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Difficulty: MediumSequential Steps and Chronology

Read the following excerpt from a restoration guide for a traditional hand fan:

"To restore a nineteenth-century hand fan, follow these instructions carefully to preserve its delicate materials. First, brush away surface dust from the guards using a dry, soft goat-hair brush. Before attempting to re-attach any loose ribs to the leaf, you must first repair any tears in the paper or silk. Apply small pieces of Japanese tissue paper with wheat starch paste to the reverse side of the damaged areas. Only after this adhesive has dried completely should you apply a thin layer of paste to the ribs to re-secure them to the leaf. Once the ribs are fixed, place the fan between sheets of blotting paper under light weights for twenty-four hours. Finally, re-secure the pivot pin at the base once the fan is dry."

Based on the instructions, which of the following must occur immediately before the restorer applies adhesive to re-secure the ribs to the fan leaf?

  1. A
    Placing the fan between sheets of blotting paper under light weights
  2. Allowing the adhesive on the repaired tears of the leaf to dry completelyAnswer
  3. C
    Brushing away surface dust from the guards using a soft goat-hair brush
  4. D
    Re-securing the pivot pin at the base of the hand fan

Answer

Allowing the adhesive on the repaired tears of the leaf to dry completely
The guide specifies that the adhesive used to repair the leaf tears must dry completely before the restorer can apply starch paste to re-secure the ribs. Therefore, waiting for the leaf adhesive to dry is the step that must occur immediately before re-securing the ribs.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target action specified in the question.
The target action is the restorer applying adhesive to re-secure the ribs to the fan leaf.
Locating this action in the instructions allows us to determine its chronological position.
2
Analyze the sentences surrounding the target action to find chronological markers.
The text states: 'Only after this adhesive has dried completely should you apply a thin layer of paste to the ribs to re-secure them to the leaf.'
The phrase 'Only after' indicates a mandatory chronological prerequisite that must be completed first.
3
Determine what 'this adhesive' refers to in the text.
The preceding sentence mentions applying wheat starch paste to the reverse side of the damaged areas (tears in the leaf). Therefore, 'this adhesive' refers to the glue on the repaired leaf tears.
Identifying the referent ensures we select the correct physical step described in the text.

Key Concept

Identifying chronological order and prerequisite steps in instructional guides
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Topics

Sequential Steps and Chronology

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