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Para-jumble Sentences
30. The five sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) given in this question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Each sentence is labelled with a number. Decide on the proper order for the sentences and key in this sequence of five numbers as your Correct Answer.
1. The study suggests that the disease did not spread with such intensity, but that it may have driven human migrations across Europe and Asia.
2. The oldest sample came from an individual who lived in southeast Russia about 5,000 years ago.
3. The ages of the skeletons correspond to a time of mass exodus from todayâs Russia and Ukraine into Western Europe and Central Asia, suggesting that a pandemic could have driven these migrations.
4. In the analysis of fragments of DNA from 101 Bronze Age skeletons for sequences from Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes the disease, seven tested positive.
5. DNA from Bronze Age human skeletons indicate that the black plague could have emerged as early as 3,000 BCE, long before the epidemic that swept through Europe in the mid-1300s.
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: 54123
Statement 5 is the opening sentence in this case. It is the most generic sentence in the given set and introduces the topic that black plague emerged as early as 3,000 BCE.
Statement 4 then provides details about the study and what was the basic result.
Statement 1 takes this forward and explains more about the study.
Statement 2 tells us about the oldest sample and how it came from Russia. Statement 3 then explains the implications of the same and what does this imply with respect to the migration from Russia.
Thus, we have 54123 as the order in this case.
Word-1: Skeletons
Context:
"The ages of the skeletons correspond to a time of mass exodus from todayâs Russia and Ukraine into Western Europe and Central Asia, suggesting that a pandemic could have driven these migrations." â Archaeological Study Report
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Skeletons" are the structural frameworks of bones that support and protect the bodies of humans and animals. In archaeological and forensic studies, skeletons are crucial evidenceâthey offer insights into age, health, ancestry, and sometimes cause of death. In this context, the discovered skeletons serve as historical records, helping scientists trace ancient migrations and potentially identify causes such as disease outbreaks that influenced large-scale movements of populations.
Meaning: The internal bony structure of a vertebrate body; remains of a body consisting primarily of bones (Noun â plural)
Pronunciation: SKEL-uh-tunz
Difficulty Level: â Basic
Etymology: From Greek skeleton ("dried-up body, mummy"), later adapted through Latin and French
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word is common in science, especially biology, anatomy, and archaeology. It also has metaphorical usesâlike âskeleton in the closet,â meaning a hidden secret. When used in history or science contexts, think of skeletons as time capsules offering clues about past lives and events.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: bone structure, framework, remains, anatomy
Antonyms: flesh, muscles, living body
Usage Examples:
- Archaeologists uncovered ancient skeletons buried near the old settlement.
- The museum displayed human skeletons to illustrate evolution.
- Skeletons can reveal information about diet, disease, and cause of death.
- They found animal skeletons next to human ones, suggesting a domesticated species.
Cultural Reference:
"Skeletons are silent storytellers of the past, holding the secrets of ancient lives." â Smithsonian Anthropological Journal
Think About It:
How can studying skeletons from thousands of years ago change our understanding of human history and migration?
Quick Activity:
Label the major bones of the human skeleton on a diagram. Highlight three parts that can help identify age or gender.
Memory Tip:
Think of âskeletonâ as the âskeleton keyâ to understanding the bodyâit unlocks secrets from inside out, especially after death.
Real-World Application:
Skeletons are vital in medicine, forensics, archaeology, and anthropologyâthey help reconstruct both individual lives and broader historical events.
Word-2: Sequences
Context:
"In the analysis of fragments of DNA from 101 Bronze Age skeletons for sequences from Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes the disease, seven tested positive." â Genetic Archaeology Report
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Sequences" in this context refer to specific arrangements of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) within a genetic strand. DNA sequences are like biological codes that carry genetic information. Scientists can examine these sequences to identify organisms, diseases, or ancestral traits. In the sentence above, researchers are analyzing DNA from ancient skeletons to detect the genetic sequences of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague, offering clues about historic pandemics.
Meaning: Ordered arrangements of things, especially genetic material like DNA (Plural Noun)
Pronunciation: SEE-kwen-siz
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin sequentia ("a following, order"), from sequi ("to follow")
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word is widely used in both scientific and everyday contexts. In biology, a âsequenceâ typically refers to the specific order of DNA or RNA bases. In literature or logic, it means any ordered progression. Keep context in mind when you encounter this wordâit adapts to multiple disciplines.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: order, arrangement, series, progression, pattern
Antonyms: disorder, jumble, randomness, chaos
Usage Examples:
- The scientists compared DNA sequences to identify genetic mutations.
- A specific sequence in the virus allowed it to spread more rapidly.
- The film's final scenes followed a dramatic sequence of events.
- Seven ancient skeletons contained DNA sequences of the plague bacterium.
Cultural Reference:
"The Human Genome Project mapped the entire sequence of human DNA, opening the door to personalized medicine." â National Institutes of Health
Think About It:
How do changes in DNA sequences affect our traitsâand what can ancient sequences tell us about human evolution and disease?
Quick Activity:
Look up the four nucleotide bases in DNA. Write a short sequence using the first letters and try to explain what it could represent.
Memory Tip:
âSequenceâ = something that follows in orderâlike a story or a strand of DNA, one part leads to the next.
Real-World Application:
DNA sequences are vital in fields like medicine, forensic science, ancestry testing, and disease researchâhelping identify conditions and trace biological origins.
Word-3: Pandemic
Context:
"In the analysis of fragments of DNA from 101 Bronze Age skeletons for sequences from Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes the disease, seven tested positive." â Historical Epidemiology Report
Explanatory Paragraph:
A "pandemic" is a widespread outbreak of a disease that affects a large number of people across countries or continents. Unlike an epidemic, which is more localized, a pandemic involves global or near-global spread. In the context above, researchers suspect that the discovery of Yersinia pestisâthe plague-causing bacteriumâin multiple ancient skeletons points to a potential pandemic during the Bronze Age that may have caused massive migrations and reshaped populations across Europe and Asia.
Meaning: A disease outbreak that spreads across multiple countries or continents, affecting a large population (Noun)
Pronunciation: pan-DEM-ik
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Greek pan- ("all") + dÄmos ("people")
Prashant Sir's Notes:
While we all became familiar with this term during COVID-19, it's an important concept in history, biology, and public health. Pandemics can alter economies, societies, and migration patternsâunderstanding them helps us make sense of large-scale human change across time.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: global outbreak, worldwide disease, plague
Antonyms: localized outbreak, endemic condition, containment
Usage Examples:
- The Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history.
- Scientists believe an ancient pandemic could have reshaped Bronze Age migration patterns.
- COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020.
- Preparedness is key to preventing the rapid spread of future pandemics.
Cultural Reference:
"The 1918 influenza pandemic killed more people than World War I." â World Health Organization Archives
Think About It:
How do pandemics not only affect public health, but also culture, economy, and the course of history?
Quick Activity:
List two pandemics from history and briefly describe how each changed the societies it affected.
Memory Tip:
âPan-â = all + â-demicâ = people â A pandemic is a disease that affects *all people* across wide regions.
Real-World Application:
Understanding pandemics is essential in medicine, policy-making, economics, and educationâensuring better global responses to future outbreaks.
Word-4: Migrations
Context:
"The study suggests that the disease did not spread with such intensity, but that it may have driven human migrations across Europe and Asia." â Historical Genetics Study
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Migrations" refer to large-scale movements of people (or animals) from one region to another, often over long distances and due to various reasons such as climate change, war, famine, disease, or the search for better opportunities. In the context above, ancient outbreaks of diseaseâlike the plagueâmay have triggered widespread migrations as populations fled affected regions and resettled elsewhere. These movements reshaped the demographics and cultural landscapes of entire continents.
Meaning: The movement of people or animals from one place to another, often seasonally or permanently (Plural Noun)
Pronunciation: my-GRAY-shunz
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic to Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin migrationem ("a removal, migration"), from migrare ("to move from one place to another")
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âMigrationâ is a powerful concept in history, biology, and current events. Human migrations shape civilizations, and in today's world, the term also relates to refugees, labor movements, and even digital data migration. In historical contexts, think about how disease, war, and climate push and pull populations across borders.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: movements, resettlements, relocations, population shifts
Antonyms: settlement, permanence, residence, immobility
Usage Examples:
- Mass migrations occurred during the Ice Age as people followed food sources and better climates.
- The pandemic may have caused large migrations across ancient Eurasia.
- Bird migrations are carefully tracked by scientists each year.
- Modern economic migrations often occur from rural areas to urban centers.
Cultural Reference:
"The story of human history is, in many ways, a story of migrationsâof movement, adaptation, and survival." â National Geographic Migration Series
Think About It:
What are the forcesânatural or human-madeâthat continue to drive migrations today, and how are they similar to or different from those in the past?
Quick Activity:
List three historical migrations and briefly mention the reason behind each. Were they voluntary or forced?
Memory Tip:
Think: "Migrate" = "Move" â both begin with âMâ and relate to going from one place to another.
Real-World Application:
Understanding migrations helps in studying population changes, managing refugee crises, planning infrastructure, and learning how human societies spread and evolve over time.
Word-5: Emerged
Context:
"DNA from Bronze Age human skeletons indicate that the black plague could have emerged as early as 3,000 BCE, long before the epidemic that swept through Europe in the mid-1300s." â Archaeogenetics Report
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Emerged" means to come into view, existence, or public awarenessâoften from a previously hidden or unknown state. In historical or scientific contexts, it refers to when something begins or is first identified. In the sentence above, the word suggests that the black plague was present much earlier than previously believed, changing our understanding of its origin. The idea that it may have emerged around 3,000 BCE highlights how scientific discoveries can reshape history.
Meaning: Came into being, became visible, or became known (Verb â past tense of âemergeâ)
Pronunciation: ee-MURJD
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic to Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin emergere ("to rise out, bring forth"), from e- ("out") + mergere ("to plunge")
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a flexible and frequently used word. Use âemergedâ when something comes into attention from a hidden, unknown, or early stageâwhether itâs a disease, trend, leader, or idea. It often signals origin or discovery and is useful in both academic and creative writing.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: appeared, arose, surfaced, developed, originated
Antonyms: disappeared, vanished, receded, faded
Usage Examples:
- The black plague may have emerged thousands of years earlier than previously thought.
- Several new leaders emerged during the crisis.
- Modern technology has emerged as a major force in education.
- When the fog cleared, the mountain slowly emerged in the distance.
Cultural Reference:
"Ideas emerge from chaos, and revolutions emerge from necessity." â Political Thought Anthology
Think About It:
What are some major discoveries or inventions in history that emerged long before the world was ready to understand or use them?
Quick Activity:
Write a sentence using âemergedâ to describe the beginning of a trend, a technology, or a historical event youâve studied recently.
Memory Tip:
âEmergeâ = âeâ (out) + âmergeâ (plunge)âso, something that *comes out* from being hidden or submerged.
Real-World Application:
âEmergedâ is often used in journalism, research, business, and science to describe how new developments, problems, or discoveries come to light.
