Question

Difficulty: MediumOpening and Concluding Sentences

The following sentences are from a paragraph about the use of falconry at airports. Arrange the sentences in the most logical order to create a cohesive paragraph that begins with a clear introduction of the problem and ends with a strong concluding thought.

  1. 1At busy commercial airports, bird strikes pose a significant threat to aircraft, often causing severe engine damage during takeoff and landing.
  2. 2To combat this hazard, many airfields have turned to falconry, employing trained birds of prey to patrol the runways.
  3. 3These raptors naturalistically deter flocking birds, like gulls and starlings, without the need for chemical repellents or loud, disruptive noisemakers.
  4. 4Ultimately, this ancient hunting art provides a highly effective, environmentally friendly solution to a modern aviation safety challenge.

Answer

The correct sequence begins with the introduction of the bird strike threat, followed by the introduction of falconry as a solution, then the details of how the raptors deter flocking birds, and ends with the concluding summary sentence.
The correct order establishes a logical progression: first, the paragraph defines the problem of bird strikes; second, it introduces falconry as the solution; third, it describes how the raptors operate; and finally, it concludes by reflecting on the effectiveness of this ancient art for a modern problem.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory sentence.
The sentence about bird strikes posing a threat to aircraft at busy airports is identified as the opener because it introduces the primary topic without relying on external pronouns or transitional hooks.
An effective introduction must establish the subject and context independently.
2
Determine the logical next sentence by looking for transitional links.
The sentence introducing falconry is placed second because it starts with 'To combat this hazard,' which directly refers back to the threat of bird strikes.
Cohesion is maintained by connecting the solution directly to the defined hazard.
3
Find the detail sentence that follows the solution introduction.
The sentence detailing how the raptors deter flocking birds is placed third because it uses the pointer 'These raptors' to refer back to the 'trained birds of prey'.
Pronoun antecedents must be established in preceding sentences to avoid ambiguity.
4
Identify the concluding sentence.
The sentence starting with 'Ultimately' is placed last because it summarizes the overall paragraph and provides a cohesive conclusion.
Concluding sentences resolve the discussion by connecting the specific solution back to the broader challenge.

Key Concept

Opening and Concluding Sentences
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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