Solved

The Paragraphs of the Following Essay Have Been Scrambled So

question 6

Multiple Choice

The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow.
Trading My Brown Shirt for a Backpack
_____ Although I was prepared to have less money, one effect I didn't expect from losing my job was the negative feelings I would have. I was embarrassed to tell my family what had happened, worried that my fiancée would think less of me, and angry that events I couldn't control had ruined my life. It was strange and depressing not having the job to go to every day. Maybe some wouldn't consider delivering packages a career, but I liked my work, it paid well, and I was outside driving a truck all day. So it's not just the money I miss; it's the job.
_____ The words "economic downturn" didn't mean much on the front of a newspaper, but then I got laid off. Suddenly, those weren't just words but the beginning of a long chain of events in my life. I liked my job at the United Parcel Service, and I had received many positive performance reviews, so I didn't think the rising unemployment rate was going to touch me. People still have to ship packages, right? Wrong. Getting my pink slip had powerful effects on my lifestyle and plans, but not all the effects have been bad ones.
_____ The one positive effect of getting laid off is that it forced me to reconsider college. When I got a good job shortly after high school, in confirmed my decision to head straight into the "real world." Now that there are so few full-time jobs with benefits out there, getting more education and training seems like the logical move. A counselor at the unemployment office encouraged me to attend a career fair at San Francisco Community College. I ended up taking placement exams and enrolling that same afternoon.
_____ After losing my job, I have had to make major financial changes. My unemployment check is about half what I was making at UPS, so I have to budget very carefully. I used to take my fiancée out to a nice dinner almost every week. Now our dates involve pizza and rented movies. We also had to postpone our wedding until I'm back on my feet. The hardest change by far has been moving back in with my dad because I couldn't make the rent on my apartment.
_____ So here I am in a freshman writing class, returning to school the spring I expected to be getting married and hunting for a nice apartment. So far I'm enjoying college more than I thought. I feel proud to be pursuing my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate. When I'm done, I'll be driving around in an ambulance instead of a delivery truck, and I have a feeling I'm going to like it.
⎯ Alex Silvio, Student
Which of the following sentences expresses the thesis statement of this essay?

Definitions:

Cash-Generating Units

the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

Business Combination

The process of uniting multiple businesses into one single entity, often through acquisitions or mergers.

Unrealized Profits

Gains on assets that have appreciated in value but have not been sold, and therefore, the gains are not reflected in the financial results as actual income.

Upstream Sales

Transactions in which a subsidiary sells goods or services to its parent company, often analyzed for transfer pricing and tax considerations.