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Para-jumble Sentences

32. 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. People who study children’s language spend a lot of time watching how babies react to the speech they hear around them.

2. They make films of adults and babies interacting, and examine them very carefully to see whether the babies show any signs of understanding what the adults say.

3. They believe that babies begin to react to language from the very moment they are born.

4. Sometimes the signs are very subtle - slight movements of the baby’s eyes or the head or the hands.

5. You’d never notice them if you were just sitting with the child, but by watching a recording over and over, you can spot them.

Solution with Explanation

Correct Answer: (3)

In the ‘odd one out’ questions, the most important thing is to form pairs and groupings which help you eliminate statements. If you can form a pair of statements, then neither of those statements can be the Correct Answer for that question.

We find two such pairs here: 12 and 45.

The pair 12 forms the introduction for the given set of statements.

The pair 45 explains the movements of the baby and how these are difficult to notice.

Statement 3 is the odd one out. The other four statements are pointing out the fact that it is tough to notice the movements of the baby and this statement states to the contrary; this implies that babies start to react the moment they are born. This does not fit with our other statements and hence, statement 3 is the odd one out here.


Word-1: Subtle
Subtle

Context:

"Sometimes the signs are very subtle – slight movements of the baby’s eyes or the head or the hands."

Explanatory Paragraph:

"Subtle" describes something that is delicate, understated, or difficult to notice...

Meaning: Delicate or precise in a way that is difficult to perceive or describe; not obvious (Adjective)

Pronunciation: SUT-l (the "b" is silent)

Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Basic to Intermediate

Etymology: From Latin subtilis (“fine, thin, delicate”), from sub- (“under”) + telis (“woven”)

Prashant Sir's Notes:

“Subtle” is a word of nuance. Use it when describing things that require sensitivity or close attention to detect—emotions, shifts in tone, signs in behavior, or differences in meaning.

Synonyms & Antonyms:

Synonyms: faint, delicate, understated, nuanced, slight

Antonyms: obvious, blatant, overt, clear, loud

Usage Examples:

  1. The perfume had a subtle scent of vanilla and jasmine.
  2. There was a subtle change in her expression that suggested worry.
  3. Detecting early signs of illness in infants often requires noticing subtle cues.
  4. The movie’s message was delivered with subtle elegance rather than forceful dialogue.

Cultural Reference:

"Art is subtle—it whispers its truth rather than shouting it." – Visual Arts Critique, MoMA Journal

Think About It:

How might missing subtle signals—whether in communication or observation—affect relationships or outcomes?

Quick Activity:

Observe someone speaking in a video. Try to note at least three subtle gestures or facial changes they make while expressing an idea.

Memory Tip:

Think of “subtle” as *so small it's under the radar*—derived from Latin for "finely woven." It's there, but you have to look closely.

Real-World Application:

“Subtle” is widely used in healthcare, writing, design, and human behavior analysis—fields where noticing the finer details can make a big difference.

Word-2: Examine
Examine

Context:

"They make films of adults and babies interacting, and examine them very carefully to see whether the babies show any signs of understanding what the adults say."

Explanatory Paragraph:

"Examine" means to look at or inspect something closely and carefully, often for the purpose of analysis, discovery, or evaluation.

Meaning: To inspect or observe carefully, especially to learn something or make a judgment (Verb)

Pronunciation: ig-ZAM-in

Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Basic to Intermediate

Etymology: From Latin examinare (“to weigh, test, consider”), from examen (“a means of testing”)

Prashant Sir's Notes:

Used across disciplines—science, medicine, education, law—you “examine” a patient, a document, or an idea. Key for analysis.

Synonyms & Antonyms:

Synonyms: inspect, study, analyze, investigate, observe

Antonyms: ignore, overlook, skim, neglect

Usage Examples:

  1. The scientists examined the video recordings frame by frame.
  2. The doctor examined the patient for signs of infection.
  3. We need to examine the data carefully before drawing any conclusions.
  4. The committee will examine all aspects of the policy before implementation.

Cultural Reference:

"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience." – John Dewey

Think About It:

Why is the act of examining something thoroughly more valuable than simply observing it passively?

Quick Activity:

Pick an everyday object (e.g., a pencil). Examine it for one minute, then list five things you noticed that you usually overlook.

Memory Tip:

Think of “examine” like a magnifying glass word—it always means to *look deeper* or *look closer*.

Real-World Application:

Examination is crucial in research, diagnostics, education, and critical thinking—it ensures decisions are based on evidence, not assumptions.

Word-3: Spot
Spot

Context:

"You’d never notice them if you were just sitting with the child, but by watching a recording over and over, you can spot them."

Explanatory Paragraph:

"Spot" in this context means to notice or detect something, often something small or difficult to see.

Meaning: To see, notice, or recognize something, especially something that is difficult to detect (Verb)

Pronunciation: spot

Difficulty Level: ⭐ Basic

Etymology: From Middle English spotte ("a stain, mark"); later extended to mean “recognize” or “catch sight of” in the 19th century

Prashant Sir's Notes:

“Spot” often conveys sudden recognition—like spotting a clue or a friend in a crowd. In analysis, it means discovering what others might miss.

Synonyms & Antonyms:

Synonyms: notice, detect, observe, recognize, identify

Antonyms: miss, overlook, ignore, disregard

Usage Examples:

  1. I spotted a small crack in the wall that I hadn’t seen before.
  2. Trained researchers can spot behavioral patterns that others might miss.
  3. Can you spot the difference between these two images?
  4. She spotted a spelling mistake in the final version of the report.

Cultural Reference:

"Eye spy with my little eye..." – A classic children’s game that teaches observation and the fun of spotting hidden things.

Think About It:

How does training your brain to “spot” small details improve your ability to learn, solve problems, or empathize with others?

Quick Activity:

Watch a short video clip and write down three subtle things you spotted that you didn’t notice on the first viewing.

Memory Tip:

Think of “spot” like using a spotlight—suddenly, something hidden is lit up and easy to notice.

Real-World Application:

“Spotting” is essential in journalism, quality control, security, psychology, and parenting—where attention to detail leads to better outcomes.

Word-4: Eliminate
Eliminate

Context:

"...groupings which help you eliminate statements. If you can form a pair of statements, then neither of those statements can be the Correct Answer."

Explanatory Paragraph:

"Eliminate" means to remove, get rid of, or rule out something from consideration. It’s common in tests and problem-solving.

Meaning: To remove or rule out something completely from a list, situation, or competition (Verb)

Pronunciation: ih-LIM-uh-nayt

Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Basic to Intermediate

Etymology: From Latin eliminare (“to turn out of doors”), from e- (“out”) + limen (“threshold”)

Prashant Sir's Notes:

Use “eliminate” to describe a smart test strategy. In logic or multiple-choice questions, eliminating wrong options helps narrow things down.

Synonyms & Antonyms:

Synonyms: remove, exclude, discard, rule out, get rid of

Antonyms: include, retain, accept, select

Usage Examples:

  1. Try to eliminate obviously wrong choices before choosing your final answer.
  2. The detective eliminated several suspects based on the new evidence.
  3. This method helps eliminate errors in your calculations.
  4. We need to eliminate distractions to stay focused on the task.

Cultural Reference:

"In standardized tests, elimination is often more effective than direct selection." – Test-Taking Skills Manual

Think About It:

Is eliminating the wrong option always easier than identifying the right one?

Quick Activity:

Take a simple 4-option multiple-choice question. Try eliminating two choices with clear reasoning.

Memory Tip:

Think of “eliminate” like a game show—you knock out wrong answers one by one until only the winner remains.

Real-World Application:

“Eliminate” is widely used in exams, decisions, hiring, scientific testing, and even cooking shows—where narrowing choices leads to smarter decisions.

Word-5: Implies
Implies

Context:

"This implies that babies start to react the moment they are born. This does not fit with our other statements and hence, statement 3 is the odd one out here."

Explanatory Paragraph:

"Implies" is used when one statement or fact suggests something else indirectly. It shows a logical connection or consequence drawn from the original idea.

Meaning: To suggest or express something indirectly; to indicate a logical consequence (Verb)

Pronunciation: im-PLYZ

Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Basic to Intermediate

Etymology: From Latin implicare ("to entwine, involve"), from in- ("into") + plicare ("to fold")

Prashant Sir's Notes:

“Implies” is essential for logic, inference, and comprehension. It's what helps us read between the lines and make reasoned conclusions.

Synonyms & Antonyms:

Synonyms: suggest, indicate, infer, hint, allude to

Antonyms: state, declare, express, spell out, explain

Usage Examples:

  1. The tone of his voice implied that he was upset, even though he didn’t say it outright.
  2. This evidence implies that the solution is not effective in all cases.
  3. In logic, "if A, then B" implies a cause-effect relationship.
  4. Her smile implied she already knew the answer.

Cultural Reference:

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think About It:

Why is it important to recognize what a statement implies—especially when analyzing media or arguments?

Quick Activity:

Write a sentence that implies something without directly stating it. Then explain what it implies.

Memory Tip:

“Imply” = *in + fold* — something folded inside the message, not openly expressed.

Real-World Application:

Implication analysis is essential in comprehension, law, journalism, and everyday decision-making.

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