Rearrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph: 1. These factors include the amount of sunlight received, the composition of the atmosphere, and the Earth's orbit. 2. The long-term variations in Earth's climate are influenced by a complex interplay of natural and anthropogenic factors. 3. The most significant anthropogenic factor is the emission of greenhouse gases from industrial activities. 4. Together, these elements determine the planet's overall energy balance and, consequently, its average temperature.
- (a)2, 1, 4, 3
- (b)1, 2, 3, 4
- (c)3, 4, 1, 2
- (d)4, 2, 3, 1
Answer
Why
Correct — A. Find the opener first. Sentences 1 and 4 point back — 'These factors', 'Together, these elements' — so neither can begin.
The one offered order that opens with sentence 3 is 3, 4, 1, 2, where 'Together, these elements' would follow a single factor. That leaves sentence 2, which introduces 'natural and anthropogenic factors'.
Then the chain: 2 names the factors, 1 lists them, 4 sums up their joint effect, 3 turns to the human side → option (a).
Why the others are wrong
- (b)1, 2, 3, 4 — Opens with 'These factors', a pointer to factors not yet named. Sentence 2, which names them, has to come first.
- (c)3, 4, 1, 2 — Opens on the most significant anthropogenic factor before any factors are introduced, then puts 'Together, these elements' after that single factor, with nothing yet to put together.
- (d)4, 2, 3, 1 — Opens with 'Together, these elements', a summing-up that needs a list before it. The list is sentence 1, which this order puts last.
Concept
In a jumble with reference words, find the opener first: the sentence that points back to nothing. Here 'These factors' and 'Together, these elements' both assume the reader already has something in hand.
Then chain the pointers. 'These factors' (1) needs the factors named in 2. 'Together, these elements' (4) needs the list in 1.
Sentence 3 picks up the word anthropogenic from sentence 2 and names the leading human factor.
You do not need the climate science. The reference words alone fix the order, and the content only confirms it.
Key facts
- A sentence that opens with a pointer such as 'These factors' refers back, so it cannot begin the paragraph.
- 'Together, these elements' sums up a list, so it comes after that list.
- Anthropogenic means caused or produced by human activity.
Study next
Common traps
- Opening with sentence 1 because it lists concrete factors — 'These factors' points back to a sentence not yet read.
- Opening with the greenhouse-gas sentence because it sounds like the main point — it ranks one factor among factors not yet introduced.
The same find-the-opener logic decides 12 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.25 (2, 1, 3, 4): 'Research is a foundational pillar of academic and scientific progress' opens, and 'It' and 'This' point back to it.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.