The sentences given below, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Each sentence is labelled with a number. Decide on the most logical order and enter only the sequence of numbers in the space provided.
- Faced with an ageing population and sluggish economy, Beijing proposes to encourage more young people to marry and have children.
- At the same time, its death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people.
- China's birth rates fell for the fourth consecutive year and sunk to a record low.
- Despite the government rolling out a spate of incentives to boost it, the country's birth rate fell to 5.63 per 1,000 people.
The sentences given below, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Each sentence is labelled with a number. Decide on the most logical order and enter only the sequence of numbers in the space provided.
- Faced with an ageing population and sluggish economy, Beijing proposes to encourage more young people to marry and have children.
- At the same time, its death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people.
- China's birth rates fell for the fourth consecutive year and sunk to a record low.
- Despite the government rolling out a spate of incentives to boost it, the country's birth rate fell to 5.63 per 1,000 people.
Entered answer:
Solution
Spot the broadest statement first.
Sentence 3 is it: "China's birth rates fell for the fourth consecutive year and sunk to a record low." Clean, headline-style opener.
Sentence 4 supplies the number behind that record low - 5.63 per 1,000 people. A statement of fact (3) followed by its supporting figure (4) is a classic pairing.
Pair: 3 then 4
Sentence 2 opens with "At the same time, its death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people." Notice the parallel: same per-1,000 unit, same sentence shape as 4. That parallel structure is the giveaway - 2 must sit right after 4.
Pair: 4 then 2
Sentence 1 closes with Beijing's response to the demographic mess - encouraging young people to marry and have children. Government action makes sense only after the problem (3-4-2) has been laid out.
| Step | Logic |
|---|---|
| 3 | Problem - birth rate at record low |
| 4 | The number - 5.63 per 1,000 |
| 2 | Parallel stat - death rate at 8.04 |
| 1 | Government response |
Sequence: 3-4-2-1