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Sentence & Passage Rearrangement

English Language & Comprehension — Paper-I · Official 2026 Coverage

Useful for: SSC CGL

Overview

Rearrangement questions order sentences logically using openers, references, connectors and chronology.

Key points

The opener introduces the topic and has no unexplained pronoun.
Pronouns and "this/these" refer to earlier nouns.
Connectors (however, therefore, for example) follow the idea they relate to.
"A" introduces; "the" refers to something already mentioned.
The closing sentence often summarises or concludes.

Explanation

Find one mandatory pair and check options.
General statement before specific details.
Time markers (first, then, finally) give order.
Eliminate options with impossible openers.

Step by step

Read the full sentence or passage first.
Apply the exact grammar or vocabulary rule.
Re-read the final answer in context.

Examples

"However, the plan failed" cannot open a paragraph.
"A new bridge was built" comes before "The bridge reduced travel time."
A definition comes before its example.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Starting with a reference sentence.
Trap: Ignoring connectors.
Trap: Not reading the final order.

Quick revision

Opener without back-reference.
Mandatory pairs.
General → specific.

Practice MCQs

Arrange: P. She opened the door. Q. She heard a knock. R. A stranger stood outside. S. She was reading a book.
1. SPQR
2. QSPR
3. SQPR
4. QPRS
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Answer: (c) SQPR. Reading → knock → opening → stranger.
Arrange: P. He bought a ticket. Q. He reached the station. R. The train arrived. S. He boarded it.
1. RQPS
2. PQRS
3. QRPS
4. QPRS
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Answer: (d) QPRS. Reach → buy → train arrives → board.
Arrange: P. Then add tea leaves. Q. Boil the water. R. Pour into a cup. S. Add milk and sugar.
1. QPSR
2. PQSR
3. QSPR
4. SQPR
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Answer: (a) QPSR. Boil → tea leaves → milk and sugar → pour.
In a jumbled paragraph, the opening sentence is usually one that
1. begins with 'This'
2. begins with 'However'
3. introduces the topic without referring back
4. gives the conclusion
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Answer: (c) introduces the topic without referring back. Words like 'this' and 'however' link to earlier sentences.
Which word in a sentence usually signals a contrast with the previous sentence?
1. Moreover
2. Firstly
3. However
4. Therefore
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Answer: (c) However. 'Moreover' adds; 'therefore' concludes.
Arrange: P. Seeds were sown. Q. The field was ploughed. R. The crop was harvested. S. Plants grew tall.
1. SPQR
2. PQSR
3. QPRS
4. QPSR
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Answer: (d) QPSR. Plough → sow → grow → harvest.