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The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) 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 four numbers as your answer.

  1. As books age, the cellulose and lignin in the paper begin to break down, releasing a mix of volatile organic compounds into the air.
  2. Old books carry a scent that many people instantly recognize-and even love.
  3. These compounds are benzaldehyde, which gives off an almond-like scent, vanillin, which smells like vanilla, ethyl hexanol (floral scent), toluene (sweet), and furfural (which has a slightly bready scent).
  4. This familiar aroma isn't just dust or mildew; it's actually a result of slow chemical changes happening inside the paper and ink.

Entered answer:

Solution

✅ Correct Answer: 2413

Sentence 2 opens by naming the recognizable scent. Sentence 4 picks up "this familiar aroma" and reframes it as chemical change, not dust. Sentence 1 explains that change: cellulose and lignin break down into volatile compounds. Sentence 3 then lists "these compounds". The chain 2-4-1-3 moves from observation to cause to specifics, giving 2413.

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