Sequence the following sentences in a coherent passage. P: This fortuitous…

Correct coherent order and explanation:

• Begin with the cause: Many millennia ago, a breakaway chunk of bedrock from the Antarctic Plate collided with the massive Eurasian Plate.

• Describe the immediate effect: This fortuitous geological event generated a colossal amount of energy and heat that resulted in the rocks rising to an average height of 4 km across the contact zone.

• Give the longer-term consequence: The natural process of the cooling of this massive edifice absorbed large quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide, altering the earth’s atmosphere and making it better suited for life.

• Conclude with the interpretation: Thus, the geophysicists tend to think of the Himalayas as an active geological event rather than as a static geological feature.

Why this order works: It follows a logical sequence from cause to immediate effect to long-term consequence and ends with the interpretive conclusion that summarizes the significance.