Which of the given options is the most logical sequencing of the following sentences to form a meaningful paragraph?
1. Scientists have been studying the potential of artificial intelligence for years.
2. As a result, ongoing research is focused on making AI systems more transparent and accountable.
3. However, there are concerns about the ethical implications of using AI in everyday life.
4. AI has the potential to revolutionize industries such as healthcare, finance, and transportation.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
1-4-3-2
Explanation
The question asks you to arrange four sentences into a logical, coherent paragraph. To solve text-ordering questions efficiently, look for structural transitions, pronoun connections, and the standard progression of ideas from general to specific.
Let's break down the logical connection between the sentences:
First, look for an introductory statement. Sentence 1 introduces the main topic, Artificial Intelligence, in a broad historical context: "Scientists have been studying the potential of artificial intelligence for years." This serves as the perfect opening anchor.
Second, connect the introductory thought to its direct application. Sentence 4 expands on what those scientists discovered about its potential: "AI has the potential to revolutionize industries such as healthcare, finance, and transportation."
Third, identify the transition word that introduces a counter-argument. Sentence 3 uses the conjunction "However" to pivot from the positive revolution mentioned in Sentence 4 to the problems it brings: "However, there are concerns about the ethical implications..."
Fourth, identify the cause-and-effect concluding phrase. Sentence 2 begins with the marker "As a result," which directly presents a solution to the ethical concerns raised in Sentence 3: "As a result, ongoing research is focused on making AI systems more transparent..."
Following this logical framework gives the precise sequence: 1-4-3-2. This makes Option 3 the correct choice.
Key Points
Solving paragraph reconstruction questions is often easier when you spot cause-and-effect transition pairs; a sentence highlighting a problem will almost always be followed immediately by a sentence starting with "As a result" to outline the solution.
Introductory sentences in academic paragraphs typically state a broad fact or history about a subject, avoiding starting with words like "However," "As a result," or pronouns that point to unspecified nouns.