Question 115·Easy·Transitions
Last year, the city of Greenville received more than 55 inches of rainfall. _____ the nearby town of Dryvale recorded less than 5 inches during the same period.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the options and decide on the relationship between the ideas: are they similar, contrasting, cause-and-effect, or example/detail? Then quickly define each transition choice in simple terms (example, contrast, result, addition, etc.) and eliminate any that don’t match the relationship you spotted. This “relationship first, words second” approach is faster and more reliable than trying each option by sound alone.
Hints
Compare the information in the two clauses
Focus on how the rainfall amounts in Greenville and Dryvale relate to each other—are they similar, opposite, or does one cause the other?
Think about what kind of connection is being made
Ask yourself: Is the second part giving an example of the first, showing a result of the first, just adding another similar fact, or showing some other kind of relationship?
Use the meanings of the transition words
Recall what each option typically does: one gives an example, one shows a result, one adds similar information. Eliminate those that don't match the relationship you noticed between the two rainfall amounts.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each part of the sentence says
Read the two parts carefully:
- First part: Greenville received more than 55 inches of rainfall.
- Second part: Dryvale recorded less than 5 inches during the same period. These are two facts about rainfall in different places during the same time.
Identify the relationship between the two ideas
Compare the rainfall amounts: Greenville has very high rainfall, while Dryvale has very low rainfall. The ideas are not examples of each other, not cause and effect, and not similar/additional facts; they are being set up as very different or opposite situations.
Match the relationship to the correct type of transition
Now check what each option usually does:
- "For instance," introduces an example.
- "Consequently," shows a result or effect.
- "Additionally," adds similar information.
- "In contrast," highlights a difference between two ideas. Since the sentence is emphasizing how different the rainfall amounts are, the best transition is "In contrast,".