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Misfit Sentence/Odd One Out Question
Q.20 Five jumbled up sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.
1. Boa Senior, who lived through the 2004 tsunami, the Japanese occupation and diseases brought by British settlers, was the last native of the island chain who was fluent in Bo.
2. The indigenous population has been steadily collapsing since the island chain was colonised by British settlers in 1858 and used for most of the following 100 years as a colonial penal colony.
3. Taking its name from a now-extinct tribe, Bo is one of the 10 Great Andamanese languages, which are thought to date back to pre-Neolithic human settlement of south-east Asia.
4. The last speaker of an ancient tribal language has died in the Andaman Islands, breaking a 65,000-year link to one of the world's oldest cultures.
5. Though the language has been closely studied by researchers of linguistic history, Boa Senior spent the last few years of her life unable to converse with anyone in her mother tongue.
Solution with Explanation
Answer: 2
Explanation:
The passage primarily discusses Boa Senior, the last fluent speaker of the Bo language, and the significance of her death in breaking a long-standing cultural link. The sentences focus on her life, the ancient language Bo, and the cultural loss tied to her passing.
- Sentence 1 provides context on Boa Senior's life experiences and her significance as the last fluent speaker of Bo.
- Sentence 3 describes Bo as an ancient language, establishing its historical significance.
- Sentence 4 introduces the main point: the loss of the last speaker and the cultural link it represented.
- Sentence 5 discusses Boa Senior’s later life, noting her isolation due to being the last speaker of her language.
Sentence 2 is the odd one out because it discusses the decline of the indigenous population since British colonization, which, while related historically, does not directly connect to the main narrative about Boa Senior and the extinction of the Bo language.
Word-1: Tsunami
Context:
"Boa Senior, who lived through the 2004 tsunami, the Japanese occupation and diseases brought by British settlers, was the last native of the island chain who was fluent in Bo." - News Report on Endangered Languages
Explanatory Paragraph:
“Tsunami” refers to a large and powerful sea wave caused by the sudden displacement of water, usually due to an undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide. Unlike regular waves, tsunamis can travel across oceans at high speeds and strike coastlines with devastating force, causing massive flooding, destruction, and loss of life. In the given context, Boa Senior survived the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history.
Meaning: A large and destructive sea wave caused by an underwater disturbance (Noun)
Pronunciation: soo-NAH-mee
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Beginner-Intermediate
Etymology: From Japanese *tsu* (harbor) + *nami* (wave), meaning “harbor wave”
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Originally from Japanese, “tsunami” entered global vocabulary through scientific and media reporting, especially after major disasters. It is sometimes incorrectly called a “tidal wave,” though it is unrelated to tides. Be cautious with metaphorical usage unless appropriate for serious impact or emotional gravity.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: tidal wave (informally), seismic sea wave
Antonyms: calm sea, still water (Note: natural opposites rather than linguistic antonyms)
Usage Examples:
- The 2011 tsunami in Japan caused a nuclear crisis and widespread destruction.
- Warning systems are essential to protect coastal areas from unexpected tsunamis.
- A tsunami can travel at the speed of a jet plane across the ocean.
- Survivors of the tsunami recalled the deafening roar of water swallowing everything in its path.
Cultural Reference:
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami claimed over 230,000 lives across multiple countries and led to an international response in disaster management, public awareness, and early-warning systems.
Think About It:
How can communities living in coastal areas better prepare for natural disasters like tsunamis, especially in developing countries?
Quick Activity:
Research a historical tsunami event and list three major effects it had on the affected population, infrastructure, and environment.
Memory Tip:
Think “tsu” = harbor, “nami” = wave — a wave so powerful it crashes into the harbor and beyond, overwhelming everything in its path.
Real-World Application:
Understanding tsunamis is crucial for disaster preparedness, especially in coastal cities. Education, evacuation planning, and early-warning technology can save lives when every second counts.
Word-2: Collapsing
Context:
"The indigenous population has been steadily collapsing since the island chain was colonised by British settlers in 1858 and used for most of the following 100 years as a colonial penal colony." - Historical Report on Indigenous Cultures
Explanatory Paragraph:
“Collapsing” refers to the process of falling down, crumbling, or failing suddenly or gradually. While it can describe physical structures (like a building collapsing), in this context, it’s used metaphorically to describe a population that is drastically shrinking or deteriorating. The sentence highlights how colonization, disease, and displacement contributed to the slow disintegration of the indigenous community over generations, leading to cultural loss and demographic decline.
Meaning: Falling down or deteriorating suddenly or gradually (Verb – present participle)
Pronunciation: kuh-LAP-sing
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Beginner-Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *collapsus*, past participle of *collabi* meaning "to fall together", from *com-* (together) + *labi* (to fall)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
“Collapsing” is often used to describe systems, populations, or structures that fail under pressure or due to long-term weakness. In academic writing, especially in history or sociology, it conveys a serious and often tragic decline, adding emotional weight to the narrative.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: crumbling, deteriorating, failing, falling apart, disintegrating
Antonyms: rising, strengthening, growing, thriving, expanding
Usage Examples:
- The bridge is collapsing due to years of neglect and erosion.
- The local economy began collapsing after the main factory shut down.
- The patient was rushed to the hospital after collapsing at work.
- With its culture under threat, the community feared its identity was collapsing.
Cultural Reference:
In documentaries and academic texts, the phrase “collapsing civilizations” is often used to describe ancient societies like the Mayans or Romans, whose complex systems fell due to internal and external pressures.
Think About It:
What modern social or environmental systems do you think are at risk of collapsing, and what can be done to prevent it?
Quick Activity:
Write a paragraph describing a system (e.g., a government, ecosystem, or tradition) that is in danger of collapsing. Use evidence or hypothetical reasoning to explain why.
Memory Tip:
Picture a tower of blocks tipping over slowly—that’s “collapsing”—a process that can be sudden or gradual, but always ends in a fall.
Real-World Application:
Understanding collapsing trends—in economies, communities, or ecosystems—helps policymakers, activists, and leaders respond before it’s too late.
Word-3: Extinct
Context:
"Taking its name from a now-extinct tribe, Bo is one of the 10 Great Andamanese languages, which are thought to date back to pre-Neolithic human settlement of south-east Asia." - Linguistic Report on Endangered Languages
Explanatory Paragraph:
“Extinct” means no longer in existence. It is most commonly used to describe species, languages, or cultures that have completely disappeared. In this context, it refers to a tribe that once existed but now has no living members, and whose language and cultural identity have vanished. The loss of such groups is often a result of colonization, disease, forced displacement, or cultural assimilation, and it represents a profound erasure of human diversity and heritage.
Meaning: No longer existing or living; having died out completely (Adjective)
Pronunciation: ek-STINGKT
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Beginner-Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *extinctus*, past participle of *extinguere* meaning “to put out” or “quench”
Prashant Sir's Notes:
“Extinct” is a word with emotional and academic weight. It is often used in the context of environmental studies, anthropology, and linguistics. Each time we say a language or species is extinct, we are marking the end of a unique story in the history of our planet. It’s a word that should remind us of the importance of preservation.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: vanished, gone, lost, obliterated, dead
Antonyms: living, surviving, thriving, existing, active
Usage Examples:
- The dodo is one of the most well-known extinct species.
- Many indigenous languages are on the brink of becoming extinct.
- The volcano is now extinct and poses no threat of eruption.
- Efforts are being made to document extinct tribal cultures through oral histories and artifacts.
Cultural Reference:
Films like *Ice Age* and documentaries like *Planet Earth* have popularized the issue of extinction, raising awareness about endangered species and lost ecosystems.
Think About It:
What are the long-term consequences for humanity when a language or culture becomes extinct?
Quick Activity:
List three things—species, traditions, or languages—that are either extinct or at risk of extinction. What factors are contributing to their loss?
Memory Tip:
“Extinct” sounds like “exit”—think of it as something that has exited existence and can no longer be found alive or active.
Real-World Application:
Understanding extinction helps drive conservation efforts, language preservation programs, and cultural documentation, all of which are essential for sustaining human and ecological diversity.
Word-4: Neolithic
Context:
"Taking its name from a now-extinct tribe, Bo is one of the 10 Great Andamanese languages, which are thought to date back to pre-Neolithic human settlement of south-east Asia." - Linguistic Report on Endangered Languages
Explanatory Paragraph:
“Neolithic” refers to the later part of the Stone Age, a period marked by the beginning of farming, the domestication of animals, and the development of tools and pottery. The prefix “neo-” means “new,” and “lithic” relates to stone, so “Neolithic” literally means “New Stone Age.” In the given context, “pre-Neolithic” human settlement refers to an even older time, before these agricultural advancements, when humans still relied heavily on hunting and gathering. It emphasizes the ancient roots of the Great Andamanese languages and the deep cultural history they carry.
Meaning: Relating to the later part of the Stone Age when humans began farming and domesticating animals (Adjective)
Pronunciation: nee-oh-LITH-ik
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate
Etymology: From Greek *neos* (new) + *lithos* (stone) + suffix *-ic* (pertaining to)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
“Neolithic” is a key term in archaeology and anthropology. Understanding it helps you place major human developments—like agriculture, permanent settlements, and early tools—within a historical timeline. It’s especially useful in academic discussions about early human societies.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: New Stone Age (historical term), agricultural era (contextual)
Antonyms: Paleolithic, pre-agricultural, modern (contextual)
Usage Examples:
- Neolithic tools reveal how early humans began farming and living in settlements.
- The archaeological site contains remnants of Neolithic pottery and grain storage.
- Neolithic societies laid the foundation for modern civilization through agriculture and trade.
- Bo language is believed to have roots going back to pre-Neolithic times.
Cultural Reference:
The Neolithic period is often depicted in documentaries like *The Story of Us* or *Civilisations*, which explore how early farming and settlement transformed human life and led to the rise of civilizations.
Think About It:
How did the shift from hunting and gathering to farming during the Neolithic era fundamentally change human society and values?
Quick Activity:
Compare the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. Make a list of three major differences in how humans lived during each era.
Memory Tip:
“Neo” means new and “lithic” means stone—so think “new stone age,” when humans began settling down and farming.
Real-World Application:
Studying the Neolithic period helps us understand the origins of farming, permanent housing, social structures, and many aspects of modern civilization.
Word-5: Converse
Context:
"Though the language has been closely studied by researchers of linguistic history, Boa Senior spent the last few years of her life unable to converse with anyone in her mother tongue." - News Report on Endangered Languages
Explanatory Paragraph:
“Converse” means to engage in spoken communication or to have a conversation. It is typically used in formal or slightly literary contexts to describe the act of talking with someone, especially in a thoughtful or meaningful way. In the sentence, it expresses a profound loneliness—Boa Senior could no longer speak her native language with anyone because no one else alive understood it. The word thus not only captures the action of speaking, but also the human connection lost with the extinction of a language.
Meaning: To talk informally with someone; to engage in a conversation (Verb)
Pronunciation: kuhn-VURS
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Beginner-Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *conversari* meaning “to associate with,” from *com-* (with) + *versare* (to turn)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
“Converse” is a more formal alternative to “talk” or “chat.” It's ideal in academic writing or thoughtful discussions. It also highlights the mutual nature of communication—conversation requires at least two people who understand one another, which makes Boa Senior's situation especially tragic and symbolic.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: talk, communicate, chat, speak, dialogue
Antonyms: remain silent, ignore, be mute, withhold
Usage Examples:
- We sat on the balcony and conversed about everything from politics to poetry.
- She loved to converse with strangers during her travels—it broadened her perspective.
- He was too shy to converse in public, despite knowing the language well.
- Boa Senior could no longer converse with anyone in Bo, making her linguistic knowledge unshareable.
Cultural Reference:
In classic literature, such as Jane Austen’s novels, the ability to converse well was often seen as a sign of intelligence, wit, and good breeding—key to both friendship and courtship.
Think About It:
What does it mean to lose the ability to converse in one’s native language? Can language extinction be considered a form of cultural isolation?
Quick Activity:
Write a short dialogue between two people using the word “converse.” Then rewrite it using “talk” or “chat” and compare the tone.
Memory Tip:
Think of “converse” as two people turning thoughts back and forth—it comes from Latin roots meaning “to turn with.”
Real-World Application:
In language learning, the ability to converse fluently is often the ultimate goal—it reflects not just vocabulary but cultural understanding and social connection.
