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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.

  1. Faced with an ageing population and sluggish economy, Beijing proposes to encourage more young people to marry and have children.
  2. At the same time, its death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people.
  3. China's birth rates fell for the fourth consecutive year and sunk to a record low.
  4. 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

Correct Answer: 3421

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.


StepLogic
3Problem - birth rate at record low
4The number - 5.63 per 1,000
2Parallel stat - death rate at 8.04
1Government response

Sequence: 3-4-2-1

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