Paragraph-Completion concept.

How to solve.
Recently, new types of English questions have become a common trend in
all the Banking exams. Para- Completion is one of some new patterns.
The only solution to score well in English is to understand the pattern and
practice as much as you can.

Paragraph Completion has been an important component of the verbal

section of CAT for many years (approx. from 2000). But now It has been
introduced in the exams of Banking from recent some years. It is, therefore,
a very important topic to be mastered for enhancing the sectional as well as
overall score. Let us have a detailed look and understanding of Paragraph
Completion now.
 Paragraph Completion
For those who have not had any encounter with paragraph completion in the
past (we, like everyone else, will refer to it as PC from now), it refers to the
question type where a paragraph is given and a sentence from the given
paragraph is removed. (May be the first sentence, may be the sentence from
the middle or may be the last sentence). In most of the cases, the last
sentence is removed.
All you have to do is to complete the paragraph i.e. you have to choose the
option which completes the given paragraph in the best manner from the
given options.
Before we solve the Para Completion questions, we must try to
understand what the questions test.
Para Completion Questions test the candidate’s thought process, their
ability to conclude, summarize, continue or keep track of an idea or an
argument.
The paragraph completion questions are very similar to the para-jumbles
questions. The only difference is that in the para-jumbles questions you
arrange sentences such that they form a coherent paragraph, while in
paragraph completion you have to fit or fill the blank with the sentence
such that it gets with the rest of the paragraph.
How can we solve such Paragraph completion questions easily?
Solving PC questions is all about how much one can comprehend the given
paragraph. The more you understand the paragraph, the easier it becomes
for you to solve the question. I personally feel that it becomes easier for you
to solve these type of questions if you are a good reader. If you are good in
RC’s, then chances are that you will do good in PC questions too (in most
cases).
Go through the paragraph and try to catch the essence of the paragraph.
Figure out what the paragraph is all about. Try to understand the keywords
used in the passage.
Tricks for solving a Paragraph Completion question
There are no pre-defined formulae to solve PC type questions. But there are
some important points we need to remember while solving them.
1) Find the essence of the passage.
Once you are able to find it, PC would become an easy affair.
2) Notice the tone of the passage.
Think about it. If an author is being sarcastic in his writing, wouldn’t it be logical
to choose the option which has sarcasm in it? Remember however that there
might be multiple options that comply with the author’s tone.
Hence, always keep in mind that Tone is Important but not the only criteria.
3) Do not pick an option that brings an external idea.
Never pick an option which talks about things that are not mentioned in the
paragraph. The correct option will be the one which relates itself to the core
information mentioned in the paragraph.
4) Reject the options that are contradictory.
Whenever you see an option which contradicts the idea of passage,
eliminate it.
5) Maintain the flow of the paragraph.
Always make sure you are maintaining the flow of ideas in the passage. Never
pick an option which breaks or suddenly changes the flow to some other
direction.
6) Pay Special Attention to the lines before and after the blank.
The lines before and after the blank play an important role in PC.
Sometimes, the correct option is the one which is in agreement with that
line. So it would be wise if one also pays close attention to what that line is
talking about. This sums up the topic of Paragraph completion. I hope the
article helps you solve PC questions from now on.
Let us see the pattern.
Pattern 1
In this type, usually a paragraph of two/three line is given and we are asked to identify the
statement that would complete the given paragraph.
The Indian Meterological Department (IMD) has come up with dismaying prediction that the
southwest monsoon this year will be below normal. If the prognosis holds true, it may mar the
prospects of redeeming the rabi crop output losses through bumper harvests in the later kharif
season. India’s farm sector has certainly acquired a degree of resilience when it comes to
monsoon – as reflected in the positive growth numbers in all the weak monsoon years since
2009. However, monsoon rainfall and its distribution still remains crucial.
(a) A poor monsoon and subsequent food inflation might well throw off the Reserve Bank of
India’s schedule for rate cuts.
(b) The monsoon’s behaviour this year seems to bear out the notion that climate change is
affecting the Indian monsoon and altering its rainfall calendar.
(c) They impact supplies and prices of most farm commodities, especially coarse cereals, pulses,
oilseeds, vegetables, fruit and livestock products, as well as the rural sector demand for
consumer goods.
(d) Nevertheless, the first stage monsoon forecast of the IMD should normally be taken with a
pinch of salt, as the weather agency’s accuracy record on this count is none too inspiring
Pattern 1
In this type, usually a paragraph of two/three line is given and we are asked to identify the statement. that would complete the given
paragraph.
The Indian Meterological Department (IMD) has come up with dismaying prediction that the southwest monsoon this year will be
below normal. If the prognosis holds true, it may mar the prospects of redeeming the rabi crop output losses through bumper harvests
in the later kharif season. India’s farm sector has certainly acquired a degree of resilience when it comes to monsoon – as reflected in
the positive growth numbers in all the weak monsoon years since 2009. However, monsoon rainfall and its distribution still remains
crucial.
(a) A poor monsoon and subsequent food inflation might well throw off the Reserve Bank of India’s
schedule for rate cuts.
(b) The monsoon’s behaviour this year seems to bear out the notion that climate change is affecting
the Indian monsoon and altering its rainfall calendar.
(c) They impact supplies and prices of most farm commodities, especially coarse cereals, pulses,
oilseeds, vegetables, fruit and livestock products, as well as the rural sector demand for consumer goods.
(d) Nevertheless, the first stage monsoon forecast of the IMD should normally be taken with a pinch
of salt, as the weather agency’s accuracy record on this count is none too inspiring.
Answer (c)
To solve these types of questions following points must be kept in mind.
First of all read the paragraph with full concentration and try to find out the gist of the paragraph.
•For e.g. in the above example we are talking about the monsoon and its impact on the farming sector.
•The paragraph is left at a particular thread of thought, try to identify that thought and then go to the given options.
•For e.g. in the above example the last line asks a question that why monsoon is still important?
•What will be its effects on the farming sector?
•According to the gist of the paragraph and the thought at which it was left, choose the correct option.
•For e.g. in the above example option (c) we come to know the impact of monsoon on the farming sector
•thus option (c) is the correct answer.
Pattern 2
Which of the following options precedes the given sentence?
_________________________. Both, along with several other tools, are used by the RBI
to infuse or suck out liquidity from the market.
(a) RBI has cut the repo rate by 1.50 percent.
(b) Repo rate is the rate at which the banks borrow from the RBI, while CRR refers to
quantum of fund to be parked mandatorily with the RBI.
(c) It now remains to be seen how the banks react and when will they start reducing their
lending rates.
(d) The rate cut could lead to a very good borrowing environment, particularly for retail
customers.
Answer (b)
. In these types of questions we need to find out that about which topic the sentence is
talking about and then link up the option with the sentence.
• For e.g. in the above question we are talking about 2 RBI tools to deal with liquidity and
in the options only (b) is talking about 2RBI tools i.e. Repo rate and CRR while in rest of
the sentences we are just revolving around the impacts or the steps taken by the RBI.
Pattern 3:
Here we need to find the missing sentence.
After demonetization, people rushed to deposit the scrapped notes into their bank
accounts.________________________________________________. In other words,
depositors are unable to withdraw as much cash as they deposited. Also, the surge in
deposits has not resulted in a corresponding increase in demand of loans.
(a) With restrictions on exchange of old notes and withdrawal of new ones, the
banking system has been flushed with deposits.
(b) As a result, banks are forced to lower interest rates on deposit and lending.
(c) For the government, which is the largest borrower, the cost of new borrowings
comes down.
(d) The government recalled Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 8.
Answer (a)
We need to follow the same steps as mentioned above to find the missing sentence.
Just find out the main idea, work on the options, try to find what the options and
sentence is saying and you can then easily get the correct answer.
Let us solve questions now. Here are two examples with solutions. Note
your answers. Then, go through the solutions and see how you should
approach such questions.
Most people at their first consultation take a furtive look at the surgeon’s
hands in the hope of reassurance. Prospective patients look for delicacy,
sensitivity, steadiness, perhaps unblemished pallor. On this basis, Henry
Perowne loses a number of cases each year. Generally, he knows it’s about to
happen before the patient does: the downward glance repeated, the prepared
questions beginning to falter, the over emphatic thanks during the retreat to
the door. -------------------------------.
(1) Other people do not communicate due to their poor observation.
(2) Other patients don’t like what they see but are ignorant of their right to go
elsewhere.
(3) But Perowne himself is not concerned.
(4) But others will take their place, he thought.
(5) These hands are steady enough, but they are large.
Most people at their first consultation take a furtive look at the surgeon’s hands in the hope of reassurance.
Prospective patients look for delicacy, sensitivity, steadiness, perhaps unblemished pallor. On this basis, Henry
Perowne loses a number of cases each year. Generally, he knows it’s about to happen before the patient does: the
downward glance repeated, the prepared questions beginning to falter, the over emphatic thanks during the retreat
to the door. ------------------------.
(1) Other people do not communicate due to their poor observation.
(2) Other patients don’t like what they see but are ignorant of their right to go elsewhere.
(3) But Perowne himself is not concerned.
(4) But others will take their place, he thought.
(5) These hands are steady enough, but they are large.
Solution-
Let us try to find out the essence of the paragraph. The paragraph deals with Henry Perowne and the issue of him
losing on a number of cases (we are not concerned about the reason, are we?).
Now let us analyze each option one by one.
Option 1 talks about the communication of other people. This is deviating from the core idea of the passage. Hence
the option is rejected.
Option 2 says that other patients too are affected by Henry’s problem. It means that the whole bunch of Henry’s
patients are affected by it!!! But that is not the central idea of the passage. So option 2 is rejected.
Option 4 can be rejected simply for the fact that it talks in past, whereas the paragraph is in present tense.
Option 5 is not complete. It just says that the hands are large. This option could be considered had there been
something more to it.
Hence, option 3 is the answer.
So what we learn from the example above is that the paragraph should be our only centre of attraction. We have to
think within the boundaries of the paragraph.
Let us see another example.
Relations between the factory and the dealer are distant and usually strained as the
factory tries to force cars on the dealers to smooth out production. Relations
between the dealer and the customer are equally strained because dealers
continuously adjust prices—make deals—to adjust demand with supply while
maximizing profits. This becomes a system marked by a lack of long-term
commitment on either side, which maximizes feelings of mistrust. In order to
maximize their bargaining positions, everyone holds back information—the dealer
about the product and the consumer about his true desires. _________________
1.As a result, ‘deal making’ becomes rampant, without concern for customer
satisfaction.
2.As a result, inefficiencies creep into the supply chain.
3.As a result, everyone treats the other as an adversary, rather than as an ally.
4.As a result, fundamental innovations are becoming scarce in the automobile
industry.
5.As a result, everyone loses in the long run.
Relations between the factory and the dealer are distant and usually strained as the factory tries to force cars on the dealers to smooth
out production. Relations between the dealer and the customer are equally strained because dealers continuously adjust prices—make
deals—to adjust demand with supply while maximizing profits. This becomes a system marked by a lack of long-term commitment on
either side, which maximizes feelings of mistrust. In order to maximize their bargaining positions, everyone holds back information—the
dealer about the product and the consumer about his true desires. _________________
1.As a result, ‘deal making’ becomes rampant, without concern for customer satisfaction.
2.As a result, inefficiencies creep into the supply chain.
3.As a result, everyone treats the other as an adversary, rather than as an ally.
4.As a result, fundamental innovations are becoming scarce in the automobile industry.
5.As a result, everyone loses in the long run.
Solution:
From the options, we come to know that the question wants us to logically conclude the paragraph. So, the last line is a conclusion, not a
continuation Before we take the options, we must find out the central argument of the passage. What is the passage all about? The
passage discusses the relations between three entities, and that relationship is strained. Now let’s take the options one at a time:
Option A: If the relations are strained, then how can deal-making become rampant?
Option B: The author is discussing strained relations; we must ask ‘how can strained relations cause inefficiencies in the supply chain?’
We don’t have strong pieces of evidence to arrive at such a conclusion.
Option C: Seems a good choice, but only at first glance. If the relations between the manufacturer and the distributor are not good, then
they both will lose in the long run because they both depend on each other. And, how can the customer become an adversary of the
manufacturer? The customer is competing neither with the manufacturer nor with the distributor. In short, option C is too far-fetched.
Option D: The issues with option D are very similar to those of option B. The logic of ‘strained relations vs innovations’ must be
convincing. What has good or strained relations to do with innovations? The option does not sound convincing.
Option E: Sees perfect. Carefully read the last line of the passage: In order to maximize their bargaining positions, everyone holds back
information—the dealer about the product and the consumer about his true desires. To maximize their bargaining positions, they are
holding back information; as a result, they all will lose in the long run. The option is logical and sensible; it is not far-fetched or irrelevant
as the others.
Now solve the questions.
Q1) To accept anything as true means to incur the risk of error. If I limit myself to knowledge that I
consider true beyond doubt, I minimize the risk of error, but at the same time I maximise the risk of
missing out on what may be the subtlest, most important and most rewarding things in life. Saint
Thomas Aquinas taught that the slenderest knowledge that may be obtained of the highest things is
more desirable than the most certain knowledge obtained of lesser things. “Slender” knowledge is
here put in opposition to ‘certain’ knowledge, and indicates uncertainty. May be it is necessarily so
that the higher things cannot be known with the same degree of certainty as the lesser things.
__________
(1) But the gaining of even the slenderest knowledge about the higher things should not be given
up.
(2) In such a case it would be a very great loss indeed if knowledge were limited to things beyond
the possibility of doubt.
(3) After all, matters that are beyond doubt are in a sense dead, they constitute no challenge to the
living.
(4) Even then it is irrational to doubt the existence of higher things, which have no physical proof of
existence.
(5) And this uncertainty is mainly because of our inability to prove the existence of the higher things.
Q2) The Indian toy industry has never been in a state of good health, but the past two
decades have been particularly bad. What little drive there was to invent and innovate
got washed away by the flood of Chinese toys. They came in millions. They were
colourful and diverse, loud and crude, but their greatest attraction was their low price.
__________
(1) Even in the International Trade Fair, the presence of Chinese toys has grown to
overwhelming proportions.
(2) The public will soon realise, however, that they are not built to last.
(3) But some still feel that the wooden toys of Saharanpur and the musical string toys
of Delhi are immeasurably superior to the cacophonic, garish electronic toys imported
from China.
(4) The heavy import of Chinese toys had always been hurting the Indian toy
manufacturing trade.
(5) But now the Indian government has decided to encourage indigenous production
of toys and has imposed a ban on the import of Chinese toys.
Q3) Elliot, a photographer, surveyor and developer, had been looking for an
unusual site to work on for some time. When he viewed a plot in Highgate,
complete with a 70s building in blue aluminium, Elliot was certain he had
found what he was looking for. His surveyor advised against buying such a
steep bit of land; his mother thought he was crazy. __________
(1) But the first time she visited the site, she understood him completely.
(2) But Elliot was fascinated with the history of the place.
(3) It was just 45 mts from the historic Highgate cemetery in North London.
(4) But he felt he belonged to the place.
(5) To him it was a peaceful place away from the noise of the city.
Q4) Kiton – which employs 330 tailors who create its garments by hand –
produces only a few thousand pieces a year. It takes 25 hours to make a
jacket. Fans of Kiton clothes, and it is a devoted cult, say the garments are
soft, light and exquisitely made. __________
(1) Small and fine details of sartorial workmanship mark this brand.
(2) They are absolutely wrinkle-free and can be crushed into the crevice of
an airline seat.
(3) They are said to fit like a second skin.
(4) Once you start wearing it you won’t feel like switching over to anything
else.
(5) Customers searching for value end up buying Kiton clothes.
Q. 5. Normally, falling oil prices would boost global growth. This time, though, matters are
less clear cut. The big economic question is whether lower prices reflect weak demand
or have been caused by a surge in the supply of crude. If weak demand is the culprit that
is worrying: it suggests the oil price is a symptom of weakening growth. If the source of
weakness is financial, then cheaper oil may not boost growth all that much: consumers
may simply use the gains to pay down their debts. Indeed, in some countries, cheaper oil
may even make matters worse by increasing the risk of deflation.
(a) An energy-induced drop in prices, though good for consumer purchasing power, risks
reinforcing expectations of lower inflation overall.
(b) The IEA, an oil importers’ club, said it expects global demand to rise by just 700,000
barrels a day this year.
(c) On balance, energy consumers win and energy producers and exporting countries
lose with falling oil prices.
(d) On the other hand, if plentiful supply is driving prices down, that is potentially better
news: cheaper oil should eventually boost spending in the world’s biggest economies.
Q.6. In the annals of computing, nothing has caused as much
disappointment as putting ideas on paper. __________. However, with the
coming of the inkjet printer it was soon possible to print really high quality
images.
(a) For decades, printing computer files was a thankless task for users
seeking to reproduce precisely what they saw on their screens.
(b) To start with, thermal inkjets were no match for the costlier laser printers
that had just been introduced.
(c) For all its originality the idea behind the inkjet is far from new.
(d) The first inkjet printers were slow, messy machines, but they gradually
got better and better.
(e) Designers of printers grew more ambitious and they started to want color,
speed and low costs.
Q.7. ____________________. And they are certainly right. Sunscreen
protects your skin from ultraviolet light rays. Too much ultraviolet is bad for
your skin. If you spend a long time outside without any sunscreen on, you
might get sunburn because of the ultraviolet rays.
(a) Ultraviolet light can get rid of bacteria in eggs and apple and make them
safer to eat
(b) Your parents tell you to wear sunscreen when you're outside in the summer
(c) When we are outdoors, we are exposed to pollens and dust, and other
irritants
(d) However, they can also trigger asthma attacks, which are more serious
(e) It seems to be the safest way to make food safer before we buy it
Q.8. Most Western industrialized nations have an individualistic orientation,
which values independence and self-assertiveness. __________. They stress
the interdependence of people within the community.
(a) There is no internal evidence to suggest this.
(b) Individuals in collectivist Asian cultures are even less likely to commit such
errors.
(c) In contrast, many non-Western cultures have a more collectivist
orientation.
(d) This is why Americans tend to use psychological traits to describe
themselves.
(e) Actually, situational factors also play quite an important role.
Q.9. A fax machine works by scanning each outgoing page, turning the image
into a series of light and dark dots. This pattern is then translated into audio
tones, and sent over regular phone lines. The receiving fax "hears" the tones,
pieces the grid together, and prints the total number of dots.
_____________________________________.
(a) He invented a machine capable of receiving signals from a telegraph wire
(b) The idea of fax machines has been around for a long time
(c) They were an easy way to send documents to any phone number
(d) The resulting document is a black and white copy of the original page
(e) Then he finally managed to translate these symbols into images on paper