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Difficulty: MediumSupporting Claims with Evidence and Details

The sentences below are from a draft of a biographical essay about inventor Mary Anderson. Arrange the sentences in the most logical order to show how Anderson's observations of a transportation hazard led directly to her development of a practical safety device.

  1. 1In 1903, while riding a streetcar on a freezing day in New York City, Mary Anderson observed a driver struggling to see through the sleet-covered windshield.
  2. 2Because the vehicle lacked any mechanism to clean the glass, the driver had to keep the window open, which let the frigid wind and wet snow blast into the passenger cabin.
  3. 3Determined to find a solution, Anderson sketched a design for a rubber blade attached to a lever inside the vehicle that allowed the driver to wipe the pane without opening the window.
  4. 4This manually operated device effectively cleared the windshield, establishing a functional safety standard that would eventually become mandatory on all automobiles.

Answer

The correct sequence begins with the introduction of Mary Anderson's streetcar ride, followed by the description of the driver's struggle with the open window, then the detail about Anderson's sketch of the rubber blade and lever, and ends with the evaluation of the device's success.
The correct order follows a clear chronological and logical progression: first, the setting and initial observation are established; second, the specific problem is detailed; third, the invention is designed to solve that problem; and fourth, the final success and legacy of the device are stated.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory sentence that establishes the setting and core subject.
The sentence introducing Mary Anderson in 1903 on a New York City streetcar must be placed first.
It provides the necessary background and introduces the driver's struggle, which is the starting point of the narrative.
2
Find the sentence that elaborates on the specific problem or hazard introduced in the first step.
The sentence beginning with 'Because the vehicle lacked any mechanism...' must be placed second.
It directly explains the cause of the driver's struggle and describes the resulting passenger discomfort and hazard.
3
Determine the sentence that describes the action taken to resolve the described problem.
The sentence starting with 'Determined to find a solution...' must be placed third.
It describes Anderson's design process, which is a direct response to the problem of the open window described in the preceding sentence.
4
Locate the sentence that evaluates the success and long-term impact of the invention.
The sentence starting with 'This manually operated device...' must be placed last.
The demonstrative adjective 'This' refers back to the device described in the third step, and the sentence provides a logical conclusion by noting the device's historical significance.

Key Concept

Logical sequencing of supporting details
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Topics

Supporting Claims with Evidence and Details

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