The following sentences describe the historical development of the vaccine for smallpox. In what order should these sentences be arranged to form a logically coherent chronological narrative?
- 1In the early eighteenth century, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduced variolation—the inoculation of healthy people with active smallpox pustules—to Western Europe, having witnessed its success in the Ottoman Empire.
- 2Decades later, in 1796, English physician Edward Jenner hypothesized that exposure to cowpox, a milder disease, could provide immunity to smallpox without the extreme risks associated with variolation.
- 3To test this hypothesis, Jenner inoculated a young boy with cowpox matter and, after the boy recovered, subsequently exposed him to active smallpox, demonstrating that the boy was indeed immune.
- 4Ultimately, this pioneering experiment laid the groundwork for modern immunology, leading to the global eradication of the disease in 1980.
Answer
The correct sequence of sentences is: first, the sentence introducing Lady Montagu and the practice of variolation; second, the sentence describing Edward Jenner's 1796 hypothesis; third, the sentence explaining the experiment to test this hypothesis; and finally, the sentence concluding with the global eradication of smallpox in 1980.
The correct order follows a clear chronological progression (from the early eighteenth century to 1796, then to the testing phase, and finally to the long-term impact in 1980) and respects pronouns and determiners ('this hypothesis' and 'this pioneering experiment') that link sentences together.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Transitions: Chronology and Sequence
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