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Misfit Sentence/Odd One Out Question
Q. 30: 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. As India looks to increase the number of cities, our urban planning must factor in potential natural disasters and work out contingencies in advance.
2. Authorities must revise data and upgrade infrastructure and mitigation plans even if their local area hasnât been visited by a natural calamity yet.
3. Extreme temperatures, droughts, and forest fires have more than doubled since 1980.
4. There is no denying the fact that our baseline normal weather is changing.
5. It is no longer a question of whether we will be hit natureâs fury, but rather when.
Solution with Explanation
Answer: 3
Detailed explanation by Wordpandit:
After carefully reading all the sentences, we can deduce that the resulting coherent paragraph should focus on the idea that urban planning in India should adopt measures to withstand and protect from potential natural disasters.
Sentences 1 and 2 discuss about the need for authorities to foresee natural calamities and make the necessary upgrades to urban infrastructure.
Sentence-5 lays stress on the reason for the upgrades. It states that it is a matter of time before we get hit by natureâs fury. So, this sentence is required as the conclusion.
Now, we have to eliminate one option between Sentences 3 and 4. Sentence-4 makes for a good opening line (the fact that normal weather is changing), as it will open up the discussion about infrastructure upgrades and mitigation plans. Whereas, Sentence-3 is more of a factual statement, that does not insist that climate change is an active process that is and will remain in progress.
Hence, the correct answer is Sentence-option 3.
Word-1: Urban
Context:
"As India looks to increase the number of cities, our urban planning must factor in potential natural disasters and work out contingencies in advance." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Urban" refers to anything related to cities or towns, especially in contrast to rural areas. In this context, it emphasizes the need for planning and development strategies that consider risks like natural disasters while expanding or modernizing cities. The term is commonly used in discussions around development, infrastructure, population, housing, transportation, and environment.
Meaning: Related to a city or town (Adjective)
Pronunciation: UR-buhn
Difficulty Level: â Basic
Etymology: From Latin *urbanus*, meaning âof or pertaining to a cityâ
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âUrbanâ is an essential word in discussions of city development, infrastructure, and policy. Itâs often used with words like *urbanization*, *urban sprawl*, and *urban poverty*. Be sure to contrast it with âruralâ when discussing social or economic differences.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: city-based, metropolitan, municipal, civic
Antonyms: rural, countryside, pastoral, agrarian
Usage Examples:
- Urban planning is crucial for managing population growth in cities.
- The urban population is growing faster than ever before.
- Noise and pollution are major issues in many urban areas.
- Smart cities aim to solve urban problems through technology.
Cultural Reference:
The term âurbanâ is frequently used in development reports by institutions like the UN-Habitat and the World Bank to discuss sustainable city growth and the future of global housing.
Think About It:
How can urban areas be made more resilient and inclusive as they continue to expand?
Quick Activity:
List three problems commonly faced in urban areas and one possible solution for each.
Memory Tip:
âUrbanâ = think of *urb* in âsuburbâ or âmetropolisââall related to cities!
Real-World Application:
Understanding âurbanâ is essential for engaging in conversations about city development, sustainability, infrastructure, and smart governance in a rapidly urbanizing world.
Word-2: Contingencies
Context:
"As India looks to increase the number of cities, our urban planning must factor in potential natural disasters and work out contingencies in advance." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Contingencies" are unexpected events or conditions that might occur in the future and require preparation or a plan of action. In this context, the term refers to disaster planningâdeveloping backup plans or emergency responses in case of natural calamities like floods or earthquakes. The word is commonly used in risk management, urban planning, military operations, and business strategy to highlight the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.
Meaning: Possible future events or situations that must be prepared for (Noun â plural)
Pronunciation: kuhn-TIN-juhn-seez
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *contingentia*, meaning âa chance occurrenceâ; from *contingere* â âto touch upon, befallâ
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âContingenciesâ are always about the *what ifs*. Think backup plans, emergency scenarios, or things that *might* go wrong. In essays or exams, using this word can show critical thinking and planning foresight. Itâs especially useful in discussions of policy, planning, and risk assessment.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: possibilities, emergencies, risks, eventualities, backup plans
Antonyms: certainties, guarantees, inevitabilities
Usage Examples:
- The military always prepares for multiple contingencies before a mission.
- Urban planners must account for weather-related contingencies like floods and storms.
- The contract included a clause for financial contingencies.
- We set aside a budget for contingencies just in case the project costs increase unexpectedly.
Cultural Reference:
In disaster management, countries often have âcontingency plansâ for pandemics, earthquakes, or cyberattacks, highlighting the importance of readiness in an unpredictable world.
Think About It:
Do you believe governments plan well enough for contingencies, or do they tend to react only after a crisis occurs?
Quick Activity:
Think of one major event (natural or man-made) and write a basic contingency plan with three steps to respond to it.
Memory Tip:
âContingenciesâ = things that *might* happen â always have a âPlan Bâ for them!
Real-World Application:
Contingency planning is vital in city infrastructure, finance, healthcare, and emergency response systems to ensure stability and resilience in uncertain times.
Word-3: Mitigation
Context:
"Authorities must revise data and upgrade infrastructure and mitigation plans even if their local area hasnât been visited by a natural calamity yet." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Mitigation" refers to the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or harmful effects of something. In the given context, it specifically relates to natural disastersâpreparing in advance to minimize potential damage or loss. Mitigation involves planning, strengthening infrastructure, and improving systems to ensure resilience. Itâs widely used in environmental science, disaster management, law, and even medicine to refer to efforts that lessen risks or consequences.
Meaning: The action of reducing the harmful effects of something (Noun)
Pronunciation: mit-ih-GAY-shun
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *mitigare*, meaning âto soften, make mildâ
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word often appears in academic, policy, and scientific writing. Especially in climate change and disaster management topics, *mitigation* is paired with *adaptation*. Mitigation = reducing future harm; Adaptation = adjusting to existing conditions. Learn both for essay use!
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: reduction, alleviation, softening, lessening, prevention
Antonyms: aggravation, intensification, escalation, worsening
Usage Examples:
- Flood mitigation plans include building dams and improving drainage systems.
- Climate change mitigation involves cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
- The government funded wildfire mitigation efforts to protect forest communities.
- Proper urban planning is essential for disaster mitigation in densely populated cities.
Cultural Reference:
The UNâs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) often uses the term "mitigation" in its global reports to refer to strategies aimed at reducing climate risks and emissions.
Think About It:
Why is it often difficult for authorities to invest in mitigation strategies before a disaster actually happens?
Quick Activity:
List one environmental and one health-related scenario where mitigation could prevent serious outcomes. What steps would you suggest?
Memory Tip:
âMitigationâ sounds like âmild-ificationâ â think of it as making something bad less severe.
Real-World Application:
Mitigation is crucial in sectors like urban planning, climate policy, healthcare, and lawâit ensures preparedness and prevents long-term damage or loss.
Word-4: Calamity
Context:
"Authorities must revise data and upgrade infrastructure and mitigation plans even if their local area hasnât been visited by a natural calamity yet." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Calamity" refers to a sudden, disastrous event that causes great damage, distress, or suffering. In the given context, it specifically denotes a natural disasterâsuch as a flood, earthquake, cyclone, or drought. The word is often used in news, disaster response, and literature to highlight the gravity of a situation that disrupts normal life and causes loss. It evokes urgency and seriousness and is commonly paired with words like "natural," "economic," or "humanitarian."
Meaning: A serious and often sudden disaster or misfortune causing great harm or suffering (Noun)
Pronunciation: kuh-LAM-ih-tee
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *calamitas*, meaning âdamage, loss, disasterâ
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âCalamityâ is a strong wordâuse it when emphasizing the emotional and physical weight of a disaster. Itâs more dramatic than âproblemâ or âissue.â Also useful in essays and reports when describing large-scale human or environmental impacts.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: disaster, catastrophe, tragedy, misfortune, crisis
Antonyms: blessing, fortune, miracle, benefit
Usage Examples:
- The earthquake was a national calamity that left thousands homeless.
- Climate change increases the risk of natural calamities around the world.
- The sudden economic collapse was a calamity for small businesses.
- Preparation is key to reducing the impact of any calamity.
Cultural Reference:
Historically, events like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake are considered global calamities due to their massive human toll and destruction.
Think About It:
How can societies shift from reacting to calamities to preparing for them proactively?
Quick Activity:
List two examples of man-made calamities and two natural ones. What makes them calamitous?
Memory Tip:
âCalamityâ sounds like âchaos + calamityâ â picture sudden chaos causing massive harm.
Real-World Application:
Understanding the term âcalamityâ is essential in emergency management, journalism, public health, and environmental studiesâfields that deal with large-scale impacts on people and places.
Word-5: Infrastructure
Context:
"Authorities must revise data and upgrade infrastructure and mitigation plans even if their local area hasnât been visited by a natural calamity yet." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Infrastructure" refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. This includes roads, bridges, water supply, sewage systems, power grids, schools, and hospitals. In the context of the sentence, it emphasizes the need for these systems to be updated and disaster-readyâeven before a calamity strikes. Strong infrastructure is the backbone of any resilient and functional city or region.
Meaning: The fundamental physical and organizational structures needed for a society to function (Noun)
Pronunciation: IN-fruh-struhk-chur
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From French *infrastructure*, based on Latin *infra* (below) + *structure* (building or arrangement)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a foundational word in development and governance. When writing about economic growth, disaster management, urban planning, or public services, âinfrastructureâ is a must-know term. Always link it to real-world facilitiesâdonât just use it abstractly.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: foundation, framework, facilities, support systems, base
Antonyms: superstructure, disorganization, dismantlement (contextual)
Usage Examples:
- Investing in infrastructure is key to a countryâs long-term development.
- The cityâs outdated infrastructure failed during the heavy rains.
- Modern infrastructure includes not just roads and bridges but also internet and communication networks.
- Post-disaster rebuilding often starts with restoring critical infrastructure like water and power.
Cultural Reference:
The World Economic Forum regularly publishes a Global Competitiveness Report that ranks countries based on infrastructure quality, highlighting its role in economic performance.
Think About It:
Why do some regions invest in strong infrastructure before disasters while others wait until after damage has occurred?
Quick Activity:
List three types of infrastructure you rely on every day. What would happen if one of them failed?
Memory Tip:
âInfraâ means âbelowâ and âstructureâ is a buildingâthink of infrastructure as the invisible foundation that keeps society running.
Real-World Application:
Infrastructure plays a central role in transportation, healthcare, education, disaster preparedness, and digital accessâmaking it a top priority for planners and policymakers.
