The following sentences are from a paragraph about the engineering feat of reversing the Chicago River. 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 an effective concluding sentence that summarizes the project's impact.
- 1During the late nineteenth century, Chicago faced a severe public health crisis as its sewage-polluted river emptied directly into Lake Michigan, the city's primary source of drinking water.
- 2To address this threat, the city embarked on a massive engineering project to reverse the flow of the Chicago River away from the lake.
- 3Engineers achieved this feat by excavating the Sanitary and Ship Canal, which successfully redirected the waste-filled water toward the Mississippi River basin instead.
- 4By redirecting the river's flow, Chicago not only secured a clean supply of drinking water but also established a revolutionary model for urban waste management.
Answer
The logical order begins with the introduction of the public health crisis, followed by the decision to reverse the river, then the details of how the canal redirected the water, and ends with the concluding sentence summarizing the project's impact.
The correct sequence begins with the sentence introducing Chicago's public health crisis, which provides the background context. Next comes the sentence explaining the city's decision to reverse the river to address this threat. This is followed by the sentence detailing how the canal was excavated to redirect the flow. Finally, the paragraph concludes with a sentence summarizing the dual positive outcomes of the project.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Establishing logical paragraph flow using clear opening sentences, transition words, and summarizing concluding sentences.