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Question

Difficulty: EasySequence of Events

Before she became the chief architect of the city’s botanical conservatory, Elena spent three years studying historic glasshouses in Europe. Her landmark design for the conservatory’s main pavilion was approved by the city council in 2012, shortly after she returned to the United States. Construction on the pavilion began the following year, though the grand opening was delayed until 2015 due to an unusually wet winter that halted progress on the gardens.

According to the passage, which of the following events occurred first?

  1. Elena studied historic glasshouses in Europe.Answer
  2. B
    Construction began on the conservatory's main pavilion.
  3. C
    An unusually wet winter delayed progress on the gardens.
  4. D
    The botanical conservatory held its grand opening.

Answer

Elena studied historic glasshouses in Europe.
The passage states that 'Before she became the chief architect... Elena spent three years studying historic glasshouses in Europe.' Since all other events—design approval, construction, the wet winter, and the grand opening—took place after she returned to the United States and became the architect, her studies in Europe occurred first.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the time markers and relative clauses in the text.
The text features relative time words ('Before', 'shortly after', 'following year', 'delayed until') to order the events.
Understanding narrative chronology requires locating transitional words.
2
Map the events to their relative chronology.
Studies in Europe (first) -> Return to US -> Design approved in 2012 -> Construction begins in 2013 -> Wet winter delays -> Grand opening in 2015.
Reconstructing the timeline from earliest to latest clarifies the sequence.
3
Match the earliest event to the choices.
Elena studying glasshouses in Europe is the first event, occurring before all other listed events.
Determining which option aligns with the start of the timeline solves the question.

Key Concept

Tracking the chronological order of events in a passage
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Topics

Sequence of Events

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