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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. Choose its number as your answer and key it in.
1. Displacement in Bengal is thus not very significant in view of its magnitude.
2. A factor of displacement in Bengal is the shifting course of the Ganges leading to erosion of river banks.
3. The nature of displacement in Bengal makes it an interesting case study.
4. Since displacement due to erosion is well spread over a long period of time, it remains invisible.
5. Rapid displacement would have helped sanitize the public to its human costs.
Solution with Explanation
Answer: 5
Detailed explanation by Wordpandit:
After reading the options a couple of times, it is easy to understand that the coherent paragraph should highlight the issue of displacement in Bengal, due to erosion. The main theme is of a socio-geographic nature. Considering this basic aspect, at the first instance itself, Sentence-5 looks out of place as it transitions into the impact on human costs.
Sentence-3 introduces the topic, so it will make the opening line. Sentence-2 describes the nature of displacement, and the resulting erosion of river banks. Sentence-4 wraps up the idea that as erosion is a slow process, it is invisible. Sentence-1 provides a conclusion to the phenomenon described in Sentences 3, 2 and 4.
Hence, 5 is the correct answer.
Word-1: Displacement
Context:
"Displacement in Bengal is thus not very significant in view of its magnitude."
Explanatory Paragraph:
*Displacement* refers to the forced movement of people from their homes or original location, often due to conflict, natural disasters, development projects, or political decisions. It can also mean the act of moving something from its usual place. In the sentence above, the term is used to describe how many people in Bengal have been affected by being relocatedâbut it implies that, compared to the total population or area, the number or impact of such displacements is relatively small.
Meaning: The act of moving something or someone from its usual or original place, often involuntarily (Noun)
Pronunciation: dis-PLAYS-muhnt
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From French déplacement, based on Latin dis- (apart) + placere (to place)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âDisplacementâ is a powerful word that often appears in social sciences, history, and geography. It's not just physicalâit can also mean emotional or cultural disruption. When you read this word, always ask: What or who is being moved? And what are the consequences?
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: relocation, removal, eviction, migration, shift
Antonyms: settlement, return, stability, restoration
Usage Examples:
- The war caused the displacement of thousands of families.
- Urban development led to the displacement of tribal communities.
- Climate change is expected to increase displacement due to rising sea levels.
- Despite the displacement, many communities found ways to rebuild their lives.
Cultural Reference:
"Internal displacement remains one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our time." â United Nations reports on global displacement trends
Think About It:
What should be the responsibility of governments and societies toward people who are displaced due to progress or disaster?
Quick Activity:
Find one news story or historical event involving displacement. Write a two-sentence summary of who was displaced, why, and what happened next.
Memory Tip:
Displacement = âdisâ (away) + âplacementâ â think of something being taken away from its place.
Real-World Application:
Understanding displacement is vital for students of geography, economics, policy, and human rights. It helps us see the human impact behind statistics and design better support systems for affected populations.
Word-2: Magnitude
Context:
"Displacement in Bengal is thus not very significant in view of its magnitude."
Explanatory Paragraph:
*Magnitude* refers to the size, extent, or importance of something, especially when it is large or impactful. In the sentence above, the word is used to describe the scale or degree of displacement in Bengal. It suggests that when we consider the overall size or impact (the magnitude) of displacement, it appears relatively insignificantâperhaps due to low numbers, limited geographic spread, or lesser intensity when compared to other regions or contexts.
Meaning: The great size, extent, or importance of something (Noun)
Pronunciation: MAG-nih-tood
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin magnitudo, meaning "greatness" or "bulk," from magnus (great)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a high-utility academic word, especially in essays and reports. It's used to quantify significance, whether you're talking about an earthquake, a crisis, or an achievement. It always implies measurementâask yourself: âHow big or impactful is this?â
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: scale, extent, size, degree, intensity
Antonyms: insignificance, triviality, smallness, pettiness
Usage Examples:
- The earthquake was of such magnitude that it was felt in several neighboring countries.
- We underestimated the magnitude of the economic crisis.
- The magnitude of her achievement was finally recognized after many years.
- Despite the media coverage, the actual magnitude of the flood damage was minor.
Cultural Reference:
"The magnitude of an event is not just in its numbers, but in the lives it touches." â Common theme in humanitarian and disaster response literature.
Think About It:
Do we always recognize the magnitude of a problem when it happensâor only when it escalates beyond control?
Quick Activity:
Write two sentences using âmagnitudeâ â one referring to a physical measurement (like an earthquake) and one referring to an abstract concept (like success or injustice).
Memory Tip:
âMagnitudeâ contains âmagn-â meaning large or greatâthink of it as measuring how *great* something is.
Real-World Application:
In science, economics, social studies, and journalism, âmagnitudeâ helps express the seriousness or scale of an issueâhelping audiences understand the true impact or relevance of events and actions.
Word-3: Erosion
Context:
"Since displacement due to erosion is well spread over a long period of time, it remains invisible."
Explanatory Paragraph:
*Erosion* refers to the gradual wearing away or destruction of something, typically caused by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice. In a broader sense, it can also refer to the slow decline or weakening of structures, values, or stability. In the context of the sentence, erosion causes land loss over time, which leads to people being displaced gradually. Because this happens slowly and not all at once, the problem doesnât receive as much attentionâit becomes an âinvisibleâ form of displacement that lacks the urgency of sudden disasters.
Meaning: The gradual destruction or reduction of something, especially by natural forces (Noun)
Pronunciation: ih-ROH-zhuhn
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic
Etymology: From Latin erosionem, from erodere meaning âto gnaw awayâ
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a powerful metaphorical word. It doesn't just apply to soil and land. Think of âerosion of trust,â âerosion of culture,â or âerosion of democracy.â Itâs about slow lossâsomething fading or being chipped away, bit by bit.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: wearing away, degradation, corrosion, disintegration, crumbling
Antonyms: buildup, strengthening, accumulation, reinforcement
Usage Examples:
- Riverbank erosion displaced hundreds of families in the delta region.
- Over time, the constant wind caused severe erosion of the mountain slopes.
- There is concern about the erosion of cultural values in modern society.
- The coastline is shrinking due to rapid soil erosion caused by rising sea levels.
Cultural Reference:
"Erosion is not just physicalâwhen voices are ignored long enough, democracy itself begins to erode." â A common theme in political discourse and civil rights debates.
Think About It:
What important parts of society or personal life might be slowly eroding without our noticeâuntil itâs too late?
Quick Activity:
Write two short sentences: one describing physical erosion (e.g., of land) and one describing abstract erosion (e.g., of trust or values).
Memory Tip:
âErosionâ = think of something slowly being *erased*ânatureâs way of wearing things down, or timeâs way of weakening ideas.
Real-World Application:
Understanding erosion is crucial in environmental science, civil planning, and social analysisâwhether itâs protecting physical landscapes or recognizing slow declines in social systems or relationships.
Word-4: Invisible
Context:
"Since displacement due to erosion is well spread over a long period of time, it remains invisible."
Explanatory Paragraph:
*Invisible* refers to something that cannot be seen or is not easily noticed. While it often describes things that are physically hidden from view, it can also be used metaphorically to describe problems or issues that are overlooked or ignored by society. In the sentence above, the word highlights how gradual displacement due to erosion does not attract attentionâbecause it doesnât happen suddenly or dramatically, people tend not to notice or respond to it, making the suffering of affected communities "invisible" in public discourse and policy.
Meaning: Unable to be seen or not easily perceived or noticed (Adjective)
Pronunciation: in-VIZ-uh-buhl
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic
Etymology: From Latin invisibilis, from in- (not) + visibilis (that which can be seen)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word is incredibly powerful in social commentary. âInvisibleâ issues are those we donât talk aboutâlike poverty, discrimination, or displacement that donât make headlines. Ask: What are we not seeing? Who is left out of the picture?
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: unseen, unnoticed, hidden, obscured, overlooked
Antonyms: visible, obvious, noticeable, apparent
Usage Examples:
- Social injustices are often invisible to those not directly affected.
- The bacteria are invisible to the naked eye but detectable under a microscope.
- Her contributions remained invisible despite their importance to the project.
- Long-term climate change effects are often invisible until it's too late.
Cultural Reference:
"We wear the mask that grins and lies..." â Paul Laurence Dunbarâs poem explores the invisible pain and struggle of Black Americans hidden behind forced smiles.
Think About It:
What social or environmental problems in your community remain invisible to most peopleâand why?
Quick Activity:
Write a short sentence using "invisible" to describe both a physical thing (like wind) and a social issue (like poverty).
Memory Tip:
âIn-â means ânot,â and âvisibleâ means âseenââso invisible = not seen or noticed. Easy!
Real-World Application:
The concept of invisibility is crucial in advocacy, research, and journalismâmaking sure marginalized groups, hidden suffering, or subtle changes are brought into public awareness and action.
Word-5: Sanitize
Context:
"Rapid displacement would have helped sanitize the public to its human costs."
Explanatory Paragraph:
*Sanitize* typically means to clean something thoroughly, especially to remove germs or contaminants. However, in a metaphorical or figurative contextâlike in the sentence aboveâit means to make something appear more acceptable, less severe, or less offensive than it really is. The sentence suggests that if displacement happened quickly and frequently, people might become desensitized to its emotional and human consequencesâviewing it as a routine or sanitized event rather than recognizing the deep trauma and injustice involved.
Meaning: To make something more acceptable by removing unpleasant or controversial elements; to cleanse or disinfect (Verb)
Pronunciation: SAN-ih-tize
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin sanitas (health), via French sanitaire; originally meaning "to make healthy or clean"
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a double-edged wordâgreat for talking about physical cleanliness, but also powerful in social and political critique. If someone âsanitizesâ history, a report, or an event, theyâre hiding or toning down the truth. Always ask: Whatâs being removed, and why?
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: cleanse, whitewash, purify, neutralize, gloss over
Antonyms: expose, reveal, contaminate, spotlight, emphasize
Usage Examples:
- The company tried to sanitize its image after the scandal by changing its branding.
- History books often sanitize colonialism by ignoring its violent aspects.
- The hospital staff sanitized all equipment before each surgery.
- Media coverage sometimes sanitizes war, making it seem less brutal than it is.
Cultural Reference:
"To sanitize history is to forget the lessons it was meant to teach." â A common theme in social justice movements and historical revisionism debates.
Think About It:
What are some examples of events or truths that have been sanitized in public narrativesâand what impact does that have on collective understanding?
Quick Activity:
Write one sentence using âsanitizeâ in a literal context (cleaning) and another in a metaphorical context (distorting the truth).
Memory Tip:
Think of âsanitizeâ as making something *seem* cleanâwhether you're scrubbing a table or scrubbing the truth.
Real-World Application:
Understanding how information is sanitized is critical in media literacy, history, and politicsâhelping individuals recognize bias, distortion, or manipulation in public discourse.
