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Difficulty: MediumSentence Reordering and Placement

The following paragraph is from an essay about transit history.

[1] In 1931, Harry Beck, a temporary draftsman for the London Underground, designed a revolutionary new map of the transit system. [2] Unlike previous maps, which plotted stations based on their true geographic locations, Beck's design was strictly schematic. [3] He realized that passengers traveling underground did not care about above-ground landmarks; they only needed to know how to navigate between stations and where to transfer. [4] This functional simplicity was initially rejected by the Underground's publicity department, which deemed the design too radical for the public. [5] Nevertheless, when a trial run of the pocket-sized map was distributed in 1933, it became an instant success.

For the sake of the logic and cohesion of the paragraph, the following sentence should be added:

"To achieve this schematic look, he represented the subway lines using only horizontal, vertical, or forty-five-degree diagonal paths."

Where is the most logical placement for this sentence?

  1. A
    After Sentence 1
  2. After Sentence 2Answer
  3. C
    After Sentence 3
  4. D
    After Sentence 4

Answer

After Sentence 2
The correct placement is after Sentence 2. The target sentence begins with the transition phrase 'To achieve this schematic look,' which requires a preceding mention of a schematic design. Sentence 2 concludes by stating that 'Beck's design was strictly schematic,' providing the perfect logical antecedent. Additionally, the target sentence elaborates on how the map was schematic, serving as a bridge between the definition of the design in Sentence 2 and the rationale behind it in Sentence 3.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence to be inserted for logical markers and pronouns.
The target sentence contains the phrase 'this schematic look,' indicating it must follow a sentence that introduces the map's schematic nature.
Identifying transition words or demonstrative pronouns helps establish the necessary connection to the preceding text.
2
Scan the paragraph to locate the logical antecedent for the key phrase.
Sentence 2 states that 'Beck's design was strictly schematic,' providing the direct and necessary context for 'this schematic look.'
A demonstrative pronoun like 'this' must refer back to a noun or concept mentioned immediately prior.
3
Evaluate the surrounding sentences to ensure placing the sentence at the candidate spot does not disrupt the narrative flow.
Placing the sentence after Sentence 2 allows it to detail the schematic design before Sentence 3 explains the underlying reasoning and Sentence 4 introduces the rejection of 'This functional simplicity.'
Ensuring the overall cohesion of the paragraph prevents breaking other established logical transitions.

Key Concept

Identifying demonstrative pronoun antecedents and maintaining chronological/logical paragraph progression are essential for correct sentence placement.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Sentence Reordering and Placement

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