đ Whatâs Inside This CAT Para-jumble Question Post?
đ Authentic CAT Para-jumble Question : Practice with a real CAT Para-jumble Question from a previous CAT exam.
â
Detailed Question with Step-by-Step Solution: Each question is explained thoroughly for better understanding.
đ Vocabulary Enhancement: Top 5 words explained from the paragraph
Para-jumble Sentences
Question 21: The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4) below, when properly sequenced would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your Answer:
1. Relying on narrative structure alone, indigenous significances of nineteenth century San folktales are hard to determine.
2. Using their supernatural potency, benign shamans transcend the levels of the San cosmos in order to deal with social conflict and to protect material resources and enjoy a measure of respect that sets them apart from ordinary people.
3. Selected tales reveal that they deal with a form of spiritual conflict that has social implications and concern conflict between people and living or dead malevolent shamans.
4. Meaning can be elicited, and the tales contextualized, by probing beneath the narrative of verbatim, original-language records and exploring the connotations of highly significant words and phrases.
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: 1432
Detailed Explanation by Wordpandit:
The passage begins by addressing a critical issue, delineated in Statement (1): the challenges associated with comprehending the native significance of nineteenth-century San folktales through the lens of mere narrative structure. The author suggests that this approach is insufficient, emphasizing that one must consider other variables to grasp the true essence of these tales.
Statement (4) elaborates on this point by asserting that an examination should extend beyond the surface-level narrative to achieve a holistic understanding. This is crucial because it provides a methodology for interpreting the tales in a way that resonates more deeply with their cultural origins.
Subsequently, Statements (3) and (2) offer specific examples that demonstrate the outcomes of applying such an enriched analytical approach. Statement (3) shines a light on shamans characterized as malevolent and deceased, presenting one facet of the depth uncovered when we dig deeper into the folklore. Following this, Statement (2) completes the picture by discussing benign shamans, indicating that the complex nature of these characters can only be appreciated through a more nuanced examination.
Therefore, the most coherent sequence for forming a complete and insightful paragraph would be to follow the order of Statements (1)-(4)-(3)-(2). This sequence allows for an introduction to the problem, the methodology for a more in-depth examination, and then concrete examples that result from such an approach.
Word-1: Significances
Context:
"Relying on narrative structure alone, indigenous significances of nineteenth century San folktales are hard to determine." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âSignificancesâ is the plural form of âsignificance,â which refers to the meanings, values, or implications that something holdsâespecially in a cultural, symbolic, or historical context. In the sentence above, it emphasizes that the deeper cultural meanings or traditional importance embedded in San folktales are difficult to interpret if we only analyze their structure and not the cultural context in which they were told. This highlights how meaning is often culturally grounded and not always immediately visible.
Meaning: Important meanings, interpretations, or symbolic values associated with something (Noun - plural)
Pronunciation: sig-NIH-fuh-kuhn-siz
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin âsignificareâ meaning âto signify,â from âsignumâ (sign) and âfacereâ (to make). The plural form emphasizes multiple layers or types of meaning.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Don't confuse âsignificancesâ with just importanceâit refers to specific types of meaning that may be symbolic, cultural, or historical. When analyzing literature or history, always look beyond the obvious to uncover these hidden layers.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: meanings, interpretations, implications, values, connotations
Antonyms: trivialities, insignificances, unimportance, irrelevance
Usage Examples:
- The various significances of the ritual vary from tribe to tribe.
- Her paintings hold multiple cultural significances, reflecting indigenous beliefs.
- The poemâs emotional and historical significances are not immediately clear to modern readers.
- Anthropologists study the spiritual significances behind ancient symbols and ceremonies.
Cultural Reference:
San folktales, part of the oral traditions of indigenous South African communities, contain layers of meaningâspiritual, ecological, and moralâthat hold deep **significances** not always visible through Western narrative frameworks.
Think About It:
How do cultural background and personal experiences influence the significances we attach to stories, symbols, or events?
Quick Activity:
Pick a traditional story or object from your culture. Write down two different significances it might holdâfor you and for someone from another culture.
Memory Tip:
Remember: âsignificancesâ means **many meanings**. Think of it as different âsignalsâ (signs) each carrying a unique value.
Real-World Application:
Understanding the multiple significances of cultural texts, symbols, or traditions is crucial in fields like anthropology, literature, and history, where context and interpretation shape meaning.
Word-2: Transcend
Context:
"Using their supernatural potency, benign shamans transcend the levels of the San cosmos in order to deal with social conflict and to protect material resources and enjoy a measure of respect that sets them apart from ordinary people." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âTranscendâ means to rise above or go beyond the ordinary limits, especially in terms of experience, understanding, or existence. In the given context, shamans are described as using their supernatural powers to surpass the physical and spiritual boundaries of the San worldview. Their ability to operate on higher or deeper levels of reality sets them apart from the everyday experience of ordinary individuals and grants them a special social and spiritual role.
Meaning: To go beyond or rise above limits, especially those of the physical world or ordinary experience (Verb)
Pronunciation: tran-SEND
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin âtranscendereâ â âtransâ (beyond) + âscandereâ (to climb). It literally means âto climb beyond.â
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âTranscendâ is a powerful word. It often appears in spiritual, philosophical, or literary discussions to describe something or someone that breaks boundaries or limitations. It suggests elevationâeither physically, intellectually, or emotionally.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: surpass, exceed, overcome, rise above, outshine
Antonyms: fall short, fail, descend, conform, submit
Usage Examples:
- She aimed to transcend the limitations of her upbringing through education and resilience.
- The artistâs work transcends traditional definitions of sculpture.
- True love, they say, can transcend time and distance.
- Shamans were believed to transcend the human realm and connect with the spirit world.
Cultural Reference:
In many spiritual traditions, including Hinduism and Buddhism, meditation is a tool to help practitioners **transcend** the physical world and reach a higher state of consciousness or enlightenment.
Think About It:
In what ways can individuals transcend their limitationsâbe they personal, societal, or culturalâand what role does imagination or belief play in that process?
Quick Activity:
Write a short sentence describing how someone you admire has transcended a major obstacle or expectation.
Memory Tip:
Think of âtranscendâ as climbing beyond your current âsend-off pointââbreaking through boundaries to something higher or better.
Real-World Application:
âTranscendâ is used in everyday language, self-help literature, spirituality, and philosophy to talk about personal growth, breaking societal norms, or achieving something greater than expected.
Word-3: Implications
Context:
"Selected tales reveal that they deal with a form of spiritual conflict that has social implications and concern conflict between people and living or dead malevolent shamans." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âImplicationsâ refers to the possible effects, consequences, or meanings that are suggested but not always stated directly. In this context, the tales imply that spiritual conflicts are not only religious or metaphysical issues but also have broader social consequencesâaffecting relationships, community structure, and cultural beliefs. Understanding implications involves reading between the lines and interpreting what is suggested beyond the literal message.
Meaning: Possible effects, results, or meanings suggested or inferred from something (Noun â plural)
Pronunciation: im-pli-KAY-shuns
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin âimplicareâ meaning âto entangleâ or âinvolve,â suggesting that something is connected or wrapped up with another idea or outcome.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Implications are what lie beneath the surface of a statement or story. Good readers and thinkers always look for what is implied, not just what is stated. Itâs a critical skill for analysis and interpretation.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: consequences, connotations, outcomes, meanings, suggestions
Antonyms: explicitness, clarity, certainty, statement
Usage Examples:
- The new policy has serious implications for employee privacy.
- The taleâs implications about power and gender are subtle but powerful.
- He didnât say it directly, but the implications were clear to everyone.
- Environmental changes have far-reaching implications for global health.
Cultural Reference:
In literary analysis, scholars often explore the **implications** of a narrativeâwhat themes or assumptions it suggests about society, identity, or power, even if not explicitly stated.
Think About It:
What are the potential implications of telling only one side of a cultural or historical story?
Quick Activity:
Take a quote or statement from a news article or story. Write down two possible implications that aren't directly stated but can be inferred.
Memory Tip:
âImplicationsâ are like shadowsâalways connected to the object (idea), but not always clearly defined. Learn to âread the shadows.â
Real-World Application:
Understanding implications is essential in law, politics, communication, and analysis. It helps anticipate consequences, interpret meaning, and engage critically with complex issues.
Word-4: Contextualized
Context:
"Meaning can be elicited, and the tales contextualized, by probing beneath the narrative of verbatim, original-language records and exploring the connotations of highly significant words and phrases." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âContextualizedâ means placing something within its proper or original context to better understand its meaning. It involves considering the cultural, historical, social, or linguistic background in which something was created. In the sentence provided, the tales are said to be better understood when contextualizedâthat is, when they are examined within the cultural and linguistic environment of the San people, rather than viewed in isolation or only through literal translation.
Meaning: Placed within or analyzed in relation to its broader background or circumstances (Verb â past participle)
Pronunciation: kuhn-TEKS-choo-uh-lyzd
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From âcontextâ (Latin *contextus*, meaning âweaving togetherâ) + the verb-forming suffix â-ualizeâ + â-edâ for past participle.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Understanding something out of context can lead to misunderstanding. Always seek to âcontextualizeâ literary texts, historical events, or even behaviorsâwhat surrounds them often shapes their true meaning.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: situated, framed, interpreted, analyzed, embedded
Antonyms: decontextualized, isolated, misinterpreted, abstracted
Usage Examples:
- Her comments were misunderstood because they were not properly contextualized.
- The professor contextualized the poem within the socio-political climate of the 1800s.
- Historical events must be contextualized to avoid drawing inaccurate conclusions.
- The artwork was better appreciated once it was contextualized within the artistâs personal struggles.
Cultural Reference:
Postcolonial scholars often stress the need to **contextualize** indigenous literature and oral traditions, ensuring they are not distorted by Western frameworks or misreadings.
Think About It:
Why do you think it's dangerous to interpret stories, cultures, or behaviors without proper context?
Quick Activity:
Choose a quote or proverb from another culture. Try to contextualize itâwhat values or history might it reflect?
Memory Tip:
Think of âcontextualizedâ as giving a **text its context**âlike putting a puzzle piece into the right part of the picture to see it clearly.
Real-World Application:
Contextualizing is vital in journalism, education, translation, and intercultural communicationâit ensures that ideas are understood within the framework they were originally intended.
Word-5: Connotations
Context:
"Meaning can be elicited, and the tales contextualized, by probing beneath the narrative of verbatim, original-language records and exploring the connotations of highly significant words and phrases." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âConnotationsâ refer to the ideas, emotions, or associations that a word evokes beyond its literal definition. While a word may have a clear dictionary meaning (its denotation), its connotation depends on cultural, historical, or emotional factors that color how it is understood. In this context, exploring the **connotations** of words in the San folktales helps uncover deeper symbolic or cultural meanings that are not immediately obvious from a literal translation.
Meaning: The associated or suggested meanings and emotions tied to a word, beyond its literal definition (Noun â plural)
Pronunciation: kon-uh-TAY-shunz
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *connotare* meaning âto mark along with,â suggesting something additional implied by a word.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Words are powerful not just for what they say, but for what they suggest. Always ask: what are the emotional, cultural, or historical connotations of a word? Thatâs where deeper understanding livesâespecially in literature.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: undertones, implications, suggestions, nuances, associations
Antonyms: denotations, literal meanings, definitions
Usage Examples:
- The word âhomeâ has warm, emotional connotations of family and comfort.
- âCheapâ and âaffordableâ may refer to the same price, but their connotations are very different.
- Understanding the connotations of words is essential in translation work.
- The folktaleâs language carries spiritual connotations rooted in the San culture.
Cultural Reference:
In postcolonial and literary theory, exploring the **connotations** of colonial language helps reveal how seemingly neutral words carry ideologies or cultural bias beneath their surface.
Think About It:
How can the same word carry positive connotations in one culture and negative ones in another?
Quick Activity:
Pick three common words (e.g., âmother,â âsuccess,â âdarknessâ). Write down their denotation and at least two different connotations for each.
Memory Tip:
Remember: âconnotationâ = âconnection.â Words carry emotional and cultural connections that go beyond the dictionary meaning.
Real-World Application:
In advertising, literature, journalism, and cross-cultural communication, understanding connotations helps you choose the right words and avoid unintended interpretations or offense.
