What you'll see
Get familiar with the task.
This is a reading task. You see 4–5 jumbled text boxes and must drag them into the correct order to form one coherent paragraph. You score +1 for each adjacent pair in the correct order (partial credit). The trick: find the topic sentence first, then use pronouns and connectors to chain the rest.
The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes.
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
3 strategies that work
The mindset before the click.
- 1Strategy 1
Find the topic sentence first
The most general statement — the one that introduces the topic without referring back to anything — is your opener.
- 2Strategy 2
Follow the pronoun + linker trail
'This', 'these', 'it', 'however', 'as a result' all point BACKWARD to the previous box. Use them to chain the order.
- 3Strategy 3
Check chronology and logic
Look for time markers ('initially', 'later', 'today') and cause-effect ('because', 'so', 'therefore') to lock the sequence.
Try each strategy
Guided practice you can do alone or with a partner.
1Find the topic sentence first
The opening sentence introduces the topic from scratch. It uses FULL nouns (not pronouns), no backward-referring words like 'however', 'this' or 'these'. Find it and lock it in position 1 before touching the others.
- Look for the box with the most GENERAL statement — usually a definition or big-picture claim.
- Reject any box that starts with 'However', 'This', 'These', 'It', 'They', 'As a result', 'In contrast' — those depend on a previous sentence.
- Reject boxes that mention a specific example or detail without first naming the topic.
- Pair drill: hide 4 jumbled sentences from a textbook paragraph; race a partner to spot the topic sentence.
2Follow the pronoun + linker trail
Every other box should EITHER refer back to the previous box (via a pronoun) OR continue the argument (via a linker). Treat each cohesive device as a chain link.
- Underline every pronoun ('this', 'these', 'it', 'they', 'such', 'the X') — the noun it refers to must be in the PREVIOUS box.
- Underline every linker — 'however' contrasts the box BEFORE it; 'as a result' / 'consequently' follows a cause stated BEFORE it; 'for example' follows a general claim BEFORE it.
- If two boxes both seem to follow the same predecessor, the one with the stronger linker (or the time marker) usually comes first.
- Pair drill: take 4 boxes and, for each, write 'links back to box X because of word Y'. If you can't, that box is probably the opener.
3Check chronology and logic
Even when linkers are missing, the timeline and the cause-effect chain reveal the order. Read the boxes as a story — what had to happen first?
- Time markers: 'initially', 'first', 'later', 'eventually', 'today', 'now' — they fix the order along a timeline.
- Cause-effect: a sentence describing a CAUSE must come before its EFFECT, even without 'so' / 'therefore'.
- Specific-to-general or general-to-specific: most academic paragraphs go GENERAL claim → SPECIFIC example → wider implication.
- Final check: read your order top-to-bottom out loud. If you stumble — the order is wrong; swap and re-test.
Drag the boxes into the correct order to form one coherent paragraph. Reveal the answer key to check your logic.
Reveal correct order + reasoning
Correct order: 1 → 2 → 3 → 4. (1) Topic sentence — most general claim, names the topic ('the internet') in full, no backward-referring words. (2) 'Initially, it was used…' — 'initially' = earliest time marker; 'it' refers back to 'the internet' in box 1. (3) 'However, with the launch of the WWW in 1991…' — 'however' contrasts with the small early use in box 2; 1991 is later than 'initially'. (4) 'Today…' — final time marker, brings the story to the present, completes the chronology.
Do it under time
Simulate the real test.
Aim for under 2 minutes. Drag the boxes into the correct order. Reveal the answer key afterwards.
Reveal correct order + reasoning (Q2)
Correct order: 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5. (1) General topic sentence — defines antibiotics for the first time. (2) 'The first antibiotic, penicillin…' — historical starting point; 'the first' continues from the general definition. (3) 'Since then, dozens more have been developed…' — 'since then' refers back to penicillin's discovery. (4) 'However, the overuse of these drugs…' — 'however' contrasts the benefits; 'these drugs' refers to the antibiotics in 3. (5) 'As a result, scientists are now searching…' — 'as a result' follows the cause stated in 4.
The text boxes in the left panel have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by dragging the text boxes from the left panel to the right panel — or click a box and use the arrow buttons.
Tick each box only when you can do it without looking back. This unlocks your next chapter.