[2026] PTE Academic Reading - Re-order paragraphs

The development of the steam engine in the 18th century acted as a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution.

By harnessing thermal energy to produce mechanical work, the technology fundamentally increased the scale of manufacturing.

The rapid urbanization that followed forever changed the social structure of modern nations across the globe.

Factories that were once reliant on waterwheels for power could now be located anywhere in industrial hubs.

This shift facilitated mass production, which significantly reduced the cost of consumer goods for the general population.