‘Pattern Identification’ refers to the technique of understanding the pattern of information presentation in a passage. A crucial question which students ask when preparing for the CAT exam, is how to identify patterns in CAT RC? Before understanding pattern identification, it is important to know that pattern in RC is not connected to questions which follow. CAT VARC has 16 RC questions, from which 4 Reading Comprehension have 4 questions each.
The layout of a passage is crucial to understand, it includes the tone of the passage, how multiple paragraphs are interconnected, main idea and lastly the primary objective of the passage. All of these components help identify the pattern of RCs which helps answer the questions that follow. To identify patterns in CAT RC, it is important to first learn how to identify the main idea of a passage. Typically, the main idea or primary objective is found in the first paragraph of the passage.
Next, step is to identify the passages which support, criticize, compare, provide examples or connect the main idea to a global platform through examples or suggest recommendations. When you try to identify patterns in CAT RC, you have to have a bird’s-eye view. This is the best technique which helps you get clarity and precision when answering the related questions.
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What is Pattern in CAT RC’s
Pattern refers to how ideas are presented or arranged in a passage and how different sides of an argument based on the main idea develop throughout the paragraphs in a passage. Students tend to confuse patterns in RC with the topic of the passage. The topic of a passage is the broad theme of the RC. It is not the pattern. Pattern is more precise and deals with the details on the main theme. Most of the CAT passages follow broad structures as highlighted below.
| Understanding Flow of a Passage in CAT VARC for Pattern Identification | ||
| Primary Flow Area | Secondary Flow Area | Tertiary Flow Area |
| Problem | Explanation | Solution |
| Old Idea | Criticism | New Idea |
| Phenomenon | Causes | Implications |
| Theory | Evidence | Limitation |
| Contrast Between View Points | One View Point | Another View Point |
| Narrative | Abstract Ideas | Abstract Conclusion |
How to Identify Flow in CAT RCs
Identification of flow in CAT RC is not easy, it takes lots of practice and precision to reach a level where you can easily identify the type of passage. Topic of a passage is given, what you need to identify are the main idea, the type of passage, its flow and pattern. The flow of a passage in RC is similar to the pattern. Flow refers to the structure which helps identify the pattern. It is important to learn how to identify flow in CAT RC to easily solve the set of 4 questions which follow a given passage.
| Flow in CAT RCs | |
| How to Identify CAT RC Passage Flow | Number of Passages to Practice |
| Learn Common Patterns and Identify Them in Practice | 30-40 |
Simple 3-Step Method to Identify Pattern in CAT RC’s
Step 1 – Track What Each Paragraph Does
The main idea is not to focus on the details of different paragraphs in a given passage but to ask questions related to the paragraphs. To be able to track paragraphs in the passage, you’ll have to identify the function of the paragraph rather than summarising its contents. The type of questions you need to ask when reading a CAT RC passage are given below.
| How to Understand the Importance of Each Paragraph in CAT RC | |
| Paragraph Number | Question to Ask |
| Paragraph 1 | What is it doing? Is it introducing the topic or setting up a debate? |
| Paragraph 2 | Is it explaining something or giving background? |
| Paragraph 3 | Is it criticising or introducing a twist? |
| Paragraph 4 | Is it concluding or generalising? |
Step 2 – Watch Out for ‘Shift Words’ in a Passage
‘Shift words’ change the course of a passage. To identify patterns, you have to understand different types of shift words used throughout the content. These words act as clues for the reader telling them that the direction of the passage changes after this word. If you miss these words, you may miss the real turning point of a passage and may fail to correctly identify the pattern. ‘Shift words’ can be better understood with the help of examples.
| How to Identify Shift Words in a CAT RC’s | |
| Shift Type | Shift Words Examples |
| Contrast | However, But, Yet and Although |
| Addition | Moreover, Further and Similarly |
| Cause-Effect | Therefore, Thus and Consequently |
| Surprise/Critique | Ironically and Paradoxically |
Step 3 – Ask One Key Question to Yourself
After reading an RC passage completely, it is important to question yourself about what you just read to build clarity on the pattern and easily solve 4 questions per passage. The kind of question you need to ask yourself relates to the main idea, flow of the passage, and the passage pattern. The key question you need to ask yourself is as follows:
- ‘What is the author doing across the passage?’
Additional supporting questions you may ask to help you understand the big picture are as follows:
- Is the author criticising something?
- Is the author building an argument?
- Is the author explaining a paradox?
For example, let’s assume a passage is structured as given below.
| Sample Passage | |
| Paragraph Number | What Each Paragraph Talks About |
| Paragraph 1 | Introduces optimism about AI |
| Paragraph 2 | Explains its benefits |
| Paragraph 3 | Introduces hidden risks |
| Paragraph 4 | Argues we underestimate these risks |
In the above passage example, a student has to identify the pattern which is as follows:
- Surface Praise → Underlying Critique
The main objective of providing this passage example was to identify that the passage was not just about AI. Instead, it was about the gap between perception and reality.
How to Answer CAT RC Passage Questions
For questions based on the main idea, you have to learn to identify the main idea correctly. Taking the sample passage discussed in step 3 as an example, instead of choosing ‘this passage discusses AI’ you will choose ‘the passage critiques the uncritical optimism around AI.’ Another type of questions asked are elimination-based. To solve them, you’ll have to understand the pattern of the passage. For instance, if your passage pattern is ‘critique’, you’ll eliminate all options with a ‘neutral description’.
| How to Answer the 4 Questions Related to Passage | |
| Question Type | Method |
| Main Idea | Do not choose the answer related to the ‘topic’ by confusing it with the ‘main idea’. |
| Inference | Know the author’s stance, whether it is critical, neutral, analytical, etc. and eliminate the options not matching the tone. |
| Elimination | Eliminate those answers which do not match the pattern of a passage even if it sounds correct. |
Key Rule to Identify Pattern in CAT RC’s
‘Do not read a CAT RC passage for what it is or what it says but read it for why it says something and how it changes.’ This rule also marks the difference between a ‘topic’ and the ‘main idea’ of a passage. The pattern of a passage is not what the passage is about but why it is talking about something or the main agenda of the topic. It is very important to not confuse the ‘topic of a passage’ with the ‘main idea.’ Here are main points to remember when solving CAT RC passages.
- Understand the ‘why’ of the content
- Don’t focus on what the topic is about
- Identify the main idea, and supporting information
- Note when and how the tone or the flow of the passage changes
