Question 108·Hard·Transitions
Because the majority of historical correspondence from the sixteenth century has survived only in fragments, scholars often lament the narrow window through which they can view everyday life of the period. ______ a cache of letters recently unearthed in an Oxford attic provides a surprisingly panoramic view, documenting not only political affairs but also domestic concerns, commercial disputes, and popular entertainment.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read a bit before and after the blank, then briefly summarize each side in your own words. Decide the relationship between the ideas—same point, contrast, example, cause/effect, or purpose—before looking closely at the answer choices. Then match that relationship to the meaning of each transition and eliminate any option whose typical use (similarity, result, purpose, etc.) does not fit the logical connection in the sentence.
Hints
Clarify each part of the sentence
Put the part before the blank into your own words, then do the same for the part after the blank. Decide whether each part describes a limitation/problem or something helpful/positive.
Compare the two ideas
Ask yourself: Does the second part keep describing the same kind of problem, or does it introduce something different—like an exception, a solution, or a change from the first part?
Match idea-relationship to transition type
Think about what each option usually shows: sameness, cause/effect, contrast, or purpose. Then choose the one whose usual use best fits how the two parts of the sentence relate.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first idea
Paraphrase the first part of the sentence:
"Because most historical correspondence from the sixteenth century has survived only in pieces, scholars often complain that they can only see a small part of everyday life from that time."
This sets up a problem or limitation: scholars have only a narrow view.
Understand the second idea
Now paraphrase the idea after the blank:
"...a cache of letters recently found in an Oxford attic gives a very broad (‘panoramic’) view of the period, covering politics, home life, business disputes, and entertainment."
This is good news that counteracts the earlier limitation: here is a source that gives a much fuller picture than the "narrow window" described earlier.
Identify the relationship between the two ideas
Ask: How does the second idea relate to the first?
- The first idea: We usually have only fragments, so our view is narrow.
- The second idea: This new set of letters gives a wide, detailed view.
The second idea goes in the opposite direction of the first—it presents an exception or surprising contrast to the usual situation the scholars lament.
Match that relationship to the choices
Now think about what each transition generally signals:
- "Similarly," = adding a similar point.
- "Consequently," = showing a result or effect.
- "Yet," = introducing a contrast or unexpected exception.
- "To that end," = indicating a purpose ("for that purpose").
We need a word that shows that the new cache of letters contradicts or softens the earlier problem of having only fragments. Only "Yet," correctly shows that contrast, so it is the best choice.