If a passage presents events in a sequence using the words First, Next, Finally, what text structure is being used?

• A. Compare/contrast structure
• B. Problem/solution structure
• C. Sequential (chronological) structure
• D. Descriptive structure

Answer: (C)

This text is organizing events in the order they happen. When you see words like First, Next, Finally, the author is guiding you through a sequence, showing what comes first, what happens next, and how it ends. That’s the sequential (chronological) structure, which helps you follow a story or a process step by step from beginning to end.

Other structures work differently: a compare/contrast structure highlights similarities and differences between two or more things; a problem/solution structure presents a problem and then explains a way to fix it; a descriptive structure focuses on painting a detailed image of a person, place, or thing. The use of First, Next, Finally specifically points to ordering events, so sequential/chronological is the best fit.