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Difficulty: MediumParallel Structure

The following phrases describe the steps of a scientific research project. Arrange these phrases in the correct chronological order of the scientific method to form a grammatically correct sentence that maintains parallel structure:

'To complete the study, the researchers focused on...'

  1. 1formulating the initial hypothesis,
  2. 2conducting the laboratory experiments,
  3. 3and analyzing the final data.

Answer

The correct order of phrases to complete the sentence is: 'formulating the initial hypothesis,', followed by 'conducting the laboratory experiments,', and ending with 'and analyzing the final data.'
The correct sequence follows both the logical chronological order of the scientific method (hypothesis, then experiments, then analysis) and maintains parallel structure by using gerund phrases ('formulating...', 'conducting...', 'and analyzing...') to complete the prepositional phrase started by 'focused on'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the logical sequence of events described by the steps of the scientific method.
Formulating a hypothesis must happen first, followed by conducting the experiments to test it, and finally analyzing the resulting data.
Establishing logical order is necessary to maintain the coherence and flow of the sentence.
2
Verify that all items in the list maintain parallel grammatical structure.
Each of the three items begins with a gerund ('formulating', 'conducting', and 'analyzing').
Parallel structure requires that all elements in a list or series share the same grammatical form to ensure clarity and balance.

Key Concept

Parallel structure requires that items in a series or list share the same grammatical form (e.g., all gerunds, all infinitives, or all prepositional phrases) to maintain stylistic balance and readability.
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Parallel Structure

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