Both petroleum and coal are made up of complex carbon-based molecules, and both originated with living creatures of some kind. Both are vital sources of energy for the modern world and both were formed by geologic processes over millions of years. However, petroleum was mainly formed from the remains of ocean-dwelling microorganisms. Coal, on the other hand, originated from decayed vegetation in ancient swamps and bogs. In any case, it took millions of years for both coal and oil to be produced. This is the case because it took that much time for overlying sediments to produce the unimaginable heat and pressure that would one day allow us to harvest these energy resources.

  1. What organizing principle or principles are used in this paragraph?

AChronological order
BComparison and contrast; cause and effect
CCause and effect
DChronological order; cause and effect

Verified Answer :

Comparison and contrast, as it is explaining the similarities between coal and petroleum.

Your answer should be (b)