The sentences given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the numbers as your answer.
- Tensions and sometimes conflict remain an issue in and between the 11 states in South East Asia (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam).
- China's rise as a regional military power and its claims in the South China Sea have become an increasingly pressing security concern for many South East Asian states.
- Since the 1990s, the security environment of South East Asia has seen both continuity and profound changes.
- These concerns cause states from outside the region to take an active interest in South Asian security.
The sentences given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the numbers as your answer.
- Tensions and sometimes conflict remain an issue in and between the 11 states in South East Asia (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam).
- China's rise as a regional military power and its claims in the South China Sea have become an increasingly pressing security concern for many South East Asian states.
- Since the 1990s, the security environment of South East Asia has seen both continuity and profound changes.
- These concerns cause states from outside the region to take an active interest in South Asian security.
Entered answer:
Solution
Step 1: Find the topic sentence
Sentence 3 mentions "Since the 1990s" and talks about both continuity and profound changes -> This is clearly the opening because it sets up the whole discussion.
Step 2: What shows "continuity"?
Sentence 1 says tensions "remain an issue" -> The word "remain" shows something continuing from before.
Step 3: What shows "profound changes"?
Sentence 2 talks about "China's rise" -> This is clearly a new development, representing change.
Step 4: What's the consequence?
Sentence 4 starts with "These concerns" -> This must refer to the concerns about China mentioned in sentence 2.
From passage: "Since the 1990s, the security environment of South East Asia has seen both continuity and profound changes."
Logical flow: Topic sentence (3) -> Example of continuity (1) -> Example of change (2) -> Consequence of the change (4)
The sequence is 3-1-2-4:
• Sentence 3 introduces the framework (continuity + changes)
• Sentence 1 shows continuity (ongoing tensions)
• Sentence 2 shows change (China's rise)
• Sentence 4 shows the result (outside interest due to these concerns)
The pronoun "These concerns" in sentence 4 clearly connects back to China's security concerns mentioned in sentence 2, making this the correct ending.