Sentence 1: Ella set a personal challenge for herself. 
 Sentence 3: It was soon apparent it was harder than she thought 
 Sentence 4:  Ella eventually resorted to writing every time she needed something 
 Sentence 5:  The next day, Ella was glad she could talk again 
 Option 1: She tried to spend the whole day not talking. 
 Option 2: She tried to spend the whole day not talking and it was easier than she thought.