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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.

  1. The eventual diagnosis was skin cancer and after treatment all seemed well.
  2. The viola player didn't know what it was; nor did her GP.
  3. Then a routine scan showed it had come back and spread to her lungs.
  4. It started with a lump on Cathy Perkins' index finger.

Entered answer:

Solution

✅ Correct Answer: 4213

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

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