CAT 2022 Slot 2 — VARC Question 23
The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer:
1. Women may prioritize cooking because they feel they alone are responsible for mediating a toxic and unhealthy food system.
2. Food is commonly framed through the lens of individual choice: you can choose to eat healthily.
3. This is particularly so in a neoliberal context where the state has transferred the responsibility for food onto individual consumers.
4. The individualized framing of choice appeals to a popular desire to experience agency, but draws away from the structural obstacles that stratify individual food choices.
Answer & solution
Answer: 2431
Easy
Topic: how the "individual choice" framing of food shifts responsibility onto individuals (especially women). Find the general opener, then follow the chain of references — "This," "neoliberal context," and the consequence for women.
Opener = 2. Sentence 2 introduces the theme in the most general way: "Food is commonly framed through the lens of individual choice: you can choose to eat healthily." No back-reference; perfect start.
2 → 4. Sentence 4 evaluates that framing: "The individualized framing of choice appeals to a popular desire to experience agency, but draws away from the structural obstacles..." It directly comments on the "individual choice" idea just raised in 2.
4 → 3. Sentence 3 begins "This is particularly so in a neoliberal context where the state has transferred the responsibility for food onto individual consumers." "This" extends 4's point about responsibility being pushed onto individuals.
3 → 1. Sentence 1 gives the consequence: "Women may prioritize cooking because they feel they alone are responsible..." This follows from the responsibility-shifting in 3 and closes the paragraph.
Sequence 2 – 4 – 3 – 1, i.e. 2431.