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Para-jumble Sentences
Q.22 The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) given 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. What precisely are the âunusual elementsâ that make a particular case so attractive to a certain kind of audience?
2. It might be a particularly savage or unfathomable level of depravity, very often it has something to do with the precise amount of mystery involved.
3. Unsolved, and perhaps unsolvable cases offer something that âordinaryâ murder doesnât.
4. Why are some crimes destined for perpetual re-examination and others locked into permanent obscurity?
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: 4123
Detailed Explanation by Wordpandit
The sentences appear to discuss the factors that make certain crimes or mysteries more captivating and subject to ongoing public fascination. To form a coherent paragraph, it makes sense to start with broad questions, then narrow down to specific elements that contribute to this interest.
- Sentence 4 serves as a strong opening sentence by posing a general question about why some crimes gain enduring public attention while others are forgotten. This sets up the main topic of selective fascination with certain crimes.
- Sentence 1 logically follows, as it continues the inquiry by asking specifically about the "unusual elements" that make certain cases so compelling, deepening the exploration initiated in Sentence 4.
- Sentence 2 answers this question, suggesting that a combination of depravity and mystery often contributes to the fascination.
- Sentence 3 rounds off the paragraph by explaining that unsolved cases, in particular, capture ongoing interest, adding a final layer to the discussion about why certain cases attract perpetual re-examination.
The most coherent sequence for the paragraph is 4-1-2-3.
Word-1: Precisely
Context:
"What precisely are the âunusual elementsâ that make a particular case so attractive to a certain kind of audience" - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "precisely" is used when someone wants to emphasize accuracy or exactness. It sharpens the meaning of a question or statement by showing that the speaker is interested in the most specific or exact details. In the context above, the speaker is not just asking *what* the unusual elements are, but asking *exactly what* they areâno vagueness allowed.
Meaning: Exactly, in a clear and definite manner (Adverb)
Pronunciation: prih-SYS-lee
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Latin *praecisus* meaning âcut off, brief,â via French *prĂ©cis*, evolving into the English "precise," with "precisely" as its adverbial form.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word is often used in both academic and everyday speech when one wants to emphasize specificity. It can be used to correct someone politely or to confirm exactness. It's a great word for clear communication!
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: exactly, accurately, definitely, clearly, explicitly
Antonyms: vaguely, approximately, loosely, imprecisely
Usage Examples:
- "Can you tell me precisely what time the meeting starts?"
- "That is precisely the point I was trying to make."
- "She followed the instructions precisely, and the dish turned out perfect."
- "Precisely because of his honesty, people trusted him deeply."
Cultural Reference:
"It is precisely our failures that make us human." â Paraphrased from J.K. Rowling's Harvard Commencement Address (2008)
Think About It:
Why do we often seek precision in communication, and how can being precise impact trust and clarity in conversations?
Quick Activity:
List 3 instructions (like a recipe or how-to guide) and rewrite them using the word âpreciselyâ to emphasize accuracy.
Memory Tip:
Think of a *precision tool*âlike a ruler or a compassâdesigned to give exact results. "Precisely" is like a verbal rulerâit gives exact meaning.
Real-World Application:
âPreciselyâ is commonly used in scientific writing, legal discussions, and debates to convey clear, unambiguous facts. Itâs also helpful in daily tasks like giving directions or setting expectations.
Word-2: Unfathomable
Context:
"It might be a particularly savage or unfathomable level of depravity, very often it has something to do with the precise amount of mystery involved." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Unfathomable" describes something so deep, mysterious, or complex that it's impossible to fully understand or measure. In the context provided, it refers to an extreme level of wickedness or moral corruption that is hard to comprehendâso dark or shocking that the human mind struggles to grasp its full depth.
Meaning: Impossible to understand or measure; incomprehensible (Adjective)
Pronunciation: un-FATH-uh-muh-buhl
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Old English *fĂŠĂ°m* meaning "embrace, enclosing arms, depth," with the prefix *un-* meaning "not" and suffix *-able*, forming a word that literally means "not able to be fathomed (measured in depth)."
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a powerful adjective to describe things that feel beyond our logical understandingâlike the depths of the ocean, the universe, or extreme human behavior. It's especially useful in essays or narratives with a tone of awe or horror.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: incomprehensible, mysterious, immeasurable, baffling, inscrutable
Antonyms: understandable, clear, comprehensible, measurable
Usage Examples:
- "The universe holds unfathomable secrets yet to be discovered."
- "Her grief was deep and unfathomable after the tragic loss."
- "The hackerâs motivations remained unfathomable to investigators."
- "He stared into the unfathomable depths of the ocean with awe."
Cultural Reference:
"Space: the final frontier... vast and unfathomable." â Inspired by the opening of *Star Trek*
Think About It:
What kinds of experiences or phenomena do you consider truly unfathomable, and why do they seem beyond human understanding?
Quick Activity:
Write a short paragraph about a place (real or imaginary) that feels unfathomable to you. Use the word in your description.
Memory Tip:
Break the word into âun-â (not) + âfathomâ (to understand or measure depth). Think of a submarine trying to measure the bottom of the Mariana Trenchâit's so deep, itâs unfathomable!
Real-World Application:
Use âunfathomableâ when discussing abstract or intense conceptsâlike space, time, evil, or loveâin academic writing, creative stories, or speeches to convey emotional or intellectual depth.
Word-3: Depravity
Context:
"It might be a particularly savage or unfathomable level of depravity, very often it has something to do with the precise amount of mystery involved." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
âDepravityâ refers to moral corruption or wickedness at an extreme level. It implies actions or behaviors that are deeply immoral, cruel, or evil. In the provided context, it describes a level of human behavior so dark and twisted that it defies explanationâenhanced by the mystery surrounding such acts. It's a word often used in discussions of crime, ethics, and literature where the darkest corners of human nature are explored.
Meaning: Moral corruption; wickedness (Noun)
Pronunciation: dih-PRAV-ih-tee
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From the Latin *depravare*, meaning "to corrupt," which comes from *de-* (down) + *pravus* (crooked). It entered English via Late Latin *depravitas*, meaning âperversionâ or âwickedness.â
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a high-impact word commonly used in serious discussionsâbe it philosophical, legal, or psychological. It's best used to describe extreme and deliberate moral failure. Not to be confused with everyday bad behaviorâit refers to deep-seated evil or corruption.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: corruption, wickedness, immorality, perversion, vice
Antonyms: virtue, morality, integrity, goodness, righteousness
Usage Examples:
- "The novel explores the depravity of a society consumed by greed."
- "The dictator's reign was marked by violence, fear, and moral depravity."
- "She was horrified by the depravity described in the crime report."
- "The film depicted the depravity of war in unflinching detail."
Cultural Reference:
"Man's nature, so to speak, is a mixture of light and darkness, virtue and depravity." â A paraphrased idea from Dostoevsky's *Notes from Underground*
Think About It:
What causes moral depravity in individuals or societies, and can it ever be reversed or redeemed?
Quick Activity:
List two historical or fictional characters known for their depravity. Then, write one sentence explaining why they are described that way.
Memory Tip:
Think of "depravity" as "deep ravity"âwhere 'deep' represents the depth of wickedness, and "ravity" hints at a twisted or corrupt core.
Real-World Application:
"Depravity" is often used in journalism, literature, law, and psychology to describe heinous crimes, corrupt leadership, or moral decay. Itâs a strong word that adds emotional weight to serious discussions.
Word-4: Unsolvable
Context:
"Unsolved, and perhaps unsolvable cases offer something that âordinaryâ murder doesnât." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word âunsolvableâ is used to describe problems, mysteries, or cases that cannot be figured out, resolved, or answeredâat least not with the current available information. In the context of crime or murder, an unsolvable case captures the imagination because it defies closure and explanation, leaving open questions that spark endless speculation and curiosity. It's the sense of the unknown that draws people in.
Meaning: Impossible to solve or figure out (Adjective)
Pronunciation: un-SAHL-vuh-buhl
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From the prefix *un-* (not) + *solvable* (capable of being solved), which itself stems from Latin *solvere*, meaning "to loosen or solve."
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word works very well in mystery narratives or analytical writing. It signals complexity and lack of resolution. It can also be used metaphorically to describe emotional or philosophical dilemmas that resist easy answers.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: irresolvable, intractable, unanswerable, impenetrable, baffling
Antonyms: solvable, answerable, explainable, resolvable
Usage Examples:
- "The disappearance of the ship remains an unsolvable mystery."
- "Some philosophical questions may be inherently unsolvable."
- "The case grew colder with each year, drifting into the realm of the unsolvable."
- "He found the math puzzle to be unsolvable without advanced techniques."
Cultural Reference:
"The Zodiac Killer remains one of the most infamous unsolvable cases in American crime history." â Referenced in multiple true crime documentaries and books.
Think About It:
Why are people often more fascinated by unsolvable mysteries than those that have been resolved?
Quick Activity:
Write down two examples of unsolvable problemsâone real (like a mystery) and one abstract (like a philosophical question).
Memory Tip:
Break it down: âUn-â (not) + âsolvableâ (can be solved). Think of a locked puzzle box with no keyâunsolvable!
Real-World Application:
âUnsolvableâ is often used in law, detective fiction, philosophical debates, and even math or tech problems. It adds intrigue and signals complexity that challenges conventional solutions.
Word-5: Perpetual
Context:
"Why are some crimes destined for perpetual re-examination and others locked into permanent obscurity?" - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word âperpetualâ describes something that continues endlessly, often without interruption or change. In the context of crime, âperpetual re-examinationâ implies that certain cases are revisited repeatedly, remaining active in public imagination and scholarly or journalistic inquiry. The word adds a sense of timelessness and inescapability, emphasizing the lasting fascination or unresolved nature of some mysteries.
Meaning: Continuing forever or for a very long time without stopping (Adjective)
Pronunciation: per-PECH-oo-uhl
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Latin *perpetuus* meaning âcontinuous, uninterrupted,â from *per-* (through) + *petere* (to seek, go toward). The word traveled into Middle English via Old French.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
"Perpetual" is a strong word to convey enduring statesâused in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Itâs a great choice for talking about time, habits, cycles, and even emotional states. A useful word for both descriptive writing and abstract discussions.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: everlasting, continuous, unending, eternal, ceaseless
Antonyms: temporary, fleeting, momentary, intermittent
Usage Examples:
- "The machine is in perpetual motion thanks to its clever design."
- "They lived in a state of perpetual fear under the oppressive regime."
- "Her perpetual optimism inspired everyone around her."
- "He was caught in a perpetual cycle of procrastination and regret."
Cultural Reference:
"I am in a perpetual state of grace." â From the movie *The Tree of Life* (2011), reflecting on the nature of spiritual continuity.
Think About It:
What are some ideas, problems, or human behaviors that seem to be in a state of perpetual repetition in society?
Quick Activity:
List 3 things in your life or the world that feel "perpetual" to you. Write a sentence using the word for each.
Memory Tip:
Think of a âperpetual calendarâ that keeps going year after year without needing updatesâjust like âperpetualâ things keep going without end!
Real-World Application:
âPerpetualâ is used in law (perpetual contracts), science (perpetual motion), finance (perpetual bonds), and even casual speech to describe never-ending trends or habits.
