24  Parajumbles, Paracompletion, Parasummary

24.1 Introduction

Reading comprehension in exams often comes in disguised formats: parajumbles, paracompletion, and parasummary.
These test your ability to follow logical flow, coherence, and the writer’s intent. Unlike grammar or vocabulary, these tasks measure discourse skills—your ability to see how ideas are connected.

24.2 1) Parajumbles

24.2.1 1.1 What are Parajumbles?

A set of jumbled sentences are given. You must arrange them into a coherent paragraph.
The first sentence may or may not be fixed.

24.2.2 1.2 Key Clues

  • Opening clue: General statement, introduces topic.
  • Closing clue: Concludes or summarizes.
  • Pronoun links: he, she, it, they, this, these must follow their noun reference.
  • Connector words: however, therefore, meanwhile, for example indicate flow.
  • Chronology: Past → present → future. Cause → effect. Problem → solution.

24.2.3 1.3 Example

Sentences:
A. Internet use has exploded in the last decade.
B. As a result, businesses have shifted marketing online.
C. This trend shows the changing consumer behavior.
D. Earlier, marketing was largely offline.

Correct order: D–A–B–C

24.3 2) Paracompletion

24.3.1 2.1 What is Paracompletion?

A paragraph is given with a missing sentence at the end. You must select the most logical completion.

24.3.2 2.2 Strategies

  • Read the entire passage and infer its main theme.
  • The completion must continue naturally—not bring in new, unrelated ideas.
  • Look for tone consistency: neutral, critical, analytical, etc.
  • Eliminate choices that are too broad or too narrow.

24.3.3 2.3 Example

Passage:
“Artificial Intelligence is rapidly growing. From self-driving cars to medical diagnosis, its impact is visible everywhere. But this rapid growth also creates new challenges—”

Best completion:
“—such as ethical concerns, job displacement, and regulation issues.”

24.4 3) Parasummary

24.4.1 3.1 What is Parasummary?

A full paragraph is given. You must choose the sentence that best summarizes it.

24.4.2 3.2 Strategies

  • Identify the main idea, not minor details.
  • Ignore examples, illustrations, or numbers.
  • Good summaries are short, general, accurate.
  • Wrong options usually:
    • Include irrelevant info.
    • Focus on a small detail.
    • Distort the author’s intent.

24.4.3 3.3 Example

Paragraph:
“Climate change is the most pressing global issue today. Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and extreme weather events highlight the urgency. Governments and individuals must act collectively to reduce carbon emissions.”

Best summary:
“Climate change is a serious issue requiring urgent collective action.”

24.5 4) Solved Questions

24.5.1 Example 1 (Parajumble)

Arrange:
A. The new policy faced backlash.
B. It aimed to reduce carbon emissions.
C. However, critics argued it would hurt small businesses.
D. The government introduced a strict environmental law.

Answer: D–B–A–C

24.5.2 Example 2 (Paracompletion)

Passage:
“Online education platforms are growing in popularity due to flexibility and low cost. However, many students struggle with self-discipline—”

Completion:
“—making it necessary to combine online courses with mentoring and monitoring.”

24.5.3 Example 3 (Parasummary)

Paragraph:
“Space exploration is expensive, yet it pushes science and technology forward. Many argue resources should instead solve earthly problems, but space programs also create jobs and innovations that benefit the economy.”

Best summary:
“Despite high costs, space exploration advances science and provides economic benefits.”

24.6 5) Practice Set

24.6.1 Part A – Parajumbles

  1. A. Smartphones are addictive.
    B. They provide entertainment and information.
    C. Overuse leads to sleep and health problems.
    D. Balance in usage is important.

  2. A. Mahatma Gandhi led India’s freedom struggle.
    B. His method was non-violent resistance.
    C. It inspired movements worldwide.
    D. Violence was avoided as a matter of principle.

24.6.2 Part B – Paracompletion

  1. The rise of electric vehicles has reduced fuel consumption. Yet challenges remain—
  1. charging infrastructure is limited.
  2. battery costs are rising.
  3. petrol demand is increasing.
  4. car companies are making losses.
  1. Digital payments are becoming mainstream in India. UPI transactions have increased sharply—

24.6.3 Part C – Parasummary

  1. Paragraph: “Reading habits among youth are declining as social media consumes more attention. Libraries report fewer visits, and book sales are falling. However, audiobooks and e-books show rising popularity.”
    Which is the best summary?
  1. Youth no longer read books.
  2. Reading habits are shifting from print to digital formats.
  3. Social media is harmful for youth.
  4. Libraries are shutting down due to low visitors.

24.7 6) Answer Key

Part A
1. A–B–C–D
2. A–B–D–C

Part B
3. (a)
4. Best completion: “—reflecting a shift toward cashless economy.”

Part C
5. (b)

24.8 Summary

  • Parajumbles: Look for links (pronouns, connectors, chronology).
  • Paracompletion: Continue theme logically, avoid introducing new unrelated ideas.
  • Parasummary: Capture the central idea, ignore examples/details.
    Mastering these helps in RC, critical reasoning, and English sections.