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Question

Difficulty: HardSupporting Claims with Evidence and Details

The following sentences are from a draft of an essay about forest ecology. To ensure that the paragraph logically builds its claim that mycorrhizal networks facilitate active cooperation among trees, in what order should the sentences be arranged?

  1. 1Historically, ecologists conceptualized forests as competitive arenas where individual trees vied independently for resources.
  2. 2This adversarial model was challenged by the discovery of mycorrhizal networks, which connect tree roots through symbiotic fungal threads.
  3. 3Specifically, studies using isotope tracing showed that mature 'hub' trees funnel surplus carbon and water directly to struggling, shaded seedlings.
  4. 4In addition to nutrients, these networks convey biochemical warning signals that allow neighboring trees to prepare defenses against impending insect infestations.

Answer

The paragraph should begin with the sentence establishing the historical view of forest competition, followed by the introduction of mycorrhizal networks, then the specific evidence of nutrient transfer, and finally the detail about warning signals.
The paragraph flows logically from a general historical context of forest competition to a new model that challenges it, followed by specific examples of how that model operates. The sentence starting with 'Historically, ecologists' sets the baseline. The sentence starting with 'This adversarial model' transitions using a demonstrative adjective pointing back to the first sentence. The sentence starting with 'Specifically, studies' provides the initial concrete evidence of nutrient transfer. The final sentence, beginning 'In addition to nutrients,' adds information about warning signals, relying on the previous sentence to establish the concept of nutrients.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory sentence that establishes the paragraph's baseline context.
The sentence starting with 'Historically, ecologists' introduces the traditional paradigm of forests as competitive arenas, setting the stage for a counter-argument.
Paragraphs generally begin with broader context or the initial state of a theory before introducing new evidence or discoveries.
2
Identify the sentence that directly transitions from and challenges the baseline concept.
The sentence starting with 'This adversarial model' directly references the 'competitive arenas' established in the previous sentence and introduces the mycorrhizal networks.
The demonstrative pronoun 'this' in 'This adversarial model' functions as a cohesive tie that must immediately follow the description of competition.
3
Place the first piece of concrete evidence supporting the cooperative network claim.
The sentence starting with 'Specifically, studies' details how the networks function to share nutrients (carbon and water).
The transition 'specifically' signals that a concrete example or data point is being provided to substantiate the general claim of the network's discovery.
4
Position the final detail that builds upon the previous evidence.
The sentence starting with 'In addition to nutrients' introduces a second function of the network (biochemical warning signals).
The transition 'In addition to nutrients' depends on the nutrient sharing details established in the preceding sentence, placing this sentence logically at the end of the sequence.

Key Concept

Arranging sentences logically to build a claim using structural and transitional clues.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Supporting Claims with Evidence and Details

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