đ Whatâs Inside This CAT Misfit Sentence/Odd One Out Question Post?
đ Authentic CAT Misfit Sentence/Odd One Out 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
Misfit Sentence/Odd One Out Question
Question 19: Five jumbled up sentences, related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd one out and key in the number of the sentence as your answer:
1. A typical example is Wikipedia, where the overwhelming majority of contributors are male and so the available content is skewed to reflect their interests.
2. Without diversity of thought and representation, society is left with a distorted picture of future options, which are likely to result in augmenting existing inequalities.
3. Gross gender inequality in the technology sector is problematic, not only for the industry-wide marginalisation of women, but because technology designs embody the values of their makers.
4. While redressing unequal representation in the workplace is a step in the right direction, broader social change is needed to address the structural inequalities embedded within the current organisation of work and employment.
5. If technology merely reflects the perspectives of the male stereotype, then new technologies are unlikely to accommodate the diverse social contexts within which they operate.
Solution with Explanation
Answer: 4
Upon analyzing the sentences, it becomes clear that the core theme of the paragraph revolves around the unequal representation of genders. Sentences 1, 2, 3, and 5 delve into the challenges and consequences of underrepresenting females. In stark contrast, sentence 4 ventures into a broader territory, highlighting "structural inequalities." Introducing this concept without further elaboration can disrupt the flow of the paragraph, which is primarily centered on gender disparities. As such, including sentence 4 might lead to ambiguity since its broader theme of structural inequality diverges from the specific issue of gender inequality discussed in the other sentences. Therefore, it's evident that sentence 4 is incongruous in this context.
Word-1: Contributors
Context:
"A typical example is Wikipedia, where the overwhelming majority of contributors are male and so the available content is skewed to reflect their interests." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âContributorsâ are people who actively provide somethingâusually ideas, content, or resourcesâto a shared project, cause, or platform. In digital platforms like Wikipedia, contributors are the individuals who write and edit articles, helping build collective knowledge. The word implies voluntary or active participation in something bigger than oneself.
Meaning: A person who gives something, especially money, help, or ideas, toward a common cause or effort (Noun)
Pronunciation: kun-TRIB-yoo-turz
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Latin *contributus*, past participle of *contribuere*, meaning "to bring together, add."
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a commonly used academic and editorial term. Itâs important in contexts where teamwork, collaboration, or open-source efforts are emphasized. Think of writers, editors, donors, or coders in community-led initiatives.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: donors, supporters, participants, collaborators
Antonyms: detractors, opponents, nonparticipants, receivers
Usage Examples:
- Thousands of contributors helped raise funds for the relief efforts.
- Wikipedia relies on volunteer contributors to update and maintain its pages.
- The magazine thanked all its contributors in the final issue of the year.
- She was one of the key contributors to the open-source coding project.
Cultural Reference:
"Most successful community platforms thrive on the energy of their contributors." - Paraphrased from community-building articles
Think About It:
In what areas of your life or community could you become a contributor instead of just a consumer?
Quick Activity:
List 3 platforms (online or offline) you engage with. Next to each, write one way you could contribute instead of just using it passively.
Memory Tip:
Break it down: âConâ (together) + âtributeâ (give) = to give togetherâimagine people pouring into a shared bowl.
Real-World Application:
The term âcontributorâ is widely used in publishing, online platforms, and fundraising. Knowing how to use it helps in resumes, collaborative work settings, and when talking about roles in group efforts.
Word-2: Marginalisation
Context:
"Gross gender inequality in the technology sector is problematic, not only for the industry-wide marginalisation of women, but because technology designs embody the values of their makers." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âMarginalisationâ refers to the process through which individuals or groups are pushed to the edge of society, limiting their access to resources, opportunities, or decision-making. It often results in exclusion from power or recognition. In the context of gender, it implies that womenâs contributions, needs, or voices are often neglected or undervalued, especially in male-dominated fields like technology.
Meaning: The act of treating someone or something as insignificant or peripheral (Noun)
Pronunciation: mar-jin-uh-lie-ZAY-shun
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: Derived from the word âmarginâ (from Latin *margo*, meaning "edge") + â-alisation,â implying the process of pushing to the edge.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word is powerful in social, political, and cultural discussions. It indicates systemic neglect and exclusionâespecially in terms of gender, caste, class, or race. Understand it not just as a word, but a pattern in the real world that must be noticed and challenged.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: exclusion, sidelining, neglect, alienation
Antonyms: inclusion, empowerment, integration, recognition
Usage Examples:
- The marginalisation of indigenous communities is a serious human rights concern.
- Women have historically faced marginalisation in leadership roles.
- Efforts are being made to reduce the marginalisation of disabled individuals in public life.
- Marginalisation often begins with lack of representation in education and media.
Cultural Reference:
"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." â Steve Biko, reflecting on the effects of marginalisation.
Think About It:
Can you identify areas in your school, workplace, or society where marginalisation is still prevalent? What can be done to change that?
Quick Activity:
Write a short paragraph describing a real-world example of marginalisation and how it affected the individual or group involved.
Memory Tip:
Think of âmarginâ in a notebookâthose who are "marginalised" are pushed to the side, outside the main body of attention or action.
Real-World Application:
This word is often used in social justice conversations, policy discussions, and education. Understanding it helps in critically evaluating inequality and striving for a more inclusive world.
Word-3: Embody
Context:
"Gross gender inequality in the technology sector is problematic, not only for the industry-wide marginalisation of women, but because technology designs embody the values of their makers." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
To âembodyâ something means to represent or express it in a visible or tangible form. When we say that technology designs embody the values of their creators, it means those designs reflect the beliefs, priorities, and intentions of the people who created them. The word highlights how abstract ideas or values can take shape in physical, visible ways.
Meaning: To represent or express an idea, quality, or concept in a visible or tangible form (Verb)
Pronunciation: em-BO-dee
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Middle English *embodien*, from âem-â (put into) + âbodyââmeaning to give a body to something abstract.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a word youâll often find in philosophical, cultural, and political discussions. Itâs especially useful in describing how ideas or values take form in art, institutions, leadership, or products. Practice using it to deepen your expression in writing.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: represent, personify, express, manifest
Antonyms: obscure, conceal, disembody
Usage Examples:
- She embodies kindness and patience in everything she does.
- The monument embodies the spirit of freedom and resistance.
- His actions embody the values he preaches.
- The character in the novel embodies the author's views on society.
Cultural Reference:
"Gandhiâs life embodied non-violence and civil resistance, making him a symbol of peaceful struggle across the world." - Historical Commentary
Think About It:
If your work or words could embody just one value, what would you want it to beâand why?
Quick Activity:
Pick any three objects around you (e.g., phone, book, chair) and describe what value or idea they might embody in design or use.
Memory Tip:
Think of âem-bodyâ as âto put into a bodyââimagine giving a shape or body to something invisible, like an idea or feeling.
Real-World Application:
Used in writing, leadership, art, and design discussions, this word helps articulate how abstract qualities show up in real-world actions or creations. Itâs a favorite in TED Talks, academic essays, and branding language.
Word-4: Stereotype
Context:
"If technology merely reflects the perspectives of the male stereotype, then new technologies are unlikely to accommodate the diverse social contexts within which they operate." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
A âstereotypeâ is a fixed, oversimplified, and often inaccurate belief or idea about a particular group of people. These generalizations can relate to gender, race, profession, nationality, and more. In the sentence above, âmale stereotypeâ refers to a narrow view of what men are likeâpossibly assertive, tech-savvy, dominant, etc.âwhich limits the inclusivity of technology if it only serves those characteristics.
Meaning: An oversimplified and widely held but fixed and generalized idea or image of a particular type of person or thing (Noun)
Pronunciation: STEH-ree-oh-type
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From French *stĂ©rĂ©otype*, based on Greek *stereos* meaning âsolidâ and *typos* meaning âimpression.â Originally a printing term.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a critical term in sociology and media studies. Stereotypes often create harmful narratives and blind spots in how we treat individuals. Always try to unpack a stereotypeâask whether it's based on facts or assumptions.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: cliché, generalization, label, assumption
Antonyms: individuality, nuance, complexity, uniqueness
Usage Examples:
- It's a stereotype that all engineers are introverted or socially awkward.
- The movie was criticized for reinforcing gender stereotypes.
- She broke the stereotype of women being weak in math and science.
- Challenging stereotypes leads to more inclusive communities.
Cultural Reference:
"The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete." â Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in *The Danger of a Single Story*
Think About It:
Whatâs one stereotype you've encountered about your identity, and how have you challenged or conformed to it?
Quick Activity:
Write down three stereotypes youâve heard (related to any group). Then, for each, write one real-life example that contradicts it.
Memory Tip:
Think of a âstereoâ playing the same sound over and overâsimilarly, a stereotype repeats the same image or belief about a group, regardless of individual differences.
Real-World Application:
Understanding and identifying stereotypes is crucial in education, media, hiring, design, and policymaking. Breaking free of them leads to more equitable systems and richer human interactions.
Word-5: Accommodate
Context:
"If technology merely reflects the perspectives of the male stereotype, then new technologies are unlikely to accommodate the diverse social contexts within which they operate." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
To âaccommodateâ means to adjust, adapt, or make space for something or someone. In the given context, it refers to technology being designed in a way that includes or supports the needs of different groups. If something accommodates diversity, it considers and integrates varied backgrounds, preferences, and requirements rather than serving a narrow group.
Meaning: To adapt to or provide what is needed by someone or something (Verb)
Pronunciation: uh-KOM-uh-dayt
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Latin *accommodatus*, past participle of *accommodare*, meaning "to make fit or suitable."
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a common academic and practical wordâespecially in education, urban planning, social design, and product development. It's essential when talking about inclusivity, diversity, and flexibility. Always ask: Does a system accommodate different people and realities?
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: adjust, adapt, fit, support, make room for
Antonyms: reject, exclude, hinder, block
Usage Examples:
- The new ramp was built to accommodate people using wheelchairs.
- Our policies need to accommodate employees with different cultural and religious practices.
- Modern education must accommodate various learning styles and needs.
- The flexible seating plan accommodates both individual and group work.
Cultural Reference:
"Inclusive design means products that accommodate the widest possible range of users, regardless of ability." â Inclusive Design Institute
Think About It:
What systems or spaces in your life could be improved by better accommodating diverse needs?
Quick Activity:
Look at a website or app you use often. Make a quick list of ways it does or doesnât accommodate users with different needs (e.g., accessibility, language, layout).
Memory Tip:
Think of âa roomâ making spaceââaccommodateâ literally means âmake room for.â Itâs about welcoming or adjusting for something new.
Real-World Application:
This verb is widely used in business, education, architecture, and policy. Whether you're creating a product or a lesson plan, being able to âaccommodateâ makes your efforts more effective and inclusive.
