Question 122·Medium·Transitions
Many large marine mammals can stay underwater for extended periods; for instance, sperm whales remain submerged for up to 90 minutes. ______ harbor seals typically resurface after less than 30 minutes.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and read the surrounding sentences to decide the logical relationship (similar idea, contrast, cause/effect, example, sequence, or time). Summarize that relationship in your own words, then choose the option whose usual meaning matches that relationship; avoid answers that fit grammatically but express the wrong type of connection.
Hints
Identify the relationship
Before looking at the answer choices, decide how the second sentence relates to the first: Is it similar information, opposite information, a cause/effect, or an example?
Compare the time lengths
Focus on the numbers: sperm whales stay underwater for up to 90 minutes, and harbor seals resurface after less than 30 minutes. What kind of relationship does that suggest?
Think about transition types
Ask yourself which type of transition is needed here: one that shows time at the same moment, shows a result, gives an example, or shows a difference between two things?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
Read the two parts carefully:
- First sentence: Many large marine mammals can stay underwater for a long time; example: sperm whales can stay down for up to 90 minutes.
- Second part: Harbor seals usually come back up after less than 30 minutes.
So, the first idea is about very long dives, and the second is about shorter dives.
Decide how the ideas are related
Ask: Is the second idea similar, opposite, a cause/effect, or an example of the first?
- Harbor seals resurface sooner than sperm whales.
- This shows a difference between how long these mammals stay underwater.
So the relationship between the two parts is contrast (showing how harbor seals differ from the earlier example).
Match the relationship to the best transition
Now look at what each transition usually signals:
- "Meanwhile," usually shows things happening at the same time.
- "Consequently," shows a result (cause and effect).
- "For example," introduces an example of the previous idea.
- "By contrast," clearly signals a difference between two things.
Because the second sentence highlights how harbor seals differ from the whales mentioned before, the most logical transition is "By contrast,".