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Misfit Sentence/Odd One Out Question
34. Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the odd one out.
1. The water that made up ancient lakes and perhaps an ocean was lost.
2. Particles from the Sun collided with molecules in the atmosphere, knocking them into space or giving them an electric charge that caused them to be swept away by the solar wind.
3. Most of the planet's remaining water is now frozen or buried, but clues over the past decade suggested that some liquid water, a presumed necessity for life, might survive in underground aquifers.
4. Data from NASA's MAVEN orbiter show that solar storms stripped away most of Mars’s once-thick atmosphere.
5. A recent study reveals how Mars lost much of its early water, while another indicates that some liquid water remains.
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: (1)
In this set of statements, statements 5 and 4 form the introduction for the given set. Statement 2 then explains what happened when the solar storm took place, and statement 3 explains how the water got stored.
Thus, statements 5-4-2-3 build a coherent narrative in this case.
Statement 1, on the other hand, talks about the water being lost. This is different from what is implied in the given context (which also includes the possibility of water still being present).
Thus, this is an easy odd one out to spot.
Word-1: Molecules
Context:
"Particles from the Sun collided with molecules in the atmosphere..."
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Molecules" are the smallest units of a chemical compound...
Meaning: Groups of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds...
Pronunciation: MOL-uh-kyools
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin molecula (“small mass”), a diminutive of moles (“mass”)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a fundamental scientific term, essential for understanding chemistry...
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: compounds, particles, chemical units
Antonyms: atoms, elements
Usage Examples:
- Water is made up of H2O molecules...
- The smell of food comes from molecules...
- High-energy radiation can break apart molecules...
- DNA is a complex molecule...
Cultural Reference:
"If you want to understand life, start at the molecular level." – Francis Crick
Think About It:
If molecules are constantly in motion, can we ever say anything is truly still?
Quick Activity:
Name three everyday substances and list the molecules in them.
Memory Tip:
“Molecule” = “mini mass” — smallest full unit of substance.
Real-World Application:
Molecules are central to medicine, climate, materials, and more.
Word-2: Aquifers
Context:
"Most of the planet's remaining water is now frozen or buried... might survive in underground aquifers."
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Aquifers" are underground layers that hold and allow water flow...
Meaning: Underground layers of rock or sediment storing water (Noun – plural)
Pronunciation: AK-wuh-furz
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin aqua (“water”) + ferre (“to carry”)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
“Aquifers” are essential for understanding water cycles, geology, and habitability.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: groundwater reserves, water-bearing layers
Antonyms: dry beds, impermeable layers
Usage Examples:
- Many communities rely on aquifers...
- Scientists believe aquifers exist on Mars...
- Overuse of aquifers leads to depletion...
- Exploring aquifers is vital for understanding water movement.
Cultural Reference:
"Water is life, and aquifers are the secret wells beneath our feet..." – Environmental Conservation Documentary
Think About It:
How might the discovery of aquifers on other planets change our understanding of life?
Quick Activity:
Label a diagram of the water cycle and mark where aquifers fit.
Memory Tip:
“Aquifers” = *aqua* (water) + *fer* (carry) → stores underground water.
Real-World Application:
Used in groundwater research, sustainability studies, and space exploration.
Word-3: Presumed
Context:
"...a presumed necessity for life, might survive in underground aquifers."
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Presumed" means believed to be true based on reasonable assumption or indirect evidence...
Meaning: Believed or assumed to be true without absolute proof (Verb – past participle)
Pronunciation: prih-ZOOMD
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Basic to Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin praesumere (“to take for granted”)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Used in formal writing and academic discussions to indicate assumptions made based on available evidence.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: assumed, supposed, inferred
Antonyms: proven, confirmed, verified
Usage Examples:
- Water is a presumed requirement for life.
- The presumed cause of the outage was a power surge.
- Scientists presumed that Mars once had rivers.
- He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Cultural Reference:
"Presumed innocent until proven guilty" – a foundational legal principle globally.
Think About It:
How do presumptions help in uncertainty? When can they be misleading?
Quick Activity:
Write one sentence using “presumed” in a scientific, legal, and casual context.
Memory Tip:
“Presumed” = *pre-* (before) + *assumed* → assumed before proof is available.
Real-World Application:
Useful in science, law, journalism, and decision-making without certainty.
Word-4: Necessity
Context:
"...a presumed necessity for life, might survive in underground aquifers."
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Necessity" refers to something essential or required. Without it, a desired outcome may not occur.
Meaning: Something essential or required; indispensable (Noun)
Pronunciation: nuh-SES-ih-tee
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Basic to Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin necessitas ("compulsion"), from ne ("not") + cedere ("to yield")
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Common in formal writing. Examples include “moral necessity,” “legal necessity,” and “basic necessities.”
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: requirement, must, need, essential
Antonyms: luxury, option, excess
Usage Examples:
- Clean drinking water is a necessity for human survival.
- Oxygen is a necessity in space missions.
- Food, shelter, and clothing are basic necessities.
- Electricity has become a necessity in daily life.
Cultural Reference:
"Necessity is the mother of invention." – Ancient proverb
Think About It:
Do our modern "necessities" reflect true needs or changing lifestyles?
Quick Activity:
List five personal necessities. Describe life without one of them.
Memory Tip:
“Necessity” sounds like “necessary”—something you must have.
Real-World Application:
Used in economics, law, survival, and planetary science discussions.
Word-5: Orbiter
Context:
"Data from NASA's MAVEN orbiter show that solar storms stripped away most of Mars’s once-thick atmosphere."
Explanatory Paragraph:
An "orbiter" is a spacecraft designed to revolve around a planet or moon, collecting data without landing.
Meaning: A spacecraft that stays in orbit around a celestial body (Noun)
Pronunciation: OR-bi-ter
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Basic to Intermediate
Etymology: From “orbit” + “-er” (one who does)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Essential concept in space science. Orbiters are often used before landers are sent.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: satellite, probe, spacecraft
Antonyms: lander, rover
Usage Examples:
- The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter sends high-res images of Mars.
- The orbiter will examine the planet’s upper atmosphere.
- NASA uses orbiters before landing missions.
- Data from orbiters help build future missions.
Cultural Reference:
"Before astronauts land, orbiters pave the way..." – NASA brochure
Think About It:
Why do orbiters often come before rovers or landers in exploration?
Quick Activity:
Find and describe one current orbiter: its planet and mission goal.
Memory Tip:
“Orbiter” = it orbits! Think of it as a flying scout circling the target.
Real-World Application:
Used in planetary science, climate research, even defense tech.
