4 Rules To Crack The Paragraph Completion Questions In The Cat

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No other CAT question is as deceptively simple as a paragraph completion question. On the surface, they don't require personal tutors for CAT preparation to know or remember any rules. In fact, they require us to do something far more difficult: think like the author.
We've been mulling over an appropriate parallel to explain the process of solving Paragraph Completion questions since last week's post on Parajumbles. And all of my thoughts return to the same point - Sherlock Holmes. Picking up the scattered clues and constructing a clear chain of reasoning for anticipation are as inseparable as Sherlock and Watson.
Aside from his otherworldly observation abilities, Sherlock has one quality that even the best at Scotland Yard (or pretty much anywhere else) lack. He has the ability to THINK LIKE A CRIMINAL. He can predict what the criminal will do next based on the flimsiest of clues, such as Irene's pulse. As a result, he is always one step ahead of his prey.
Let's see how Sherlock would approach the CAT's Paragraph Completion questions:

Rule 1 for cracking Paragraph Completion Questions:
The most ...
... important thing to remember when answering Paragraph Completion questions is not to approach the answer option subjectively.
Sherlock frequently puts himself in the shoes of the criminal. He can keep his emotions, and more importantly, his own point of view, out of the equation. He gathers information from his target's observed behavior and predicts the next step the criminal will take, no matter how unlikely that step may appear.
Similarly, it is not about what I or you believe should be the paragraph's conclusion. It is up to both of us to objectively follow the writer's train of thought, pick up on the clues in the paragraph, and arrive at the intended conclusion.
This conclusion must accomplish the following goals:
a) It must add value to the given paragraph; b) it must maintain the unity of thought and structure; and c) it must be consistent in tone with the given paragraph.
This does not appear to be a difficult task. However, when considering the answer options, we may unconsciously deviate from the criteria. If we don't lose sight of the above goals, the rest is usually just a matter of following the standard patterns.

Rule 2 for cracking Paragraph Completion Questions:
Do not wait for the clues to come to you. Take your time reading the paragraph. Assume you are listening to the writer. Try to anticipate what is going to happen and look for clues that may hint at any of the following patterns.
One of the most common conclusion patterns is cause and effect. The paragraph gives us causes, and the correct answer option gives us the logical effect. Keep in mind that the effect cannot contradict the causes. In rare cases, the effects are discussed in the paragraph while the cause is deduced in the answer option.
The paragraph presents us with a situation, and the correct answer with the help of personal tutors for MBA exam suggests a possible course of action.
A counter-argument: The paragraph provides us with a viewpoint, or multiple viewpoints, elaborating on one side of the story. The correct answer option may reveal a different side of the story. This is a potentially dangerous situation because the test taker must be wary of answer options that contradict rather than contrast the contents of the paragraph. Contrast provides us with an opposing viewpoint while not invalidating the other. Contradiction effectively refutes the given paragraph's assertion. Remember that the paragraph's author will never sabotage his or her own argument.
The paragraph may present us with a series of events that follow a definite and linear timeline. The correct response option may extend it even further. Keep an eye out for answer options that are far from the timeline in the paragraph.
A problem-solving strategy: The paragraph presents us with a problem or a difficult situation, and the correct answer option may be a solution to the problem. The solution could be one of two types: A represents what can be done, and B represents what could have been done.
The paragraph contains a theory or, more likely, a theoretical discussion, and the correct answer option provides an example to explain it. Remember that incorrect answers may include examples that disprove the theory rather than accomplishing the opposite.
An argument's reinforcement: Another extremely common structure for a paragraph. The argument is contained in the paragraph, and the correct answer option is the appropriate substantiation of it. Remember that the incorrect answer may not adequately support the argument.

Rule 3 for cracking Paragraph Completion Questions:
Elimination is frequently as effective as selection. The following answer options are almost always incorrect.
Irrelevant: These are conclusions that are either completely unrelated to or only tangentially related to the paragraph. If they are the latter, they provide no reason why they should be the concluding lines.
Repetition: A theme cannot be extended by repeating what has already been stated, either directly or indirectly. Remember the "completion" part. It only makes sense if the information in the last line adds value to the Paragraph that comes before it.
Contradiction: The final line cannot refute what the paragraph has attempted to prove.
Too broad: This is the type of response option that exaggerates the scope of the argument beyond what is reasonable. For example, the paragraph may only concern who will be the next governor of Texas, and the (wrong) answer option concludes by abruptly bringing up the topic of the next US president.
Too narrow - In this case, the incorrect answer option focuses on a very minor aspect of the paragraph and thus fails to complete the passage's larger theme.
Inconsistent tone - Be wary of options that are clearly out of sync with the passage's tone. The most common example is a formal-toned paragraph with an extremely informal proposed conclusion.
New themes - Possibly the most deceiving of all. Such new themes are always related to the paragraph's ongoing discussion, but they cannot be introduced right away. The writer may discuss them in the following or subsequent paragraphs, but not in this one. Consider whether this option is more likely to end this paragraph or to begin the next. If it's the latter, you've got the wrong answer.

Rule 4 for cracking Paragraph Completion Questions:
To answer Paragraph Completion questions, you must use a combination of observation, deduction, empathy, and, most importantly, instinct. Even a moderately difficult paragraph completion question requires us to take a risk. Do not be afraid to take risks, because the only way to learn what to do is to first learn what not to do.