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Difficulty: MediumParagraph-Level Transitions

The following paragraphs are from an essay about the decipherment of Mayan hieroglyphs. Arrange the paragraphs in the most logical order to create a cohesive passage.

  1. 1For over a century, scholars viewed Mayan hieroglyphs as purely symbolic, believing the intricate carvings represented mystical ideas rather than a spoken language. Prominent archaeologists insisted that the glyphs could not be translated phonetically. This rigid consensus stifled progress, leaving the mysterious stone inscriptions in the jungles of Central America unreadable.
  2. 2This scholarly deadlock began to break in the 1950s when Yuri Knorozov, a Soviet linguist, proposed a radical new approach. Knorozov suggested that the glyphs were actually logosemantic, combining both word symbols and phonetic signs representing syllables. By matching the glyphs to spoken Mayan dialects still used by indigenous populations, he demonstrated that the writing system could indeed be read phonetically.
  3. 3Building on Knorozov's phonetic breakthrough, other researchers gradually cracked the code of the remaining symbols. Today, epigraphers can read over ninety percent of classic Mayan inscriptions. This collective effort has transformed our understanding of Mesoamerican history, revealing detailed records of dynasties, wars, and daily life directly from the voices of the Maya themselves.

Answer

The paragraphs should be ordered as follows: first, the paragraph describing the initial scholarly consensus that Mayan glyphs were not phonetic; second, the paragraph introducing Yuri Knorozov's breakthrough that challenged this deadlock; and third, the paragraph detailing the subsequent decipherment and legacy of this research.
The correct order establishes a logical progression: it starts with the historical consensus that glyphs were not phonetic, transitions to Yuri Knorozov breaking this scholarly deadlock in the 1950s, and ends with how other researchers built on Knorozov's breakthrough to read classic Mayan inscriptions today.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the opening sentences of each paragraph to identify transitional words or reference phrases.
One paragraph begins with 'Building on Knorozov's phonetic breakthrough', indicating it must follow a paragraph introducing Knorozov. Another paragraph begins with 'This scholarly deadlock', implying it must follow a paragraph describing a consensus or lack of progress.
Paragraph-level transitions rely on lexical and conceptual connections, such as pronouns, demonstrative adjectives, and chronological markers.
2
Identify the introductory paragraph that establishes the initial context.
The paragraph describing the long-held belief that Mayan glyphs were purely symbolic and could not be translated phonetically sets up the context of a rigid scholarly consensus.
This paragraph has no preceding references and introduces the topic, making it the logical start.
3
Match the transition phrases to connect the remaining paragraphs.
The paragraph starting with 'This scholarly deadlock' refers to the rigid consensus described in the first paragraph. The paragraph starting with 'Building on Knorozov's phonetic breakthrough' refers to the phonetic work established in the Knorozov paragraph.
Connecting these referring phrases ensures a logical flow from consensus, to breakthrough, to modern impact.

Key Concept

Identifying paragraph-level transition cues to arrange ideas in a logical sequence.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Paragraph-Level Transitions

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