Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumParagraph Reordering and Placement

The following paragraphs are from a draft of an essay about the invention of the windshield wiper. Arrange the paragraphs in the most logical order to make the essay cohesive.

  1. 1During a winter visit to New York City in 1902, Mary Anderson observed a trolley driver struggling to see through the sleet. The driver had to open the front window repeatedly to brush away the ice, freezing himself and the passengers in the process. This uncomfortable sight sparked Anderson’s determination to find a solution.
  2. 2Upon returning to her home in Alabama, she began sketching designs for a hand-operated squeegee. Her invention consisted of a lever inside the vehicle that controlled a rubber blade on the outside of the windshield. A counterweight kept the blade flush against the glass, allowing the driver to clear precipitation without opening the window.
  3. 3Despite the ingenuity of her design, which she patented in 1903, the automotive industry was initially skeptical. Manufacturers believed that the moving blades would distract drivers and cause accidents. Consequently, her patent expired in 1920 before she could secure a commercial partner.
  4. 4It was only after the patent expired that windshield wipers became standard equipment in the booming automotive market. By the mid-1920s, companies began incorporating her basic mechanism into all new vehicles, finally vindicating Anderson’s visionary design.

Answer

The correct sequence begins with the paragraph introducing Mary Anderson's 1902 visit to New York City, followed by the paragraph describing her sketching designs upon returning to Alabama, then the paragraph addressing the patenting in 1903 and its 1920 expiration, and finally the paragraph detailing how the invention became standard equipment after the patent expired.
The correct sequence flows chronologically and logically. The narrative begins with Anderson's 1902 trip and her observation of a problem. Next, she returns home to create a design to solve this problem. After that, she patents the design in 1903 but faces industry skepticism until the patent expires in 1920. Finally, after the patent's expiration, the invention is adopted as standard equipment in the mid-1920s.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory paragraph.
The paragraph establishing Anderson's 1902 trip and her observation of the trolley driver is the logical introduction.
It introduces the initial problem and setting that motivated the invention.
2
Determine the subsequent step in the timeline.
The paragraph beginning with 'Upon returning' must follow the introductory paragraph.
It refers to the return from the trip mentioned in the first paragraph and explains the design process.
3
Connect the design to its reception.
The paragraph introducing the 1903 patent and the industry's skepticism follows the design description.
It transitionally references 'her design' and establishes a timeline culminating in the 1920 patent expiration.
4
Find the concluding event.
The paragraph detailing what happened after the patent expired concludes the sequence.
It opens with a direct reference to the patent expiration mentioned at the end of the preceding paragraph and details the mid-1920s outcome.

Key Concept

Paragraph Reordering and Placement
Rate this question

Topics

Paragraph Reordering and Placement

More questions from this topic