Question

Difficulty: Very hardParagraph Reordering and Placement

[1]
For decades, scholars of Mayan civilization viewed the glyphs carved into ancient stone monuments as purely astronomical tables or mystical symbols. This dominant theory, championed by the influential archaeologist J.E.S. Thompson, posited that the Maya were a peaceful, time-obsessed people whose writing did not record historical events or individuals.

[2]
Her breakthrough came while studying the stelae at Piedras Negras, a Maya site in Guatemala. She noticed that the monuments were dedicated in series, with each set spanning a period of about sixty years. By mapping the dates of these carvings against the life spans of average humans, Proskouriakoff deduced that the carvings actually told the historical stories of real rulers—recording births, accessions to the throne, and military victories.

[3]
As a result of this discovery, the decipherment of Maya writing accelerated rapidly. Scholars began to read the history of dynasties, warfare, and alliances, completely transforming our understanding of the Maya from a passive priestly class to a dynamic, politically complex society. Today, Proskouriakoff is recognized not only for her architectural drawings but for unlocking the human history of a lost empire.

[4]
This assumption began to crumble in the mid-twentieth century when Tatiana Proskouriakoff, an illustrator and self-taught scholar, applied a fresh perspective to the carvings. Rather than treating the glyphs as abstract cosmic calculations, she approached them with a keen eye for pattern recognition and architectural draftsmanship.

[5]
Indeed, the legacy of her research extends far beyond the walls of museums. The glyphs once deemed unreadable now speak in the voices of their creators, offering a rich narrative of Mayan life written by the Maya themselves.

For the sake of the logic and cohesion of this essay, where should Paragraph 4 be placed?

  1. A
    where it is now
  2. B
    before Paragraph 1
  3. after Paragraph 1Answer
  4. D
    after Paragraph 2

Answer

after Paragraph 1
Placing Paragraph 4 immediately after Paragraph 1 creates a coherent and logical narrative. Paragraph 1 establishes the dominant assumption (that Maya glyphs were purely astronomical). Paragraph 4 naturally follows by stating that 'This assumption began to crumble' and introducing Tatiana Proskouriakoff. This introduction then provides a clear antecedent for the pronoun 'Her' at the beginning of Paragraph 2, which details her breakthrough. Finally, Paragraph 3 details the direct result of that breakthrough ('As a result of this discovery'), followed by the concluding legacy in Paragraph 5.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify transition words, pronouns, and chronological cues at the beginning of each paragraph.
Paragraph 4 begins with 'This assumption,' Paragraph 2 begins with 'Her breakthrough,' and Paragraph 3 begins with 'As a result of this discovery.'
These cohesive markers require specific preceding information to establish clear reference and logical flow.
2
Locate the referent for the phrase 'This assumption' in Paragraph 4.
The referent is the dominant theory described in Paragraph 1 (that Maya writing did not record history).
Paragraph 4 must follow Paragraph 1 to provide the context for what assumption is crumbling.
3
Locate the referent for the pronoun 'Her' in Paragraph 2.
The pronoun refers to Tatiana Proskouriakoff, who is introduced in Paragraph 4.
Paragraph 4 must precede Paragraph 2 so that the pronoun has a clear, previously established antecedent.
4
Verify the overall sequence of paragraphs with the new placement.
The sequence of Paragraph 1 -> Paragraph 4 -> Paragraph 2 -> Paragraph 3 -> Paragraph 5 flows logically from introducing the old theory, to challenging it, to the specific breakthrough, to the wider impact, and finally to the legacy.
This sequence maintains perfect structural cohesion and chronological order.

Key Concept

Determining the logical placement of a paragraph within an essay by tracing transitional links, pronoun-antecedent relationships, and chronological developments.
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