Which of the given options arranges the following sentences in the most logical sequence to form a meaningful paragraph?
1. Suddenly, her car started making a strange noise.
2. She immediately pulled over to the side of the road.
3. After a few minutes, the engine stopped working completely.
4. Laura sang as she drove to work.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
4-1-3-2
Explanation
Meaning: The passage narrates a short, unfolding incident during a morning commute, tracking a driver's pleasant start, the sudden onset of a mechanical issue, the total breakdown of the vehicle, and her immediate safety response. To solve this quickly for an exam, look for the chronological timeline and the cause-and-effect relationship between the mechanical events.
The paragraph must open with sentence (4) because it introduces the primary character ("Laura") by name and sets up the normal, initial state of the story (happily driving to work). Sentence (1) must follow immediately because the word "Suddenly" acts as a narrative transition that disrupts this initial state by introducing the first sign of trouble (a strange car noise). Next, sentence (3) logically continues the escalating timeline of mechanical failure, explaining that "After a few minutes," the problem worsened until the engine failed completely. Finally, sentence (2) serves as the natural conclusion to the crisis, using the word "immediately" to show Laura's prompt reaction to her engine dying by steering the car safely out of traffic. This creates the seamless narrative flow: 4-1-3-2.
Key Points
Definition: Reordering narrative sentences requires identifying a baseline starting scenario, introducing a disruptive conflict, tracking the logical escalation of that conflict, and concluding with a final reaction or resolution.
Grammatical Role: Sequencing action-oriented statements by utilizing temporal transition adverbs (like "Suddenly," "After a few minutes," and "immediately") to establish a clear chronological order.