CAT 2025 Slot 1 VARC Question & Solution
Question
The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: "Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico," Ava emphasizes.
Paragraph: The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments. ____(1) ____. When crafting a Mexican guitarron used in mariachi music, they use tacote wood for the top of the instrument. Once the wood is cut, they carve the neck and heel from a single block using tools like hand saws, chisels and sandpaper rather than modern power tools — and believe that this traditional method improves the tone of the instrument. ____(2) ____. Their store has a three-year waitlist for instruments that take months to create. ____(3) ____. The family's artisanship has attracted stars like Los Lobos, who own custom guitars made by all three generations of the Delgado family. ____(4) ____. For the sisters, involvement in the family business started at an early age. They each built their first instruments at age 9.
Options
Solution
Main Idea of the Paragraph
The paragraph describes how the Delgado sisters remain committed to traditional instrument-making. It follows a clear structure:
- Begins with a general statement about inherited methods
- Moves on to specific examples of tools, materials, and techniques
- Concludes by discussing the craft’s success, legacy, and continuity across generations
Overall, the paragraph highlights how tradition is preserved and passed down within the family.
Explanation of the Correct Answer
Why Position (1) Is the Best Fit
The missing sentence is a direct quote that emphasizes the sisters’ use of old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico.
- The opening line states that the sisters “embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments.”
- Placing the quote at blank (1) allows Ava’s words to:
- Clarify what “embracing those ways” actually means
- Set up the reader for the detailed discussion that follows about materials, tools, and construction methods
This placement strengthens the transition from a general claim to concrete details.
Why the Other Positions Do Not Work
-
Blank (2) or (3):
- Would interrupt the flow after technical details or after discussion of commercial success
- Makes the quote feel disruptive rather than explanatory
-
Blank (4):
- Comes too late in the paragraph
- By this point, the focus has shifted to fame and childhood involvement
- The quote would feel out of place and disconnected