The sentences given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the numbers as your answer.
- The eventual diagnosis was skin cancer and after treatment all seemed well.
- The viola player didn't know what it was; nor did her GP.
- Then a routine scan showed it had come back and spread to her lungs.
- It started with a lump on Cathy Perkins' index finger.
The sentences given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the numbers as your answer.
- The eventual diagnosis was skin cancer and after treatment all seemed well.
- The viola player didn't know what it was; nor did her GP.
- Then a routine scan showed it had come back and spread to her lungs.
- It started with a lump on Cathy Perkins' index finger.
Entered answer:
Solution
Step-by-step process: Start with the introducing sentence -> find what comes chronologically next -> look for connecting words like "then" or "eventually" -> finish with final outcome
From passage: "It started with a lump on Cathy Perkins' index finger."
This introduces the main topic -> clearly the first sentence in sequence
Next, look for what happens after the lump appears -> "The viola player didn't know what it was; nor did her GP" -> shows the initial confusion about the lump
Then -> "The eventual diagnosis was skin cancer and after treatment all seemed well" -> gives us the diagnosis and treatment
Finally -> "Then a routine scan showed it had come back and spread to her lungs" -> "Then" is a clear time connector showing this happens after treatment
Logical flow: Problem appears -> Initial confusion -> Diagnosis + treatment -> Recurrence
Elimination strategy: Any sequence not starting with sentence 4 is wrong -> sentence 4 introduces "Cathy Perkins" and "the lump" for the first time
Any sequence with sentence 3 before sentence 1 is wrong -> sentence 3 uses "Then" and talks about cancer "coming back" -> you can't have something "come back" before it was first diagnosed
Students often get confused between sentences 1 and 2, but sentence 2 must come before diagnosis -> you can't have "didn't know what it was" after getting a diagnosis
The correct sequence is 4213 -> Introduction -> Confusion -> Diagnosis -> Recurrence