SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 17 September 2025, Shift 3 · English Comprehension · Question 24 of 100

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 11 September 2026.

Where this paper and its answers come from

SSC does not publish CGL question papers or a public answer key. From 2025 the candidate response sheet prints every question and option as a picture, so the text here is transcribed from those pictures for this shift and checked against them independently; where the layout carries meaning, the picture is shown as well. Each answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. SSC released a tentative key for challenge and later its final one, both only to candidates behind a login, and the sheet does not say which of the two it carries. The solutions are written by UnlockIAS.

Rearrange the following sentences to form a meaningful passage: 1. Ocean acidification is a consequence of increased CO2 emissions. 2. This leads to a decline in marine biodiversity. 3. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to acidification. 4. Urgent action is required to reduce emissions and mitigate damage.

(a)2-3-1-4
(b)1-3-2-4
(c)3-1-2-4
(d)4-1-2-3

Answer

Why

Correct — B. Sentence 1 introduces the topic in full, ocean acidification, with its cause, so it opens.

Sentence 3 narrows to one victim: coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to 'acidification', the short form of a term already introduced.

Sentence 2's This points back to that harm and widens it to marine biodiversity. Sentence 4's call for urgent action closes → 1-3-2-4, option (b).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
2-3-1-4 — Opens with sentence 2's This, which has nothing before it to point back to — a passage cannot begin with 'This leads to'.
(c)
3-1-2-4 — Opens on the detail, sentence 3. Particularly and the bare 'acidification' both assume the topic is already introduced, which sentence 1 does only afterwards.
(d)
4-1-2-3 — Opens with the call to action — 'reduce emissions and mitigate damage' — before any emissions or damage are mentioned, and ends on coral reefs after the conclusion.

Concept

With no connector such as 'Therefore' to anchor it, order this jumble from general to specific, then to a response: the problem and its cause (1), one group it hits especially hard (3), the wider consequence (2), and what must be done (4).

Two words fix the middle. Particularly singles out coral reefs, so the general topic must already be in view. This needs something already said to point to.

Option (c) reads almost smoothly, since coral reefs make a vivid opening. What breaks it is that sentence 3 leans on a topic nobody has introduced yet — 'acidification' without 'ocean', and 'particularly' without a wider picture.

Key facts

A sentence opening with This + verb needs an antecedent, so it cannot open a passage.
'Particularly' singles out one member of a group already in view.
Introduce a term in full before its short form: 'ocean acidification' before 'acidification'.
Ocean acidification is the fall in seawater pH caused mainly by the ocean absorbing carbon dioxide from the air.

Study next

Reference words in jumbles: This, These, It, TheyGeneral-to-specific order in problem-cause-effect passagesClosing sentences: calls to action and conclusions

Common traps

Opening with sentence 3 because coral reefs make a vivid start — its 'particularly' assumes the topic is already set.
Opening with the call to action — sentence 4 asks to 'reduce emissions and mitigate damage' before either is mentioned.

A This-sentence also cannot open at 14 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.24, where 'This makes them ideal for tasks like image recognition' goes last and the key is 2, 4, 3, 1.

Coral reefs return at 18 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.25, where the general statement 'Coral reefs are vital marine ecosystems' opens the passage.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Para jumbles — all 83 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.