Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardSentence Reordering and Placement

The following paragraph is from an essay about the history of geology.

[1] In 1912, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, suggesting that Earth’s continents were once joined in a single landmass. [2] He pointed to the matching shapes of South America and Africa as primary evidence. [3] However, most geologists rejected this idea because Wegener could not explain the mechanical force that could move entire continents. [4] Decades later, the discovery of seafloor spreading provided the missing mechanism, vindicating his hypothesis. [5] This vast supercontinent, which he named Pangaea, had supposedly broken apart millions of years ago.

To make the paragraph most logical, where should Sentence 5 be placed?

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

Answer

after Sentence 1
Placing the sentence after Sentence 1 is the most logical because the phrase 'This vast supercontinent' in the sentence must immediately follow its antecedent, 'a single landmass,' which is introduced in Sentence 1. This sequence allows the passage to introduce Pangaea and its subsequent breakup before presenting the evidence of that breakup in the following sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target sentence, Sentence 5, for transitional clues and references.
Sentence 5 begins with the demonstrative phrase 'This vast supercontinent,' indicating that a supercontinent or large landmass must be mentioned in the immediately preceding sentence.
Demonstrative adjectives like 'this' or 'these' require a clear, nearby antecedent to maintain logical coherence.
2
Scan the paragraph to locate the introduction of a single large landmass.
Sentence 1 introduces Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, suggesting that all continents were once 'joined in a single landmass.'
This is the only place in the paragraph where a single, unified landmass is described, making it the necessary referent for 'This vast supercontinent.'
3
Evaluate the chronological and narrative flow of the paragraph with the proposed placement.
Placing Sentence 5 after Sentence 1 defines the supercontinent (Pangaea) immediately after introducing it. Sentence 2 then naturally follows by providing evidence (matching shapes of South America and Africa) of this breakup, maintaining a logical progression.
Paragraph unity depends on grouping related ideas together and moving from general assertions (the theory and its subject) to specific details (the supporting evidence).

Key Concept

Sentence Placement and Cohesion
Rate this question

Topics

Sentence Reordering and Placement

More questions from this topic