Question

Directions: In the question below, each passage consists of six sentences. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. These are labeled as P, Q, R, and S. Find out the proper order for the four sentences.
S1: In the middle of one side of the square sits the Chairman of the committee, the most important person in the room.
P: For a committee is not just a mere collection of individuals.
Q: On him rests much of the responsibility for the success or failure of the committee.
R: While this is happening we have an opportunity to get the ‘feel’ of this committee.
S: As the meeting opens, he runs briskly through a number of formalities.
S6: From the moment its members meet, it begins to have a sort of nebulous life of its own.

• A. RSQP
• B. PQRS
• C. SQPR
• D. QSRP

Hint:

In para-jumbles, lock sequences using pronoun references (him, this), temporal cues (as, while), and idea flow (specific \(\) general) to bridge into fixed sentences like S6.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Anchor with the subject introduced in S1.
S1 highlights the Chairman}. Among P, Q, R, S, only Q (“On him rests much of the responsibility…}”) directly continues the focus on the Chairman using the pronoun him}.
\(\) Most natural start after S1 is Q.
Step 2: Follow the Chairman’s immediate action at meeting start.
After establishing his responsibility (Q), the text should depict what he does} as the meeting begins. S (“As the meeting opens, he runs briskly through a number of formalities.}”) fits perfectly as the next event.
\(\) Partial order: Q \(\) S.
Step 3: Use the deictic reference “this” to lock the next link.
R opens with “While this is happening…}” where “this}” must refer to the immediately preceding action—i.e., the Chairman running through formalities in S. Hence, S must precede R.
\(\) Partial order: Q \(\) S \(\) R.
Step 4: Prepare a semantic bridge into S6.
We now need a sentence that generalizes about what a committee is}, setting up S6’s idea that the committee acquires a “nebulous life of its own}.” P (“For a committee is not just a mere collection of individuals.}”) gives precisely that conceptual generalization and leads smoothly into S6’s personification of the committee.
\(\) Final middle sequence: Q \(\) S \(\) R \(\) P.
Step 5: Verify global coherence S1–(QSRP)–S6.
S1 (Chairman introduced) \(\to\) Q (his responsibility) \(\to\) S (his opening actions) \(\to\) R (observation during those actions) \(\to\) P (general nature of a committee) \(\to\) S6 (committee’s emergent life). Each transition uses clear pronoun reference, temporal cue (“As the meeting opens,” “While this is happening”), and thematic progression from individual (Chairman) to the collective (committee), ensuring tight cohesion.
\[ \boxed{\text{QSRP (Option (d)}} \]