Directions: Arrange the following five statements in a coherent order to create a meaningful paragraph, then answer the question.

(A) Yet that habit of merely blocking proposals cannot, by itself, address the present challenge.

(B) Campaigners have therefore opposed projects such as new mines, expanded highways, and waste-disposal sites.

(C) For many years, community advocacy has largely involved resisting developments considered harmful.

(D) At the same time, ageing public systems must be renewed rapidly with lower-impact alternatives.

(E) Meeting this goal will demand substantial investment in new public infrastructure.

Which arrangement of the statements forms the most coherent paragraph?

The correct option is CBAED.

To determine the most coherent arrangement of the given statements, we analyze the logical connections and transition keywords step-by-step:

Step 1: Identify the opening sentence
Statement (C) introduces a broad, independent premise about the historical role of community advocacy ("For many years, community advocacy has largely involved resisting developments considered harmful"). Since it introduces the primary theme without relying on prior context, it serves as the best starting statement for the paragraph.

Step 2: Establish the logical follow-up (Cause and Effect)
Statement (B) begins with the transition word "therefore" ("Campaigners have therefore opposed projects..."). It directly expands upon the idea in statement (C) by giving specific examples of the harmful developments mentioned (mines, highways, waste-disposal sites). Thus, B logically follows C (CB pair).

Step 3: Introduce the shift or contrast
Statement (A) opens with "Yet" to signal a turn in the narrative. The phrase "that habit of merely blocking proposals" directly summarizes the actions detailed in statement (B) and statement (C), while explaining that this approach alone is insufficient to address modern challenges. Hence, A follows B (CBA sequence).

Step 4: Define the necessary strategy
Statement (E) addresses the challenge brought up in (A) by stating what is needed: "Meeting this goal will demand substantial investment in new public infrastructure." Therefore, E follows A seamlessly.

Step 5: Conclude with parallel/complementary action
Statement (D) uses the transition "At the same time," which connects it to statement (E) by introducing a complementary imperative: renewing ageing public systems with lower-impact alternatives. Thus, D naturally completes the paragraph.

Coherent Paragraph:
(C) For many years, community advocacy has largely involved resisting developments considered harmful.
(B) Campaigners have therefore opposed projects such as new mines, expanded highways, and waste-disposal sites.
(A) Yet that habit of merely blocking proposals cannot, by itself, address the present challenge.
(E) Meeting this goal will demand substantial investment in new public infrastructure.
(D) At the same time, ageing public systems must be renewed rapidly with lower-impact alternatives.