ParaSummary Question 4 - CAT 2022
Passage: To defend the sequence of alphabetisation may seem bizarre, so obvious is its application that it is hard to imagine a reference, catalogue or listing without it. But alphabetical order was not an immediate consequence of the alphabet itself. In the Middle Ages, deference for ecclesiastical tradition left scholars reluctant to categorise things according to the alphabet — to do so would be a rejection of the divine order. The rediscovery of the ancient Greek and Roman classics necessitated more efficient ways of ordering, searching and referencing texts. Government bureaucracy in the 16th and 17th centuries quickened the advance of alphabetical order, bringing with it pigeonholes, notebooks and card indexes.
A) Unlike the alphabet, once the efficacy of the alphabetic sequence became apparent to scholars and administrators, its use became widespread.
B) The alphabetic order took several centuries to gain common currency because of religious beliefs and a lack of appreciation of its efficacy in the ordering of things.
C) The ban on the use by scholars of any form of categorisation – but the divinely ordained one – delayed the adoption of the alphabetic sequence by several centuries.
D) While adoption of the written alphabet was easily accomplished, it took scholars several centuries to accept the alphabetic sequence as a useful tool in their work.
Step-by-Step Explanation
- Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The passage explains that alphabetical order did not instantly follow the creation of the alphabet. Its adoption took centuries because of the Middle Ages' religious adherence to a "divine order" over alphabetical organization, followed by a gradual shift toward efficiency driven by secular needs like classic text management and state bureaucracy. Option B identifies both the timeline and the underlying causes for the delay.
- FundaMakers Tip: The Missing Premise Trap. Watch out for options that make assumptions not backed by text. Option D claims the written alphabet was "easily accomplished," which is an extrapolation completely missing from the passage.
ParaSummary Shortcuts & Tricks
Are Para Summary Questions Important for CAT VARC?
Yes, Para Summary questions are an important part of CAT VARC preparation. Although they account for only a few questions in the section, they test core reading and reasoning skills that are also useful for Reading Comprehension and other Verbal Ability questions.Why Are Para Summary Questions Important for CAT?
Para Summary questions test whether you can understand a short passage, identify its central argument, and distinguish it from supporting details. They also require you to compare closely worded options and recognise subtle changes in meaning. Preparing for these questions can help develop several important CAT VARC skills:- Identifying the central idea quickly
- Understanding the author's tone and intent
- Separating main arguments from supporting details
- Recognising the correct scope of an argument
- Eliminating options containing added or distorted information
- Understanding how different ideas in a paragraph are connected