What is the structure of the passage below? Many people are confused about why our economy went to shambles in 2008. The
crisis was actually the result of a combination of many complex factors. First, easy
credit conditions allowed people who were high-risk or unworthy of credit to borrow,
and even people who had no income were eligible for large loans. Second, banks
would bundle these toxic loans and sell them as packages on the financial market.
Third, large insurance firms backed these packages, misrepresenting these high-risk
loans as safe investments. Fourth, because of the ease of acquiring credit and the
rapid growth in the housing market, people were buying two or three houses,
intending to sell them for more than they paid. All of these factors created bubbles of
speculation. These bubbles burst, sending the whole market into a downward spiral,
causing employers to lose capital and lay off employees. Consumer spending then
plummeted and most businesses suffered. The economy is like a big boat, and once it
gets moving quickly in the wrong direction, it's hard to turn it around.
chronological order
sequence of events
cause and effect
compare and contrast