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Difficulty: MediumParagraph-Level Transitions

The paragraphs below are from an essay about the history of refrigeration. Arrange the paragraphs in the most logical order to create a cohesive passage.

  1. 1Throughout the nineteenth century, the global ice trade was dominated by the harvesting of natural ice from frozen ponds and rivers in the northern United States. Entrepreneurs stored this ice in large insulated warehouses, eventually shipping it to warm climates around the world to preserve perishable food.
  2. 2This reliance on seasonal weather, however, made the supply chain highly vulnerable to mild winters, which could trigger a severe 'ice famine' in southern cities. To address this unpredictability, inventors began developing mechanical refrigeration systems that could manufacture ice artificially.
  3. 3Once these mechanical cooling systems became commercially viable, they transformed the shipping industry by allowing railroads and steamships to transport meat and produce across vast distances without spoilage.

Answer

The paragraphs should be ordered with the introduction to natural ice harvesting first, followed by the paragraph addressing the vulnerability of seasonal harvesting and the invention of mechanical systems, and ending with the paragraph detailing the commercial impact of those mechanical systems.
The correct order establishes a logical progression of ideas. It starts by introducing the natural ice harvesting trade, transitions to the problems caused by relying on natural weather to introduce mechanical systems, and concludes by discussing the widespread impact of those mechanical systems.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the paragraph that establishes the main topic and can stand alone as an introduction.
The paragraph describing nineteenth-century natural ice harvesting is the only one that does not begin with a transitional phrase requiring prior context.
An introductory paragraph should establish the setting and topic without referencing preceding text.
2
Find the paragraph that connects to the introduction using a logical transition.
The paragraph starting with 'This reliance on seasonal weather, however' connects to the natural harvesting described in the first paragraph.
The demonstrative adjective 'this' requires an antecedent, which is the seasonal harvesting of natural ice.
3
Determine the placement of the remaining paragraph.
The paragraph starting with 'Once these mechanical cooling systems became commercially viable' follows the paragraph that introduces the invention of mechanical refrigeration systems.
The phrase 'these mechanical cooling systems' acts as a transitional hook that refers back to the 'mechanical refrigeration systems' mentioned at the end of the preceding paragraph.

Key Concept

Paragraph-Level Transitions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Paragraph-Level Transitions

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