Question 138·Hard·Transitions
Archaeologists recently examined residues on ancient Scandinavian pottery and identified traces of birch bark tar, a substance known to have been used as an adhesive for stone tools. Their analysis showed that the tar was often mixed with beeswax, a combination that enhances pliability and strength. ______ isotopic tests on residues from neighboring sites revealed a different recipe: pine resin blended with animal fat.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the sentence before and after the blank and first label the logical relationship in simple terms: same idea, contrast, example, cause‑effect, time, etc. Then, test each option by asking what kind of connection it usually signals and eliminate any that do not match the relationship you identified, even if they sound smooth on their own. Focus on meaning, not on which word “sounds good.”
Hints
Look at the connection between the two sentences
Read the sentence before the blank and the sentence after the blank together. Ask yourself: how is the second idea related to the first—does it agree, disagree, explain, or show something else?
Focus on key wording near the blank
Pay special attention to the phrase “a different recipe” in the sentence after the blank and think about what was described in the previous sentence.
Think about what each transition usually does
For each answer choice, remind yourself what kind of link it usually shows between ideas: adding emphasis, showing time, showing cause and effect, or something else. Then see which type of link best matches the relationship you noticed.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
First sentence: Archaeologists found birch bark tar on pottery, often mixed with beeswax, which improves pliability and strength.
Second sentence (after the blank): Isotopic tests on residues from neighboring sites revealed a different recipe: pine resin mixed with animal fat.
So the second sentence presents findings from other sites that do not match the original mixture.
Identify the relationship between the two ideas
Ask how the second sentence relates to the first.
The key phrase is “a different recipe.” This tells you that the findings from neighboring sites are not the same as the birch bark tar plus beeswax described earlier.
So the relationship is one of difference/contrast, not similarity, timing, or cause and effect.
Match each transition to the relationship
Now think about what each option usually does:
- "Indeed," is used to add a reinforcing or confirming point.
- "Meanwhile," is used to show two things happening at the same time.
- "By contrast," is used to show a difference between two ideas.
- "As a result," is used to show that one thing happens because of another (cause and effect).
We already saw that the second sentence presents a different recipe, so we need a word that highlights a difference, not agreement, timing, or cause‑effect.
Choose the transition that fits best
Only "By contrast," clearly signals that the second sentence presents information that is different from what came before.
Therefore, the correct answer is C) By contrast,.