CDS English · Sentence Rearrangement
How an argument moves: general to example, reason, answer, correction
An argument has a shape: a general claim before its example, a cause before its effect, a question before its answer, and a common view before the writer's correction.
Why this matters
Essay and textbook passages often carry few pronouns or dates, so the order comes from the shape of the argument itself. Knowing the usual shapes lets you place a sentence by its job: is it a claim, an example, a reason, a result, a question, or a correction?
Concept 1 of 3: General statement first, example after
Writers state an idea, then show it with a case. 'Many plants have uses in daily life. For instance, neem twigs are used to clean teeth.' The general sentence sets up the example, so it comes first.
Definition
The terms:
- General statement: a claim about many things or about a whole group.
- Example: one case, often with a name, a number or 'for example', 'for instance', 'such as', 'suppose'.
The method:
- Label each middle sentence: general or example.
- Put each example after the general statement it illustrates.
- Keep the example's follow-up sentences ('it', 'he', 'that') next to it.
- If two sentences both sound general, the broader one comes first and the narrower one leads into the example.
Worked example
S1: Many animals change their behaviour with the seasons.
P: For example, the Arctic tern flies from the far north to the far south and back every year.
Q: Some travel thousands of kilometres to find food and a safe place to breed.
R: That is a round trip of about seventy thousand kilometres.
S: Others, such as bears, sleep through the coldest months.
S6: Both habits help them survive when food is scarce.
(a) QPRS (b) PQRS (c) QSPR (d) SPRQ
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2020 · CDS (II) 2020 — English · Q44Hard
Example 1 · Sentence Rearrangement · Shape of a Paragraph Argument
Directions: order jumbled P/Q/R/S sentences between S1 and S6
S1: Hormones have several functions in the body.
S6: The two hormones together regulate the glucose level in the blood.
P: They help to maintain the balance of biological activities in the body.
Q: Insulin is released in response to the rapid rise in blood glucose level.
R: On the other hand hormone glucagon tends to increase the glucose level in the blood.
S: The role of insulin in keeping the blood glucose level within the narrow limit is an example of this function.
An example with no marker
Many examples carry no 'for example'. A sentence that names one person, place or number right after a general claim is usually its example.
Breaking off the example
A sentence that continues the example ('it', 'that', 'his') must stay next to it. Do not return to the general idea until the example is finished.
Two general sentences
When two sentences both sound general, the broader one comes first. The narrower one usually introduces the example, so it sits just before the case.
Concept 2 of 3: Cause before effect, question before answer
Some passages are chains: this happened, so that happened, so a third thing happened. Others ask a question and then answer it. In both, one sentence depends on another: an effect needs its cause first, and an answer needs its question first.
Definition
The terms:
- Cause and effect: one event that leads to another. Markers: so, as a result, this led to, which caused.
- Explanation: a sentence that gives the reason for a fact already stated. Markers: this is because, the reason is, for.
- Question and answer: a middle sentence asks a question; the next one answers it.
The method:
- Build the chain: for each event, ask what caused it, and put the cause before it.
- Put an explanation after the fact it explains.
- Put the answer right after its question. An answer cannot come first.
Worked example
S1: For weeks, the monsoon rain in the hills was twice the usual amount.
P: So the extra water ran off into the river below, which rose above the danger mark.
Q: The low fields along its banks were flooded.
R: The soil on the slopes could hold no more water.
S: As a result, the farmers there lost most of their paddy crop.
S6: The state has since promised them compensation.
(a) RPQS (b) PRQS (c) RQPS (d) QPRS
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2021 · CDS (I) 2021 — English · Q42Hard
Example 2 · Sentence Rearrangement · Shape of a Paragraph Argument
Directions: order four middle sentences between fixed S1 and S6
S1: We drink more water during summers.
S6: There are variations in weather conditions during different seasons.
P: On the other hand in north-eastern states, winters are mild except in the hills.
Q: Because in North India, both the seasons have extreme weather conditions.
R: School clothes during the summer is different from the winter.
S: Why do you wear lighter clothes during summers and heavy woollen clothes during the winter in north India?
An answer before its question
A sentence that answers ('The answer is ...', 'Because ...', 'The reason is ...') cannot come before the question it answers. Strike any option that does this.
A result with no cause
'So', 'as a result' and 'this led to' need the cause just before them. If the sentence before talks about something else, the link is broken.
Explanation before the fact
When one sentence states a fact and another explains it ('This is because ...'), the fact comes first. The explanation leans back on it.
Concept 3 of 3: The common view first, then the writer's correction
A writer often begins with what most people believe, then corrects it: 'It is widely believed that ... In fact, ...'. The belief must come first, because the correction argues against it.
Definition
The terms:
- Common view: a belief the writer reports but does not share. Markers: many people think, it is widely believed, historians have long said, the usual view.
- Correction: the writer's answer to it. Markers: in fact, actually, in reality, but, however, others have shown, contrary to popular belief.
The method:
- Find the sentence that reports a belief. It comes before the correction.
- Find the correction words. They need the belief just before them.
- The correction may take two or three sentences: first 'that is wrong', then 'here is what is true'. Keep them together, in that order.
Worked example
S1: Bats have a poor name in many cultures.
P: In fact, most bats can see quite well.
Q: It is widely believed that bats are blind.
R: At night, however, they rely mainly on sound to find their way.
S: They make high-pitched calls and listen for the echo that bounces back.
S6: This skill, called echolocation, lets them catch insects in total darkness.
(a) QPRS (b) PQRS (c) QRPS (d) RSQP
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2021 · CDS (II) 2021 — English · Q53Hard
Example 3 · Sentence Rearrangement · Shape of a Paragraph Argument
Directions: order middle four sentences P Q R S between S1 and S6
S1: Paragraphs are the building blocks of any write-up.
S6: Understanding of these makes one a good writer of paragraphs.
P: A paragraph need not be pages together in length.
Q: But actually a paragraph is a group of at least five sentences on the lower limit.
R: In reality, unity and coherence, not length, constitute a real good paragraph.
S: Many people define paragraphs in terms of their length.
Taking the common view as the writer's view
'Many people think', 'It is widely believed', 'Historians have long said': these report a view the writer is about to correct. Do not treat them as the passage's main point.
A correction with nothing to correct
'In fact', 'actually' and 'in reality' need a claim before them. An option that puts them right after S1, when S1 makes no claim to correct, usually fails.
Stopping after the first correction
The correction often runs over two or three sentences, from 'that is wrong' to 'this is what matters'. Keep that run together; do not put a new topic in the middle of it.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Watch out for (9)
- An example with no marker→ General statement first, example after
- Breaking off the example→ General statement first, example after
- Two general sentences→ General statement first, example after
- An answer before its question→ Cause before effect, question before answer
- A result with no cause→ Cause before effect, question before answer
- Explanation before the fact→ Cause before effect, question before answer
- Taking the common view as the writer's view→ The common view first, then the writer's correction
- A correction with nothing to correct→ The common view first, then the writer's correction
- Stopping after the first correction→ The common view first, then the writer's correction
Test yourself on Sentence Rearrangement
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.