Question 128·Medium·Transitions
Early experiments with color photography in the nineteenth century were hampered by materials that faded quickly; even when vibrant results were achieved, the colors soon lost their brilliance. _____ the first commercially successful color process, the Autochrome, did not appear until 1907.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read at least one sentence before and after the blank and ask: what is the logical relationship—cause/effect, example, contrast, addition, or time? Then, before looking at the answer choices in detail, decide which type you need. Finally, eliminate choices whose function (example, contrast, simultaneity, etc.) does not match that relationship, and choose the one whose usual meaning best fits the connection in the passage.
Hints
Look at the ideas before and after the blank
Reread the full first sentence and then the part of the second sentence after the blank. Ask yourself: Is the second sentence giving a reason, an example, a contrast, or something happening at the same time?
Think about time and cause
The first sentence talks about early experiments. The second mentions that a successful color process did not appear until 1907. Does that sound like things happening together, a change in direction, or something that happened as a result of earlier problems?
Match the type of connection to the answer choices
Decide whether the connection is example, contrast, simultaneity (at the same time), or result. Then eliminate any transitions whose usual role does not fit that relationship.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
First sentence: Early color photography experiments were limited because the materials faded; even when the colors were bright at first, they quickly lost brilliance.
Second sentence (without the blank): It says that the first commercially successful color process, the Autochrome, did not appear until 1907.
So together, the passage describes problems with early attempts and then mentions when a successful process finally appeared.
Identify the relationship between the two sentences
Ask: How does the second sentence relate to the first?
The first sentence gives difficulties with early color photography. The second sentence states that a successful color process came only much later (1907).
This suggests a cause-and-effect or reason-and-result connection: because there were such problems, a successful process was delayed until 1907.
Recall what each type of transition does
Now think about the general function of each transition type:
- A phrase that introduces an example would show a specific instance of something just mentioned.
- A phrase that indicates time at the same time would show two things happening concurrently.
- A phrase that shows contrast would set up an opposing or different situation.
- A phrase that shows a result would indicate that what follows happens because of what came before.
Match these general functions to the relationship you found in Step 2.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
We decided the passage shows a result: the early problems with fading color meant a commercially successful process came only in 1907.
Among the options, only "Consequently," clearly introduces a result of the earlier difficulties, so the correct answer is C) Consequently,.