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Difficulty: HardParagraph Reordering and Placement

The following paragraphs are from an essay. For the sake of the logic and cohesion of this essay, in what order should the numbered paragraphs be arranged?

  1. 1[1]
    In 1964, radio astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were using a large horn antenna in Holmdel, New Jersey, to map signals from the Milky Way. Their efforts, however, were plagued by a persistent, low-frequency buzz that remained constant regardless of which direction they pointed the antenna.
  2. 2[2]
    Determined to eliminate this interference, the pair systematically checked every potential source of noise. They cleaned the antenna, replaced loose wiring, and even removed a pair of pigeons that had nested inside the horn. Yet, despite these thorough efforts, the mysterious hiss continued to register at a temperature of about three Kelvin.
  3. 3[3]
    Meanwhile, at nearby Princeton University, a team of physicists led by Robert Dicke was theorizing that the birth of the universe would have left behind a faint, uniform remnant radiation. When Dicke heard about the Holmdel signal, he realized that the two astronomers had unwittingly found the cosmic microwave background.
  4. 4[4]
    This accidental discovery provided the first definitive empirical evidence for the Big Bang theory, transforming cosmology from a speculative science into a precise physical discipline. The finding was so monumental that it eventually earned Penzias and Wilson the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Answer

The paragraphs should be ordered as: [1] introducing the experiment and the unexplained buzz, [2] detailing the efforts to eliminate this interference, [3] describing the theoretical work at Princeton that explained the Holmdel signal, and [4] concluding with the historical significance of this accidental discovery.
The correct order follows a clear logical progression: first, the problem is introduced; second, efforts to resolve the problem are detailed; third, a parallel theoretical discovery is linked to the problem; and fourth, the long-term impact of the discovery is summarized.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory paragraph.
The paragraph starting in 1964 introducing Penzias and Wilson is identified as the opening paragraph.
It sets the context, introduces the key actors and the apparatus, and presents the initial problem (a persistent buzz) without relying on preceding transitions.
2
Link the initial problem to the troubleshooting efforts.
The paragraph beginning 'Determined to eliminate this interference' must immediately follow the introduction of the buzz.
The phrase 'this interference' serves as a direct pronoun-antecedent link to the 'persistent, low-frequency buzz' mentioned in the first paragraph, and details their steps to address it.
3
Find the explanation for the mystery signal.
The paragraph starting with 'Meanwhile, at nearby Princeton University' is placed third.
It introduces a simultaneous event ('Meanwhile') where Robert Dicke's team theorized about remnant radiation, and directly links their work to the 'Holmdel signal' (the unresolved noise registered in the second paragraph).
4
Determine the concluding paragraph summarizing the impact.
The paragraph starting with 'This accidental discovery' is placed last.
The phrase 'This accidental discovery' refers back to the identification of the cosmic microwave background in the third paragraph, and summarizes the scientific impact and awards that followed.

Key Concept

Paragraph Placement and Cohesion Clues
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Paragraph Reordering and Placement

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