Which pattern is characterized by events that are structured in order or reverse order?

• A. Descriptive
• B. Compare/Contrast
• C. Chronological
• D. Cause/Effect

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is recognizing patterns that organize ideas by time. A chronological pattern places events in the order they happen, showing a clear sequence from first to last. It can also use reverse order, such as telling a story backward, but the organizing principle is still time-based sequencing. This is why it’s the best choice: it directly describes the arrangement of events along a timeline, making the progression of what happened—and when it happened—the focus.

Descriptive writing, by contrast, aims to detail the characteristics of a person, place, or thing rather than to lay out a sequence of events. Compare/contrast organizes by similarities and differences between subjects, not by time. Cause/effect explains why something happened and what resulted, focusing on relationships rather than the order of events.