by “he explained”) to the broader trend of a return-to-basics movement. Placing it earlier would interrupt the flow of explaining the shift in dietary perception. Placing it later would disconnect the explanation from the specific movement.
Correct_Option:C
Q. 26 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: When people socially learn from each other, they often learn without understanding why what they’re copying—the beliefs and behaviours and technologies and know-how—works.
Paragraph: ___(1)___. The dual-inheritance theory ….says….that inheritance is itself an evolutionary system. It has variation. What makes us a new kind of animal, and so different and successful as a species, is we rely heavily on social learning, to the point where socially acquired information is effectively a second line of inheritance, the first being our genes…. ___(2)___. People tend to home in on who seems to be the smartest or most successful person around, as well as what everybody seems to be doing—the majority of people have something worth learning. ___(3)___. When you repeat this process over time, you can get, around the world, cultural packages—beliefs or behaviours or technology or other solutions—that are adapted to the local conditions. People have different psychologies, effectively. ___(4)___.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The sentence is most suitable for Blank 2 as it bridges the concepts introduced in the paragraph. The paragraph elaborates on the dual inheritance theory. The initial sentences of the paragraph introduce the theory itself. The provided sentence expands upon this concept, outlining its consequences. Subsequent to Blank 2, the author illustrates the implication presented in this sentence (the candidate sentence) in the ensuing line.
Therefore, the correct choice is B.
Q. 27 There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: This has meant a lot of uncertainty around what a wide-scale return to office might look like in practice.
Paragraph: Bringing workers back to their desks has been a rocky road for employers and employees alike. The evolution of the pandemic has meant that best-laid plans have often not materialised. ___(1)___ The flow of workers back into offices has been more of a trickle than a steady stream. ___(2)___ Yet while plenty of companies are still working through their new policies, some employees across the globe are now back at their desks, whether on a full-time or hybrid basis. ___(3)___ That means we’re beginning to get some clarity on what return-to-office means – what’s working, as well as what has yet to be settled. ___(4)___
Check Solution
Ans: B
The sentence is best placed in the second blank as it logically connects the concepts introduced in the paragraph. The paragraph initially outlines the challenges associated with employees returning to the workplace, as stated in the first two sentences. The sentence in question then elaborates on the consequences of these challenges, making it a suitable fit for the second blank. Subsequently, following this blank, the author shifts the focus to discuss the current situation, detailing the actions companies are undertaking to address this matter. Therefore, option B is the correct choice.