Samuel Johnson

CAT 2017 Slot 2 · VARC · Hard · Para Jumbles

The five sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) given in this question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentences and key in this sequence of five numbers as your answer.

  1. Johnson treated English very practically, as a living language, with many different shades of meaning and adopted his definitions on the principle of English common law - according to precedent.
  2. Masking a profound inner torment, Johnson found solace in compiling the words of a language that was, in its coarse complexity and comprehensive genius, the precise analogue of his character.
  3. Samuel Johnson was a pioneer who raised common sense to heights of genius, and a man of robust popular instincts whose watchwords were clarity, precision and simplicity.
  4. The 18th century English reader, in the new world of global trade and global warfare, needed a dictionary with authoritative acts of definition of words of a language that was becoming seeded throughout the first British empire by a vigorous and practical champion.
  5. The Johnson who challenged Bishop Berkeley's solipsist theory of the nonexistence of matter by kicking a large stone ("I refute it thus") is the same Johnson for whom language must have a daily practical use.
Answer

43512

Explanation

4 is the best opening sentence. The rest of the sentences are about Samuel Johnson, who is introduced in sentence 3. So, 3 follows 4. The unit 51 follows 3: 5 states that for Johnson "language must have a daily practical use" and 1 adds to this, explaining how he treated language "very practically, as a living language". 2 concludes the paragraph. So, 43512 is the right order.

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