Rearrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph: 1. This process, a crucial part of the plant’s life cycle, is vital for the continued existence of many plant species. 2. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part. 3. The transfer can be carried out by various agents, including insects, birds, and wind. 4. Successful pollination leads to fertilization and the subsequent production of seeds and fruits.
- (a)2, 3, 4, 1
- (b)3, 4, 1, 2
- (c)1, 2, 3, 4
- (d)4, 1, 2, 3
Answer
Why
Correct — A. Sentence 2 opens because it defines the topic: 'Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part.'
3 picks up its noun: 'The transfer can be carried out by various agents'.
4 gives the result: 'Successful pollination leads to fertilization'.
1 closes on why it matters: This process 'is vital for the continued existence of many plant species' → 2, 3, 4, 1, option (a).
Why the others are wrong
- (b)3, 4, 1, 2 — Opens with sentence 3, but The transfer assumes a transfer already mentioned. Sentence 2 says what is transferred, and (b) puts it last.
- (c)1, 2, 3, 4 — Opens with sentence 1, whose This process points back to nothing. The process is named only in sentence 2.
- (d)4, 1, 2, 3 — Opens with sentence 4, which treats pollination as a known term and jumps to its result before sentence 2 has defined it.
Concept
A definition sentence of the form X is Y introduces its subject without pointing back, which lets it open the paragraph.
After it, follow the links. The transfer repeats the definition's key noun, so 3 comes straight after 2. Sentence 1 gives a verdict on the whole process, which fits the close.
Here the chain runs definition (2), agents (3), result (4), significance (1).
The opener settles this item: (a) is the one option that begins with sentence 2. Sentences 3, 1 and 4, which open (b), (c) and (d), all lean on something said earlier.
Key facts
- Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther, the male part of a flower, to the stigma, the female part.
- Insects, birds and wind are among the agents that carry pollen.
- Pollination is followed by fertilization, which leads to the formation of seeds and fruits.
Study next
Common traps
- Opening with sentence 1 because it sounds like a topic sentence — This process has to refer back to something.
- Opening with sentence 3 because it names the agents — The transfer presupposes that a transfer has been introduced.
The same four sentences, with the same options and the same key, appear at 21 Sep 2025, 16:00, English Q.24.
A definition sentence also opens 14 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.25, where 'Food processing is a series of methods' comes first and the key is 2, 3, 1, 4.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.