Odd Sentence Out Concepts

 Odd Sentence Out

Three questions from this topic!! Can we ignore it? Never!

Odd sentences out can also be called as ‘Sentence exclusion’ or identifying the ‘Misfit Sentences’

The CAT examination has recently shifted to the new pattern. Instead of choosing the odd words they ask to choose the whole sentence that is a misfit in the group of jumbled paragraph.

How Questions are created?

A ‘misfit or odd’ sentence is added to the paragraph, which is already jumbled. 

Out of the 5 given sentences, any 4 are going to form a coherent paragraph. 

The odd one needs to be ‘taken out’. 

This creates an extra difficulty as the test taker not only needs to find the misfit sentence but also unscramble the remainder of the para in order to reach the correct answer.

Let's create a question by ourselves to understand exactly what the examiner does:

For example, look at the following sentences which are written in correct sequence:

1. The voucher is valid for one month only.

2. It is valid only on a purchase of a single product of Rs600 and more than.

3. A customer should handover the voucher to the cashier before billing for the product.

4. Employees and their immediate family members are not allowed to redeem these vouchers.

Now see, I am shuffling these sentences and adding a different line to it:

1. Customer should handover the voucher to the cashier before billing for the product.

2. Employees and their immediate family members are not allowed to redeem these vouchers.

3. The best sales personnel will be awarded with a gift voucher of Rs10000 in the Mega sale.

4. It is valid only on a purchase of a single product of Rs600 and more than.

5. The voucher is valid for one month only.

What's Odd - 3rd point

Para Summary Concepts

I hope you've read plenty of reading material. I also hope you know how to figure out the main point in a passage.

Now, let's talk about "para summary." It's a question that asks you to sum up a paragraph and choose the best summary from the options. Here's the catch: sometimes the choices don't cover the entire paragraph. They might just focus on the main point. So, it's crucial to pay extra attention to find that main point. Stay vigilant!

How to solve it?

•  Find out the main idea of the paragraph

• A good summary will maintain and follow up the same flow of ideas the way it is present in the passage

• You need to find the answer through logical elimination

• The primary approach to solving will be LOGIC!

• Note that in a summary repeating ideas, examples, elaboration, and supporting ideas can be ignored.

• If in the options given, you find a new example that was not present in the passage, but the entire sentence is correctly representing the passage and no other option is perfect than this one, choose this option.

• I repeat we don't focus much on examples in a para summary question. The paragraph or the options may include New examples or they may do away with existing examples. Doesn't matter.

Para Completion Concepts

 So hopefully you have gone through many RCs by now. I expect that you understand the concept of Inference well. (If not, then please refer to Reader Centric Questions in Types of RC Questions in the book for better understanding)

The question provides you with a Paragraph and options. It basically asks you to complete it. This means you need to predict the last line from the given options. Just like a soothsayer! Haha. Don't worry. It's just the concept of Inference that you need to apply.

There are two types of para-completion questions:

• Based on the entire summary of the passage. - Just the way Para Summary is found

• Based on the entire inference from the passage - Just the way Inference is found

Important Rules to Para Completion:

• we are not allowed to add any new information in the last line.

• The last line should not question any point mentioned in the fact.

• The last line should only be diplomatically inferred from the passage.

• We can either extend the given last line or conclude the entire passage like a summary in the last line.

• I repeat we are not allowed to Mark any option that will unfold a new domain of discussion in the passage.

How to Solve?

• Be Diplomatic. Saying things from a passage by twisting the language. It's valid.

• Inferring something from the passage idea. Valid para Completion.

Practical Rules to handle Parajumbles

 I have my own cool way to help you all with this topic. No more fear from now on. Know the rules and it's a cakewalk! 

First Rule First: Apply Logic to arrange

• Pick a big sentence that contains many details. It is not so necessary to start from 1st point, you can start from any point.

• Look for connecting ideas and sentences.

• Look for Grammatical Connection

• Look for Structures

• Whatever connection you get, note it down. 

• Make pairs.

• Arrange, de-arrange, and rearrange unless you get the perfect logic out of it.

• Don't worry about the first sentence or last sentence finding, you will automatically get it while arranging.

Grammatical Rules:

• Noun-Pronoun logic: A statement containing a noun will appear before the secondary.

• The full form, Short form: A statement containing a full form of something is placed before the statement having its short form.

• Definition/Introduction, then details

• The idea first, then supporting details and examples

• Pointer words- Pronouns, conjunction, determiners

• Examples and other follow-ups points

• Connecting words such as ‘hence’, ‘therefore’, ‘thus’ etc.

• Continuation of an idea.

• Keywords and connectors words

Structure Rules:

• General to Specific - Imagine the symbol of WIFI. A broader arc containing smaller arches within it. Generic Specific is an analogy. A general statement can be used in many ways as it is broad. A specific statement will narrow down the scope of that general statement to one particular topic. So identify them and always keep the broader/general statement prior to the specific narrow statement. 

• Cause Effect - a statement describing the cause of some event will be placed prior to the statement showing its effect.

• Problem Solution

• Parallel Sentences or Burger: Imagine your favorite burger. Two tasty buns with a delicious filling sandwiched inside. Yummy! In Para jumbles, if you get to see two sentences talking almost the same thing, never keep them together as a pair. Because they are like burger buns. There will definitely be at least a sentence that should come between the two same sentences. If you don't follow, you make the burger a pizza, well that's wrong then. :p

• Time and Event Sequence: 

• Always look for keywords Before, After, During, Lastly etc These are solid clues to arrange in sequence. Moreover past, then present, then future is the sequence to arrange.

• However, there are 3 Exceptions, where Present, Past then Future is the new logical sequence

1. Academics or Background information: If the paragraph looks theoretical, historical, or a piece of academic learning like science definition, sociology, or any subject, arrange the Present tense first, then Past, then Future.

2. News Report: Observe the language in newspapers and media. They will report yesterday's news in the present tense. Example- Fire breaks out in a chemical factory. (Although this happened yesterday, and technically they should say that it broke out, but they actually say- breaks out!) So if you recognize a news report. Consider the tense arranged in Present, then Past, and lastly Future.

3. Personal Experience Narration - When a person talks he will always talk about the present situation first, then he goes to the past, and later the future. I do. So do you.  Example- You meet your friend after a long time. Now your conversation would be somewhat like this - "What's up bro? Where are you these days? Remember we used to enjoy ourselves a lot during our school days. Those were the days. So what are your future plans now?" Observe the same pattern in Parajumbles and arrange again in Present, Past, then Future.

Now apply logic and these above tricks. Solve as many questions as possible. Para jumbles will become fun!

Introduction to Reading Comprehension Concepts

Reading Comprehension aka RC. A passage containing complete details.. Introduction to conclusion is highly important for CAT and OMETs (Other Management Entrance Tests like XAT, MAT, SNAP, IIFT, CMAT, NMAT etc). Questions are asked from the RC. Simple..

You need to develop the ability to process text, understand its meaning, and to integrate it with what you already know from the RC. 

 Some Fundamental skills required to Master RC -

• To find the purpose of the passage

• Ability to understand the meaning of the context as a whole

• To identify the structure of RC  

• Ability to draw inferences from a passage about its contents

• Ability to identify the Main Idea of a passage

• Ability to answer fact-based questions from the RC

• Ability to recognize the literary devices or propositional structures used in a passage 

• To understand the tone and mood of the author

• To determine the writer's purpose, intent, and point of view, 

• To draw out inferences about the writer

Let me tell you, VARC is not a cakewalk, it is profound. If you miss a slight concept, you will mark the wrong option. The most dangerous fact is that you won't even realize what you got wrong and why, if not prepared carefully.

7 Essential Tips to Help You Ace CAT 2023

Are you planning to take the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2023? If so, you have come to the right place. The CAT is one of the most prestigious entrance exams in India. It is conducted to select students for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other business schools.

To be successful in the CAT 2023, you need to plan and prepare carefully. Here are some tips to help you prepare for CAT 2023.

1. Understand the CAT 2023 Syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) are the three sections of the CAT exam. You must go through the syllabus of all the three sections carefully and identify the topics that you need to focus on. This will help you create a study plan that is tailored to your needs. 2. Make a Study Plan: Once you have identified the topics that you need to focus on, make a study plan. This plan should include the topics that you will cover each day and the amount of time you will dedicate to each topic. Make sure that you stick to your plan and don’t get distracted. 3. Learn Time Management: Time management is an important skill for the CAT exam. You should practice solving questions within the given time frame. This will help you complete the exam within the allotted time.

4. Practice Mock Tests: Mock tests are a great way to prepare for the CAT exam. These tests are designed to give you an idea of what the actual exam will be like. They also help you identify your weak areas and work on them. 5. Analyse your Performance: Once you have taken a mock test, analyse your performance. Identify the areas where you need to improve and focus on them. This will help you perform better in the actual exam. 6. Practice Previous Years’ Papers: Practicing previous years’ papers is a great way to prepare for the CAT exam. This will give you an idea of the type of questions that are asked in the exam.

7. Take Regular Breaks: The CAT exam is a long and tiring process. Therefore, it is important to take regular breaks to recharge your batteries. This will help you stay focused and perform better in the exam. These are some of the tips that you can use to prepare for the CAT 2023. With the right preparation, you can crack the exam and get admission to the top business schools in India. All the best!