If a paragraph presents events in order, what structure is being used?

• A. Cause and effect.
• B. Compare and contrast.
• C. Sequence or chronological order.
• D. Problem and solution.

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is how a paragraph organizes information by order. When events are shown in the order they happen, the structure used is sequence or chronological order. This means laying out steps or moments from first to last, often with signal words like first, next, then, and finally. For example, a paragraph that describes waking up, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and leaving the house shows events as they occurred in time. This differs from cause and effect (explains why something happens and its results), compare and contrast (highlights similarities and differences), or problem and solution (poses a problem and proposes a fix). Because the paragraph presents events in order, the best description is sequence or chronological order.