Question 1 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
NAT
The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given 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. It can in fact be integrated into any function (education, medical treatment, production, punishment); it can increase the effect of this function, by being linked closely with it; it can constitute a mixed mechanism in which relations of power (and of knowledge) may be precisely adjusted, in the smallest detail, to the processes that are to be supervised; it can establish a direct proportion between 'surplus power' and 'surplus production'.
2. It's a case of 'it's easy once you've thought of it' in the political sphere.
3. The panoptic mechanism is not simply a hinge, a point of exchange between a mechanism of power and a function; it is a way of making power relations function in a function, and of making a function function through these power relations
4. In short, it arranges things in such a way that the exercise of power is not added on from the outside, like a rigid, heavy constraint, to the functions it invests, but is so subtly present in them as to increase their efficiency by itself increasing its own points of contact.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a dense society-politics philosophy sequencing question. It is recognizable because it defines a theoretical mechanism, elaborates on its operations with specific examples, summarizes the overall effect, and ends with an aphoristic conclusion.
Step 1: Define the core concept. Sentence 3 names and defines the "panoptic mechanism" as a way of making power relations function within a function, making it the natural, foundational opener.
Step 2: Elaborate on the operations. Sentence 1 expands on this definition, detailing how it can be integrated into specific functions (education, medical treatment, etc.) and adjusted in the smallest detail.
Step 3: Summarize the effect. Sentence 4 begins with "In short" and summarizes the effect of this arrangement, concluding that power increases efficiency by subtly increasing its points of contact.
Step 4: Conclude with an aphorism. Sentence 2 provides the concluding, aphoristic comment ("It's a case of 'it's easy once you've thought of it'..."), wrapping up the dense theoretical explanation with a sharp, memorable observation.
Answer: 3142
Question 2 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
NAT
The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) given 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. Veena Sahajwalla, a materials scientist at the University of New South Wales, believes there is a new way of solving this problem.
2. Her vision is for automated drones and robots to pick out components, put them into a small furnace and smelt them at specific temperatures to extract the metals one by one before they are sent off to manufacturers for reuse.
3. E-waste contains huge quantities of valuable metals, ceramics and plastics that could be salvaged and recycled, although currently not enough of it is.
4. She plans to build microfactories that can tease apart the tangle of materials in mobile phones, computers and other e-waste.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a Problem-Solution sequencing question, recognisable because it moves from a general problem to a specific scientific solution using a problem-solver-plan-elaboration structure.
Why this method applies: Sentence 1 mentions "solving this problem," which requires a preceding sentence that defines the problem. Sentence 4 mentions "She plans," which must follow the introduction of the person in Sentence 1.
Step 1: Identify the problem. Sentence 3 introduces the issue: "E-waste contains valuable materials... although currently not enough of it is [recycled]." This sets the context and defines the problem without any backward references, making it the natural opener.
Step 2: Introduce the solution and the solver. Sentence 1 introduces Veena Sahajwalla and her belief in "a new way of solving this problem." The phrase "this problem" directly links back to the e-waste issue in Sentence 3. This locks the 3-1 pair.
Step 3: State the specific plan. Sentence 4 explains that "She plans to build microfactories" to tease apart e-waste. The pronoun "She" refers to Veena Sahajwalla from Sentence 1. This locks the 1-4 pair.
Step 4: Elaborate on the vision. Sentence 2 details "Her vision" for these microfactories, involving automated drones and robots. This naturally follows the introduction of the microfactories in Sentence 4.
Common trap: Starting with 1 leaves "this problem" without an antecedent, breaking coherence.
Answer: 3142
Question 3 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
NAT
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. Fish skin collagen has excellent thermo-stability and tensile strength making it ideal for use as bandage that adheres to the skin and adjusts to body movements.
2. Collagen, one of the main structural proteins in connective tissues in the human body, is well known for promoting skin regeneration.
3. Fish skin swims in here as diseases and bacteria that affect fish are different from most human pathogens.
4. The risk of introducing disease agents into other species through the use of pig and cow collagen proteins for wound healing has inhibited its broader applications in the medical field.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a Problem-Solution sequencing question, recognizable because it moves from a general concept to a specific application, using a clear problem-solution pivot.
Step 1: Establish the foundational concept. Sentence 2 introduces "Collagen" and its general use for skin regeneration. This is the broadest statement and sets the theme.
Step 2: Introduce the complication. Sentence 4 explains the problem with using pig and cow collagen: the risk of introducing disease agents into other species.
Step 3: Provide the specific solution. Sentence 3 states "Fish skin swims in here" because fish diseases are different from human pathogens, solving the problem introduced in 4.
Step 4: Elaborate on the solution. Sentence 1 details the specific benefits of "Fish skin collagen" (thermo-stability, tensile strength), naturally following its introduction in 3.
Answer: 2431
Question 4 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
NAT
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. Various industrial sectors including retail, transit systems, enterprises, educational institutions, event organizing, finance, travel etc. have now started leveraging these beacons solutions to track and communicate with their customers.
2. A beacon fixed on to a shop wall enables the retailer to assess the proximity of the customer, and come up with a much targeted or personalized communication like offers, discounts and combos on products in each shelf.
3. Smartphones or other mobile devices can capture the beacon signals, and distance can be estimated by measuring received signal strength.
4. Beacons are tiny and inexpensive, micro-location-based technology devices that can send radio frequency signals and notify nearby Bluetooth devices of their presence and transmit information.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a Science, Technology and Environment sequencing question introducing a new technology and expanding from its mechanism to specific and then general applications.
Step 1: Identify the opener. Sentence 4 defines beacons as micro-location-based technology devices that send radio signals. This is the most fundamental statement with no backward references.
Step 2: Explain the mechanism. Sentence 3 describes how smartphones capture these signals to estimate distance. This logically follows the definition by explaining how the technology works.
Step 3: Provide a specific application. Sentence 2 uses this distance-estimation mechanism in a retail context ("A beacon fixed on to a shop wall"). This is a concrete example of the mechanism in action.
Step 4: Generalize the application. Sentence 1 broadens the scope, stating that various other industrial sectors are now leveraging "these beacons solutions". The phrase refers back to the specific retail example and the general mechanism.
Answer: 4321
Question 5 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
NAT
The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) given 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. Algorithms hosted on the internet are accessed by many, so biases in AI models have resulted in much larger impact, adversely affecting far larger groups of people.
2. Though “algorithmic bias” is the popular term, the foundation of such bias is not in algorithms, but in the data; algorithms are not biased, data is, as algorithms merely reflect persistent patterns that are present in the training data.
3. Despite their widespread impact, it is relatively easier to fix AI biases than human-generated biases, as it is simpler to identify the former than to try to make people unlearn behaviors learnt over generations.
4. The impact of biased decisions made by humans is localised and geographically confined, but with the advent of AI, the impact of such decisions is spread over a much wider scale.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a Contrast-and-Pivot sequencing question, recognisable because it contrasts two concepts (Human vs AI bias) and then pivots to a surprising insight (fixability).
Why this method applies: The sentence starting with "Despite their widespread impact" must refer to a previously described large impact. Therefore, it cannot open the paragraph.
Step 1: Identify the broad contrast. Sentence 4 says human bias is localised, while AI bias has a much wider scale. This is the best opening because it sets the main theme without backward references.
Step 2: Explain the wider scale. Sentence 1 says internet-hosted algorithms are accessed by many, so AI bias affects larger groups. This elaborates on sentence 4's claim about wider scale.
Step 3: Locate the pivot. Sentence 3 starts with "Despite their widespread impact" and says AI biases are easier to fix than human biases. The phrase "their widespread impact" points back to the scale described in 4 and 1.
Step 4: Clarify the root cause. Sentence 2 explains that the bias is really in the data, not the algorithm. This supports why AI bias can be identified and fixed more easily than deeply learned human behaviour.
Common trap: Starting with 3 is invalid because "their widespread impact" lacks a preceding referent.
Answer: 4132