Question

Difficulty: EasyParagraph-Level Transitions

The following paragraphs are from an essay about Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin. Arrange the paragraphs in the most logical order to create a cohesive transition flow.

  1. 1In 1928, bacteriologist Alexander Fleming returned to his lab after a vacation and noticed something unusual in one of his petri dishes.
  2. 2Specifically, he observed that a mold called *Penicillium notatum* had contaminated the dish, preventing the growth of nearby bacteria.
  3. 3Ultimately, this accidental finding led to the development of penicillin, the world's first modern antibiotic.

Answer

The correct sequence is: the introduction introducing Alexander Fleming and the unusual petri dish, followed by the specific details about the mold contamination, and concluding with the long-term impact of the penicillin discovery.
The paragraph introducing Alexander Fleming and the unusual petri dish sets the context. The paragraph starting with 'Specifically' details that unusual observation. The final paragraph starting with 'Ultimately' summarizes the overall impact of the discovery.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory paragraph.
The paragraph starting with 'In 1928, bacteriologist Alexander Fleming returned...' does not rely on any preceding transition words and sets up the narrative context.
An effective passage opening provides necessary background context rather than building on previous sentences.
2
Find the logical connection for the middle paragraph.
The paragraph starting with 'Specifically, he observed...' details the unusual observation mentioned in the introduction.
The transition word 'Specifically' signals that the writer is narrowing focus to describe the 'something unusual' mentioned in the previous sentence.
3
Determine the concluding paragraph.
The paragraph starting with 'Ultimately, this accidental finding...' summarizes the outcome of the discovery.
The transition word 'Ultimately' and the phrase 'this accidental finding' connect directly to the events described in the preceding paragraphs and provide a resolution.

Key Concept

Logical paragraph flow and the use of transitional words and phrases to bridge ideas.
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