CAT 2021 Question Paper | VARC Slot 2

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Question 19 : 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. The US has long maintained that the Northwest Passage is an international strait through which its commercial and military vessels have the right to pass without seeking Canada's permission.
2. Canada, which officially acquired the group of islands forming the Northwest Passage in 1880, claims sovereignty over all the shipping routes through the Passage.
3. The dispute could be transitory, however, as scientists speculate that the entire Arctic Ocean will soon be ice-free in summer, so ship owners will not have to ask for permission to sail through any of the Northwest Passage routes.
4. The US and Canada have never legally settled the question of access through the Passage, but have an agreement whereby the US needs to seek Canada's consent for any transit.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Sentence 2 is the best opening sentence, as it explains what the Northwest Passage is (a group of islands acquired by Canada in 1880). Sentence 1 relates to 2, presenting the US position on Canada’s claim of sovereignty over all shipping routes through the Passage. This leads on to the idea in sentence 4– both countries have not legally settled the question of access through the Passage yet. Sentence 3 concludes the paragraph explaining how the dispute could turn out to be transitory due to the Arctic Ocean turning ice-free in summer. So, 2143 is the correct order.

The answer is '2143'