Rearrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph: 1. It is a process that involves the systematic and objective investigation of a subject to discover new facts or to confirm existing ones. 2. Research is a foundational pillar of academic and scientific progress. 3. This can be either theoretical, aiming to expand knowledge, or applied, seeking to solve a practical problem. 4. The findings of this investigation are then documented and peer-reviewed to ensure validity and credibility.

Correct — A. Start with the sentence that names its subject. Sentence 2 does: 'Research is a foundational pillar of academic and scientific progress.'

1 opens with It, 3 with This, and 4 with 'The findings of this investigation'. Each points back to something already said.

1 defines research as a systematic investigation.
3 says it can be theoretical or applied.
4, marked by then, moves on to documenting the findings → 2, 1, 3, 4, option (a).

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  1, 2, 4, 3 — Opens with It is a process, and It has nothing to refer to. Research is first named in sentence 2, which has to come first.
• (c)
  4, 3, 2, 1 — Opens with 'The findings of this investigation', where this points back to an investigation not yet mentioned.
• (d)
  3, 4, 1, 2 — Opens with This can be either theoretical, a This with no antecedent, and pushes the topic sentence, 'Research is a foundational pillar', to the end.

A jumble held together by reference words is solved from its opener. A sentence beginning It, This or 'this X' points back, so it cannot come first.

Then follow the chain: each pronoun finds its noun earlier, and sequence words such as then mark later stages.

Here the chain runs topic (2), definition (1), types (3), findings (4).

Key facts

• A sentence that opens with It or This referring back cannot open a paragraph.
• It in sentence 1 refers to research, which is named in sentence 2.
• 'This investigation' in sentence 4 points back to the investigation described in sentence 1.
• Then in sentence 4 marks a later step: documenting and peer review follow the investigation.

Common traps

• Starting with sentence 1 because it reads like a definition — its It needs research named first.
• Opening with sentence 4 because 'The findings' sounds like a heading — this investigation points back.

No directly related past PYQ was found.