Which of the given options arranges the following sentences in the most logical sequence to form a meaningful paragraph?
1. Marie Curie was a pioneer in radioactivity research.
2. These were initially used in the treatment of cancer.
3. She discovered radium and polonium.
4. Unfortunately, years of exposure to radioactive material led to her untimely demise.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
1-3-2-4
Explanation
Meaning: The passage provides a brief biographical account of scientist Marie Curie, tracking her foundational role in physics and chemistry, her specific elemental discoveries, their early medical applications, and the tragic ultimate impact of her work on her health. To solve this quickly for an exam, look for the noun-pronoun links and the cause-and-effect progression of the narrative.
The paragraph must open with sentence (1) because it introduces the primary subject by name ("Marie Curie") and establishes her overarching field of work (radioactivity research). Sentence (3) must follow immediately because the pronoun "She" links directly back to Marie Curie, explaining her specific achievements within that research field—discovering radium and polonium. Next, sentence (2) begins with the plural demonstrative pronoun "These," which refers directly back to the two newly discovered elements mentioned at the end of sentence (3) and explains their medical use. Finally, sentence (4) acts as the natural conclusion, using the transition word "Unfortunately" to bridge her life's work with its tragic, long-term fatal consequence. This creates the seamless logical flow: 1-3-2-4.
Key Points
Definition: Reordering biographical sentences requires introducing the proper noun first, linking subsequent achievements using appropriate pronouns, and ordering events in a logical cause-and-effect timeline.
Grammatical Role: Sequencing informational statements by pairing plural demonstrative pronouns ("These") with their correct plural antecedent nouns ("radium and polonium") across consecutive lines.