CAT 2003 Slot 2 — VARC Question 16
Each of the questions below consists of a set of labelled sentences. These sentences, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Choose the most logical order of sentences from the options.
- The celebrations of economic recovery in Washington may be as premature as that "Mission Accomplished" banner hung on the USS Abraham Lincoln to hail the end of the Iraq war.
- Meanwhile, in the real world, the struggles of families and communities continue unabated.
- Washington responded to the favourable turn in economic news with enthusiasm.
- The celebrations and high-fives up and down Pennsylvania Avenue are not to be found beyond the Beltway.
- When the third quarter GDP showed growth of 7.2% and the monthly unemployment rate dipped to 6%, euphoria gripped the US capital.
Answer & solution
- A
ACEDB
- B
CEDAB
- C
ECABD
ECBDA
It is easier to arrive at the answer by eliminating the incorrect options. Option 1 can be ruled out. Sentence A says that the celebrations may be premature. Therefore C cannot follow A, as C speaks about ‘favourable turn’. If the celebrations are premature, then the favourable hasn’t taken place or is yet to take place. Option 2 can be ruled out as well. CE isn’t a pair. EC is a mandatory pair.
In sentence E, the author mentions, ‘euphoria grips the US capital’. Washington (the US capital) mentioned in C should follow E.
Sentence D should come before sentence A. D follows B (celebrations not found beyond Beltway). And sentence A concludes it by putting across that ‘these’ celebrations are premature.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4