Arrange the passage correctly:
(1) She put the bowl under a damp cloth and let it rest in a warm corner.
(2) In a mixing bowl, she mixed the water and flour together until it was a smooth dough.
(3) She placed all the required ingredients on the kitchen counter before preparation.
(4) She kneaded the dough for a good ten minutes to make sure it was smooth and elastic.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
3 – 2 – 4 – 1
Explanation
The question asks to arrange the jumbled sentences into a logical, chronological paragraph. To solve this quickly for an exam, look for a natural sequence of events or step-by-step instructions. This passage describes the process of baking or preparing dough.
Sentence (3) must come first because it describes gathering the raw materials ("placed all the required ingredients on the kitchen counter before preparation"). A person cannot mix ingredients without gathering them first.
Sentence (2) naturally follows sentence (3) because it describes the first step of actual preparation: combining those ingredients ("mixed the water and flour together until it was a smooth dough").
Sentence (4) details the next physical step in the bread-making process, which happens right after mixing ("kneaded the dough for a good ten minutes").
Sentence (1) describes the final step of the process where the completed dough is set aside to proof or rise ("put the bowl under a damp cloth and let it rest").
Arranging these steps in order gives the sequence 3 – 2 – 4 – 1. Therefore, Option 1 is the correct choice.
Key Points
Solving sentence rearrangement questions requires identifying the introductory sentence, which usually establishes the setting, tools, or ingredients before any actions take place.
Chronological sequencing relies on matching the real-world timeline of a physical process, such as gathering ingredients, mixing them, working the mixture, and finishing the task.