What text structure signals a problem/solution in a passage, and what clues help you identify it?

• A. The structure presents a problem followed by one or more solutions; look for problem statements, proposed actions, and consequences.
• B. The structure lists events in chronological order only.
• C. The structure centers on a single long description with no actions.
• D. Structure uses cause/effect exclusively.

Answer: (A)

Recognizing a problem/solution structure means you look for a passage that first points out a problem or challenge, then presents one or more possible solutions or actions to address it, and often shows the results or consequences of taking those actions. Clues include explicit mentions of a problem or issue, followed by proposed actions or remedies, and then statements about what happened after—such as improvements, changes, or remaining effects.

This option fits best because it describes a structure that starts with a problem and then moves to one or more solutions, with clues like problem statements, proposed actions, and consequences. The other structures don’t match this pattern: a strictly chronological sequence lists events in time; a long description with no actions centers on description rather than addressing a problem with solutions; a cause/effect structure focuses on why something happens and its results, not on presenting and solving a problem.