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Para-jumble Sentences
17. The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 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. The trajectory of cheerfulness through the self is linked to the history of the word âcheerâ which comes from an Old French meaning âfaceâ.
2. Translations of the Bible into vernacular languages, expanded the noun âcheerâ into the more abstract âcheerful-nessâ, something that circulates as an emotional and social quality defining the self and a moral community.
3. When you take on a cheerful expression, no matter what the state of your soul, your cheerfulness moves into the self: the interior of the self is changed by the power of cheer.
4. People in the medieval âCanterbury Talesâ have a âpiteousâ or a âsoberâ cheer; âcheerâ is an expression and a body part, lying at the intersection of emotions and physiognomy.
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: 3142
Explanation by Wordpandit
The collection of sentences under discussion delves into the evolution and nuances of the term "cheerfulness," as well as its impacts on an individual's emotional and mental state. Specifically, Sentence 1 speaks about the "trajectory of cheerfulness through the self," which indicates how the meaning of 'cheerfulness' has evolved over time in relation to self-perception. Sentence 2 adds more historical context, pointing out that as time passed, cheerfulness grew to be understood not merely as a physical facial expression but also as "an emotional and social quality." Meanwhile, Sentence 4 hones in on the role of Bible translations into vernacular languages in expanding the definition of "cheer" beyond a mere physical expression to encompass a broader range of positive emotions, as well as qualities that define the self and a moral community.
Given this breakdown, Sentence 3 seems to offer a general claim that could appropriately serve as an introduction to the points made in Sentences 1, 2, and 4. It makes a broad statement about the concept of cheerfulness and its relationship to the self, setting the stage for the more specific historical and contextual details that follow.
Pairing Sentence 3 with Sentence 1 is logical, as Sentence 3's general claim about the relationship between cheerfulness and self dovetails nicely into Sentence 1's specific point about the "trajectory of cheerfulness through the self."
Following this, Sentence 4 would fit well as it delves into a specific historical milestoneâthe translation of the Bibleâthat further influenced the modern understanding of "cheer" as not just a facial expression, but as a more abstract and internal quality related to positive emotions and moral community.
Finally, Sentence 2 would conclude this sequence effectively by summarizing how, over time, the concept of cheerfulness evolved to be recognized as "an emotional and social quality," thus incorporating both the emotional and the social elements highlighted in the preceding sentences.
Therefore, upon closer analysis, the most coherent and logical sequence of these sentences would be 3, 1, 4, and 2, effectively capturing the essence of how the concept of cheerfulness has evolved through history, and its broader implications on our emotional and social well-being.
Word-1: Trajectory
Context:
"The trajectory of cheerfulness through the self is linked to the history of the word âcheerâ which comes from an Old French meaning âfaceâ."
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "trajectory" is often used to describe the path or course taken by an object through space or over time, but it can also metaphorically illustrate the development or evolution of emotions, ideas, or even life events. In the provided context, "trajectory" is used to trace the movement or transformation of the feeling of cheerfulness through a personâs inner world and historical meaning.
Meaning: The path or progression of something over time or through space (Noun)
Pronunciation: truh-JEK-tuh-ree
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *trajectoria*, from *traicere* meaning "to throw across" (*trans-* meaning "across" + *iacere* meaning "to throw").
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Always think of "trajectory" as more than just a rocketâs path. It can describe someoneâs career growth, a nation's development, or even how your mood shifts over a day. The metaphorical power of this word makes it very useful in both academic and creative writing.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: path, course, route, arc, flight
Antonyms: deviation, detour, divergence
Usage Examples:
- The missile followed a curved trajectory before hitting its target.
- Her career trajectory has been nothing short of inspiring.
- The book explores the emotional trajectory of the main character over a decade.
- The trajectory of the conversation took a surprising philosophical turn.
Cultural Reference:
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." â Often attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. This quote metaphorically speaks about the trajectory of justice across time. - Public Domain
Think About It:
What does the trajectory of your personal growth look like, and what events have influenced its direction?
Quick Activity:
Draw a simple line graph showing your mood over the past week. Label it "My Emotional Trajectory" and write one sentence describing the highs and lows.
Memory Tip:
Think of âtrajectoryâ like a âjetâ flying a specific âtrackâ through the air â a jet-track = trajectory.
Real-World Application:
In business presentations, "trajectory" is commonly used to describe the trend of profits, market growth, or company development over time.
Word-2: Vernacular
Context:
"Translations of the Bible into vernacular languages, expanded the noun âcheerâ into the more abstract âcheerful-nessâ, something that circulates as an emotional and social quality defining the self and a moral community."
Explanatory Paragraph:
âVernacularâ refers to the everyday language spoken by ordinary people in a particular region or country, as opposed to a formal, literary, or classical language. In historical contexts, using the vernacular was a revolutionary step that allowed broader access to texts like the Bible, making them understandable to the masses and influencing cultural, social, and even emotional developments in society.
Meaning: The native language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people of a particular country or region (Noun/Adjective)
Pronunciation: ver-NAK-yuh-lur
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *vernaculus*, meaning ânativeâ or âdomestic,â from *verna*, meaning âa home-born slave.â
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a powerful word that tells us how language connects with identity. When you speak in your vernacular, you are speaking from a place of cultural comfort and belonging. Itâs a great word to describe the link between language and community.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: native language, dialect, everyday speech, common tongue
Antonyms: formal language, literary language, classical language
Usage Examples:
- The preacher delivered his sermon in the vernacular so that everyone could understand.
- She published a collection of poems written in the vernacular of her hometown.
- Using vernacular architecture, the builders relied on traditional techniques and local materials.
- Internet slang is a form of modern vernacular that evolves rapidly.
Cultural Reference:
"Danteâs *Divine Comedy* was one of the first major works written in the Italian vernacular, helping to shape the Italian language as we know it today." - Public Domain
Think About It:
What does your use of vernacular say about where you come from and how you see the world?
Quick Activity:
Write down five words or phrases unique to your local dialect or regionâs vernacular and explain their meanings to someone unfamiliar with them.
Memory Tip:
Think: "Verna = Native." Vernacular is the verbal language that belongs natively to a group.
Real-World Application:
In user experience and content design, using vernacular expressions can make communication feel more authentic and relatable to the target audience.
Word-3: Abstract
Context:
"Translations of the Bible into vernacular languages, expanded the noun âcheerâ into the more abstract âcheerful-nessâ."
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word âabstractâ is used to describe ideas or concepts that are not tangible or concrete. In this context, the transformation of âcheerâ (a visible expression or feeling) into âcheerfulnessâ (a generalized emotional state) marks a shift toward a more abstract understandingâsomething that cannot be directly seen or touched, but is felt or conceptualized. Abstract words often refer to emotions, values, or philosophical ideas.
Meaning: Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence (Adjective)
Pronunciation: AB-strakt
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic-Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *abstractus*, meaning âdrawn away,â from *ab-* (away) + *trahere* (to draw).
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Think of "abstract" as the opposite of something you can point to or touch. Emotions, ideas, and values are often abstract. It's a great word for describing things that live more in the mind than in the world.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: theoretical, conceptual, intangible, metaphysical
Antonyms: concrete, tangible, specific, physical
Usage Examples:
- Love is such an abstract conceptâit means different things to different people.
- The painting was full of abstract shapes and colors that evoked emotion.
- Justice and freedom are abstract ideals that societies strive to achieve.
- Her explanation was too abstract for the students to grasp fully.
Cultural Reference:
"Abstract Expressionism" is a postâWorld War II art movement in American painting, known for emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation. - Public Domain
Think About It:
Can you think of any abstract values that you hold dear but find difficult to explain clearly to others?
Quick Activity:
Write down three abstract nouns (like freedom, courage, or happiness) and then describe each one in a sentence without using the word itself.
Memory Tip:
âAbstractâ is like a painting without clear shapesâit gives you an idea or feeling, not a picture you can touch.
Real-World Application:
Abstract thinking is essential in fields like philosophy, mathematics, and design, where ideas often matter more than physical objects.
Word-4: Circulates
Context:
"Something that circulates as an emotional and social quality defining the self and a moral community."
Explanatory Paragraph:
The verb "circulates" refers to the movement or flow of something through a system, space, or group. While itâs often used in reference to air, blood, or currency, in this context, it describes how an emotion or social valueâsuch as cheerfulnessâspreads through individuals and communities. This movement is less physical and more metaphorical, emphasizing how ideas and feelings are shared, transmitted, and experienced collectively.
Meaning: To move continuously or freely through a system or area (Verb)
Pronunciation: SUR-kyuh-layts
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic-Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *circulare*, meaning âto move around in a circle,â from *circulus* meaning âcircle.â
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âCirculatesâ is a highly versatile verb. It works in scientific, economic, and emotional contexts. A good way to understand it is to picture something going round and roundâbe it air in a room or an idea among people. Use it when describing spread or movement within a system.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: spread, flow, disseminate, rotate, move around
Antonyms: stagnate, stop, remain, halt
Usage Examples:
- Rumors about the incident began to circulate quickly among the students.
- Warm air circulates through the vents to heat the entire house.
- The currency circulates freely within the country, even in rural areas.
- Kindness often circulates within communities, inspiring more good acts.
Cultural Reference:
"Blood circulates through the body much like ideas circulate through a cultureâgiving life to everything they touch." - Original Analogy
Think About It:
What are some values or emotions youâve seen circulate strongly within your family or community?
Quick Activity:
List three things (physical or intangible) that circulate regularly in your life. For each, write a sentence describing how and where it circulates.
Memory Tip:
Imagine a circle (from the root word) where something keeps movingâair, news, or energyâit circulates when it doesnât stop in one place.
Real-World Application:
"Circulates" is widely used in healthcare (blood circulation), business (money circulation), and media (how content or news spreads online).
Word-5: Physiognomy
Context:
"People in the medieval âCanterbury Talesâ have a âpiteousâ or a âsoberâ cheer; âcheerâ is an expression and a body part, lying at the intersection of emotions and physiognomy."
Explanatory Paragraph:
âPhysiognomyâ refers to the facial features and expressions of a person and, historically, the idea that you could interpret someoneâs character or emotions from them. In medieval and early modern societies, people believed that a personâs face revealed deeper truths about their nature. In the context of *The Canterbury Tales*, physiognomy connects to âcheerâ because facial expressions were seen as visible signs of inner emotional states.
Meaning: The practice of assessing a person's character or personality from their facial features or expressions (Noun)
Pronunciation: fiz-ee-OG-nuh-mee
Difficulty Level: ââââ Advanced
Etymology: From Greek *physiognĹmonia*, from *physis* (nature) + *gnĹmĹn* (judge, interpreter)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word links the physical and the emotional. While the science behind physiognomy is outdated and often biased, the word still appears in literature and history to describe how people once âreadâ others by their faces. Itâs excellent for literary analysis.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: facial features, countenance, visage, expression
Antonyms: (None exact; for character judgment, opposites might be: objective analysis, behavior-based interpretation)
Usage Examples:
- In ancient times, people believed that a noble physiognomy indicated a virtuous soul.
- The detective studied the suspectâs physiognomy for clues about his emotions.
- Classical portraiture often aimed to capture both the likeness and physiognomy of its subjects.
- Though discredited as science, physiognomy influenced literature, art, and even criminal profiling.
Cultural Reference:
"In *The Canterbury Tales*, Chaucer provides detailed descriptions of each pilgrimâs physiognomy to hint at their character and role in the story." - Literary Analysis
Think About It:
To what extent do you think our faces reveal our inner emotions or thoughtsâand should we ever judge people based on their appearance?
Quick Activity:
Observe a famous painting or portrait. Write three adjectives you would use to describe the person's physiognomy and speculate (creatively) on their personality traits.
Memory Tip:
Break it down: âphysioâ (body) + âgnomyâ (knowing) â knowing the body (especially the face) to judge character.
Real-World Application:
Though no longer considered a valid science, physiognomy historically influenced art, literature, and even legal profilingâmaking it an important concept in cultural and historical studies.
