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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. Urbanites also have more and better options for getting around: Uber is ubiquitous; easy-to-rent dockless bicycles are spreading; battery-powered scooters will be next.
2. When more people use buses or trains the service usually improves because public-transport agencies run more buses and trains.
3. Worsening services on public transport, terrorist attacks in some urban metros and a rise in fares have been blamed for this trend.
4. It seems more likely that public transport is being squeezed structurally as peopleâs need to travel is diminishing as a result of smartphones, videoconferencing, online shopping and so on.
5. There has been a puzzling decline in the use of urban public transport in many countries in the west, despite the growth in urban populations and rising employment.
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation by Wordpandit:
The paragraph is centered on the decline in public transport usage in Western urban areas, despite factors that would logically suggest growthâsuch as increasing urban populations and employment. The paragraph explores multiple explanations for this decline, including service quality issues, safety concerns, fare hikes, and technological changes that reduce the need for commuting. It also touches on the rise of alternative transport options like Uber and e-scooters.
The odd sentence is one that shifts away from this theme of decline and introduces a different, even contradictory, pointânamely, that increased usage leads to better service, which implies a positive feedback loop, rather than a decline.
Option-wise Analysis:
- Option 1: Supports the main idea. Describes alternative modes of transport that are gaining popularity in urban areasâUber, bicycles, scootersâwhich compete with and reduce reliance on public transport.
- Option 2: Odd one out. Talks about how increased use of public transport improves the serviceâa concept that contradicts the main theme of declining usage. It suggests a positive trend, whereas the rest of the paragraph explores why usage is falling. This makes it inconsistent with the other sentences.
- Option 3: Explains causes of the decline. Mentions worsening services, terrorist threats, and fare increases as factors discouraging use of public transport.
- Option 4: Adds a deeper structural cause. Highlights how digital technologies like online shopping, videoconferencing, and smartphone access have reduced the need for physical travel, contributing to the decline.
- Option 5: Introduces the main idea. Presents the paradoxical observation: despite more people living and working in cities, public transport usage is fallingâsetting the stage for the reasons explored in the other sentences.
Conclusion:
The paragraph forms a coherent structure with Sentences 5 â 3 â 4 â 1, each building on the idea of why public transport usage is declining.
Option 2 diverges by presenting an unrelated or contradictory idea, making it the logical outlier.
Word-1: Urbanites
Context:
"Urbanites also have more and better options for getting around: Uber is ubiquitous; easy-to-rent dockless..." - Urban Mobility Commentary
Explanatory Paragraph:
âUrbanitesâ refers to people who live in urban areasâcities or large towns. The term often highlights the lifestyle, challenges, and conveniences associated with city living. In the given context, it emphasizes how city dwellers benefit from modern transportation solutions like Uber and shared mobility services. Urbanites typically have more access to technology, public services, and infrastructure than people in rural areas, but also face issues like congestion, high living costs, and pollution.
Meaning: People who live in a city or urban environment (Noun â plural)
Pronunciation: UR-bun-ites
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Latin *urbanus* (of the city) + English suffix *-ite* (denoting people associated with a place)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Useful word when comparing city vs. rural lifestyles or discussing modern trends like transportation, housing, and digital access. Often used in journalism, sociology, and urban studies. Watch how itâs used to describe both convenience and complexity in urban life.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: city dwellers, metropolitan residents, townfolk
Antonyms: rural residents, villagers, country folk
Usage Examples:
- Urbanites enjoy access to fast internet, public transit, and diverse food options.
- The rising cost of rent has become a major issue for urbanites in big cities.
- Urbanites are often more exposed to cultural events and global trends.
- The needs of rural farmers differ significantly from those of urbanites.
Cultural Reference:
Urbanites are central figures in modern media and pop cultureâfeatured in shows like *Friends*, *Sex and the City*, or *Master of None*âwhich explore the joys and stresses of living in cities like New York or London.
Think About It:
How does being an urbanite shape oneâs access to education, healthcare, and opportunity compared to living in a rural area?
Quick Activity:
List three characteristics of urban life that define what it means to be an âurbanite.â Then, contrast them with rural living.
Memory Tip:
âUrbaniteâ = Urban + -ite â a person tied to the city. Think of skyscrapers and subways when you hear this word.
Real-World Application:
This word is common in urban planning, marketing, media studies, and policy reports. Understanding the needs of urbanites is key to shaping smart cities, transportation networks, and inclusive city governance.
Word-2: Agencies
Context:
"When more people use buses or trains the service usually improves because public-transport agencies run more buses and trains." - Urban Transit Planning Text
Explanatory Paragraph:
âAgenciesâ refers to official organizations or government departments that are responsible for managing specific services or functions. In this context, public-transport agencies are the authorities that operate and oversee services like buses, trains, subways, and trams. These agencies collect data, plan routes, maintain schedules, and make decisions about how often and where transportation is providedâoften in response to demand and policy goals.
Meaning: Organizations, often governmental, that provide specific services or enforce regulations (Noun â plural)
Pronunciation: AY-jun-seez
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Latin *agentia* (doing, acting), from *agere* (âto actâ or âto doâ)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Think of âagencyâ as an official body that takes action or provides services. This is a frequent word in administrative, legal, and political contexts. âAgenciesâ are not just passive officesâthey implement decisions and affect daily life, especially in sectors like transportation, housing, and law enforcement.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: departments, authorities, bureaus, organizations, institutions
Antonyms: individuals, freelancers, private entities (in contrast to public agencies)
Usage Examples:
- Government agencies regulate air quality standards across the country.
- Transport agencies increased metro frequency during peak hours.
- Many public health agencies collaborated to contain the outbreak.
- Funding for housing development often flows through local agencies.
Cultural Reference:
Well-known agencies like NASA, the FBI, and the EPA in the U.S. play pivotal roles in shaping policy and action in space exploration, law enforcement, and environmental protection, respectively.
Think About It:
How much power should public agencies have in shaping everyday services like transportation or housing? What ensures they act in the publicâs best interest?
Quick Activity:
List three public agencies in your city or country and the services they provide. Then note one way they could improve their work.
Memory Tip:
âAgenciesâ = *Agents of action*. Think of them as official teams that make things happen in societyâlike transport or environment departments.
Real-World Application:
Agencies are vital in government and public service systems. From planning cities and managing schools to ensuring food safety, agencies directly affect how societies function efficiently and fairly.
Word-3: Structurally
Context:
"It seems more likely that public transport is being squeezed structurally as peopleâs need to travel is diminishing as a result of smartphones, videoconferencing, online shopping and so on." - Urban Mobility Analysis
Explanatory Paragraph:
âStructurallyâ is an adverb that refers to the way something is built, organized, or arranged. In this context, it means that the pressure on public transport isnât just due to temporary factors but is embedded in deeper, long-term changes in the way society functions. For instance, as technology reduces the need for physical travel, the very structure or foundation of how public transport is used is shifting. So, âstructurallyâ suggests a systemic or foundational impact, not just a surface-level or short-term change.
Meaning: In a way that relates to the structure or organization of something (Adverb)
Pronunciation: STRUHK-chur-uh-lee
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *structura* (âa fitting together, buildingâ) + English suffix *-ally* (adverb-forming)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is an analytical wordâgreat for essays, policy papers, and critical thinking. Use âstructurallyâ when you want to talk about the root-level setup of a system, not just its current surface issues. Itâs especially relevant in economics, sociology, and urban planning.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: systematically, fundamentally, organizationally, foundationally
Antonyms: superficially, temporarily, incidentally, casually
Usage Examples:
- The companyâs problems are structurally embedded in its outdated business model.
- Structurally, the economy is shifting from manufacturing to digital services.
- Public transport systems are being affected structurally by long-term changes in travel behavior.
- The house appeared fine cosmetically, but was weak structurally after the earthquake.
Cultural Reference:
In economic theory, structural unemployment refers to job loss caused by shifts in the structure of the economyâsuch as automation or globalizationâhighlighting how the term âstructurallyâ signals deeper, lasting forces at play.
Think About It:
Whatâs one area of life (education, work, environment) that is changing structurally due to digital technologies? How should we respond to it?
Quick Activity:
Choose a common challenge (e.g., housing affordability). Write one sentence describing how it is structurally causedânot just a surface issue.
Memory Tip:
âStructurallyâ = think of the *skeleton* of a systemâhow it's built and organized underneath what we can see.
Real-World Application:
Used in policy, engineering, economics, and sociology, âstructurallyâ helps diagnose root problems in systems. Itâs a valuable word for analysts, planners, and critical thinkers seeking deep, sustainable solutions.
Word-4: Diminishing
Context:
"It seems more likely that public transport is being squeezed structurally as peopleâs need to travel is diminishing as a result of smartphones, videoconferencing, online shopping and so on." - Urban Mobility Analysis
Explanatory Paragraph:
âDiminishingâ refers to something becoming smaller, fewer, or less in importance, amount, or strength over time. In the context provided, it suggests that the demand or necessity for travel is decreasing as people adopt digital alternatives like video calls and online shopping. The word captures a gradual reduction, often driven by changes in behavior, technology, or circumstances.
Meaning: Becoming smaller or less; reducing in degree or importance (Verb â present participle of *diminish*)
Pronunciation: dih-MIN-ish-ing
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: From Latin *deminuere*, meaning âto lessen,â from *de-* (âdownâ) + *minuere* (âmake smallerâ)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a highly useful verb to describe decline or reductionâused in economics, environment, social sciences, and everyday contexts. It doesnât suggest a total disappearance, but a noticeable decrease. Be mindful of its toneâit can signal concern or merely observation depending on usage.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: decreasing, lessening, declining, reducing, waning
Antonyms: increasing, growing, expanding, intensifying
Usage Examples:
- Public interest in print newspapers is steadily diminishing.
- His influence over the team is diminishing due to recent failures.
- The importance of physical office space is diminishing in the remote work era.
- The need for daily commuting is diminishing with the rise of digital tools.
Cultural Reference:
In climate change discourse, scientists often warn about diminishing ice caps and biodiversity, highlighting the gradual and potentially irreversible loss of natural resources.
Think About It:
What are some benefits and drawbacks of a world where human activityâlike travel or consumptionâis diminishing in physical space but expanding digitally?
Quick Activity:
List two habits or practices in your life that are diminishing due to technology. Why are they fading, and what is replacing them?
Memory Tip:
âDiminishingâ sounds like âdimmingâ â Picture a light slowly fading. Thatâs what it meansâto slowly reduce or weaken.
Real-World Application:
âDiminishingâ is used in many fieldsâfrom economics (diminishing returns) to psychology (diminishing motivation), and even in casual speech to describe fading trends or declining habits.
Word-5: Videoconferencing
Context:
"It seems more likely that public transport is being squeezed structurally as peopleâs need to travel is diminishing as a result of smartphones, videoconferencing, online shopping and so on." - Urban Mobility Analysis
Explanatory Paragraph:
âVideoconferencingâ refers to real-time communication between people in different locations using video and audio technology. It allows participants to see and hear each other through internet-connected devices, eliminating the need for physical meetings. In the given context, videoconferencing is highlighted as a major factor reducing the need for travelâespecially for business purposesâby enabling remote collaboration and virtual meetings from anywhere in the world.
Meaning: The conduct of a meeting or discussion between participants in different locations using video and audio transmission (Noun)
Pronunciation: VEE-dee-oh-kon-fur-en-sing
Difficulty Level: ââ Beginner
Etymology: Blend of âvideoâ (Latin *videre*, âto seeâ) and âconferenceâ (Latin *conferre*, âto bring togetherâ)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âVideoconferencingâ has become an essential term post-2020, especially during the pandemic when remote work and online classes became the norm. Platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams turned this into a daily reality. This is a powerful word to describe digital transformation in work and education.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: video meetings, virtual conferencing, online meetings, remote sessions
Antonyms: in-person meetings, face-to-face meetings, physical gatherings
Usage Examples:
- Many companies now rely on videoconferencing for client interactions and internal communication.
- Videoconferencing has made global collaboration easier and more cost-effective.
- Students attended lectures via videoconferencing platforms during the lockdown.
- With videoconferencing, travel budgets have been significantly reduced.
Cultural Reference:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, platforms like Zoom saw a massive surge in users, making âZoom meetingsâ a household term and changing workplace norms across the globe.
Think About It:
Has videoconferencing made communication more efficient, or are there aspects of face-to-face interaction that it fails to replicate?
Quick Activity:
Make a list of two advantages and two disadvantages of videoconferencing in education or work settings.
Memory Tip:
Break the word down: *video* (you see) + *conference* (you meet) â Seeing while meeting remotely = videoconferencing.
Real-World Application:
Used widely in business, education, healthcare (telemedicine), and even family life, videoconferencing is now integral to remote communication. It saves time, reduces travel, and enables access to global networks.
