Question 117·Hard·Transitions
Many climate models predict that Arctic sea ice will continue to shrink steadily throughout the twenty-first century. _______ recent satellite data reveal unexpected periods of ice expansion in certain regions, suggesting that local wind patterns can temporarily offset warming trends.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the sentence before and after the blank and summarize their relationship in your own words (support, contrast, cause/effect, sequence, example, etc.) before looking at the choices. Then, eliminate any transitions whose usual function (like cause, result, or similarity) doesn’t match that relationship, and pick the one that clearly fits the logic of the ideas, not just what “sounds good.”
Hints
Compare the two ideas
Ask yourself: Does the information about recent satellite data support, explain, or challenge the prediction made by many climate models?
Identify the type of relationship
Decide whether the second sentence is giving a cause, a result, a similar example, or something that goes against or complicates the first sentence.
Think about what each transition usually signals
“Because of this,” suggests cause; “Similarly,” suggests a similar idea; “Consequently,” suggests a result. Which of those relationships actually fits how the prediction and the satellite data relate?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
First sentence: climate models predict that Arctic sea ice will shrink steadily throughout the twenty-first century.
Second sentence: recent satellite data show unexpected periods of ice expansion in some regions, meaning that in some places, ice is temporarily growing, not shrinking.
So the second sentence introduces information that does not fully match the prediction in the first sentence.
Decide the logical relationship between the two ideas
Ask: Does the second sentence
- cause the first idea,
- result from the first idea,
- add similar/supporting information, or
- push back against/contrast the first idea?
Here, the prediction is steady shrinking, but the data show some expansion. That is a surprising contrast or exception to the earlier prediction, not a cause, result, or similar example.
Match the relationship to the best transition
Now check what type of connection each option signals:
- “Because of this,” = this is caused by the previous idea (cause)
- “Similarly,” = this is like the previous idea (similarity/addition)
- “Consequently,” = this happens as a result of the previous idea (result)
- “Yet,” = this contrasts with or qualifies the previous idea (unexpected difference)
We need a transition that marks a contrast between the predicted steady shrinking and the surprising expansion in the data. Only “Yet,” correctly shows that contrast, so the correct answer is D) Yet,.