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CAT 2018 Slot 2 — VARC Question 32

Mixed PracticeEasy

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given in this question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentences and key in this sequence of four numbers as your answer.

  1. They would rather do virtuous side projects assiduously as long as these would not compel them into doing their day jobs more honourably or reduce the profit margins.
  2. They would fund a million of the buzzwordy programs rather than fundamentally question the rules of their game or alter their own behavior to reduce the harm of the existing distorted, inefficient and unfair rules.
  3. Like the dieter who would rather do anything to lose weight than actually eat less, the business elite would save the world through social-impact-investing and philanthrocapitalism.
  4. Doing the right thing — and moving away from their win-win mentality — would involve real sacrifice; instead, it’s easier to focus on their pet projects and initiatives.

 

Answer & solution

Correct answer: 3241

Answer: 3241

Solution

Easy

Para-jumble: find the opener (introduces the actor and the analogy), then track mandatory pairs and pronoun chains. The topic is the business elite who would do anything except change their own behaviour. Sentence 3 carries the defining analogy and names "the business elite", so it opens; the rest elaborate the same contrast between flashy side-projects and real sacrifice.

1

Opener = 3. Only sentence 3 names the subject in full ("the business elite") and sets up the governing analogy ("Like the dieter who would rather do anything to lose weight than actually eat less … would save the world through social-impact-investing and philanthrocapitalism"). Every other sentence opens with "They" or an unanchored idea, so they cannot start. So 3 is first.

2

3 → 2. Sentence 2's "They would fund a million of the buzzwordy programs rather than fundamentally question the rules of their game or alter their own behavior" directly continues 3's idea of doing showy things instead of real change. "They" picks up "the business elite" from 3.

3

4 → 1 pair. Sentence 4 explains why they avoid real change — "Doing the right thing … would involve real sacrifice; instead, it's easier to focus on their pet projects and initiatives." Sentence 1 then extends those "pet projects": "They would rather do virtuous side projects assiduously as long as these would not … reduce the profit margins." The "side projects" in 1 echo the "pet projects" in 4, fixing the 4–1 order.

4

Assemble. Opener 3, then 2 generalises the avoidance, then the 4→1 block details the motive (sacrifice avoided) and its expression (harmless side projects). Sequence: 3 – 2 – 4 – 1.

Correct sequence: 3241

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CAT 2018 Slot 2 VARC Q32: The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given in this question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent — Solution | TheCATExam