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Question

Difficulty: MediumParagraph Reordering and Placement

The following paragraphs are from an essay about a breakthrough in chemistry.

[1]
In 1856, eighteen-year-old chemist William Henry Perkin set out to solve a major medical challenge: synthesizing quinine. At the time, this malaria treatment could only be extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree, making it scarce and expensive. Working in a rudimentary laboratory in his London home, Perkin hoped to create a synthetic version of the drug.

[2]
Recognizing the commercial potential of this accidental creation, Perkin quickly patented the substance, which he eventually named "mauveine." Before this breakthrough, purple garments were a luxury reserved for royalty because the dye had to be painstakingly harvested from sea snails. This mass-producible alternative democratized color in fashion almost overnight.

[3]
Instead of a clear medicinal compound, however, Perkin's experiments yielded a dark, sticky sludge at the bottom of his beaker. Rather than discarding the mess, he decided to clean the container with alcohol. In doing so, he noticed that the residue dissolved into a brilliant, fade-resistant purple hue.

[4]
This sudden shift in fashion sparked a global demand for other synthetic colors, launching the modern chemical industry.

For the sake of the logic and cohesion of this essay, Paragraph 3 should be placed in which of the following locations?

  1. A
    where it is now
  2. B
    before Paragraph 1
  3. after Paragraph 1Answer
  4. D
    after Paragraph 4

Answer

after Paragraph 1
The correct answer is the option that places the paragraph after Paragraph 1. Paragraph 1 describes Perkin's goal to synthesize quinine, a medicinal drug. Paragraph 3 begins with 'Instead of a clear medicinal compound, however,' which directly contrasts with the goal in Paragraph 1. Additionally, Paragraph 3 ends by describing the discovery of a purple dye, which provides the necessary context for the start of Paragraph 2, which refers to 'this accidental creation.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the opening transition of Paragraph 3.
The phrase 'Instead of a clear medicinal compound, however' indicates that Paragraph 3 must immediately follow a paragraph describing an attempt to create a medicinal compound.
This establishes a logical contrast between the expected medicinal outcome and the actual result.
2
Identify where the medicinal compound is introduced.
Paragraph 1 introduces William Perkin's goal to synthesize quinine, which is described as a 'malaria treatment' and 'drug.'
This makes Paragraph 1 the only logical predecessor for Paragraph 3's opening transition.
3
Verify the connection between the end of Paragraph 3 and the start of Paragraph 2.
Paragraph 3 ends with the discovery of a 'brilliant, fade-resistant purple hue,' which perfectly serves as the antecedent for 'this accidental creation' at the beginning of Paragraph 2.
This ensures the flow of the entire passage is cohesive and chronological.

Key Concept

Paragraph placement depends on identifying transition words, pronoun antecedents, and chronological or logical sequences that connect separate paragraphs.
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Topics

Paragraph Reordering and Placement

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