Question 141·Hard·Transitions
Historically, economists evaluated national prosperity solely by gross domestic product (GDP). Critics argue that GDP fails to capture environmental degradation and social well-being. ______ New Zealand recently adopted a "well-being budget" that allocates funds according to public health and ecological indicators rather than production alone.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the choices and decide how the ideas on either side of the blank relate: are they in cause–effect, contrast, example, time/order, or addition? Summarize that relationship in your own simple words (e.g., "this is a reaction to the criticism"). Then quickly check the meanings of the transition words and eliminate any that signal the wrong type of connection (contrast vs. continuation vs. time). Choose the option whose usual meaning matches the relationship you already identified from the context, not the one that just "sounds good."
Hints
Read around the blank
Reread the sentence before and the sentence after the blank together. Ask yourself: is the second sentence giving an example, a contrast, something happening at the same time, or a reaction?
Identify the role of New Zealand’s action
Is New Zealand’s "well-being budget" presented as opposing the critics, ignoring them, or doing something because of what the critics say?
Match meanings of transition words to the relationship
Think about what each option usually signals: contrast, time/parallel action, or reaction. Eliminate any option whose meaning does not fit the connection you found between the two sentences.
Check for contrast vs. continuation
Do the two sentences disagree with each other, or does the second one build on and follow from the first? This will help you rule out options that show contrast.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the relationship between the sentences
Read the sentences without the blank:
Historically, economists evaluated national prosperity solely by gross domestic product (GDP). Critics argue that GDP fails to capture environmental degradation and social well-being. ____ New Zealand recently adopted a "well-being budget" that allocates funds according to public health and ecological indicators rather than production alone.
The critics say GDP is missing important things. Then we hear that New Zealand adopted a new kind of budget that focuses on those missing things (health and ecology). That sounds like a reaction to the criticism.
Decide what kind of transition you need
Ask: How is the second idea connected to the first?
- Is New Zealand doing the opposite of what critics say?
- Is it just doing something else at the same time?
- Is it ignoring the criticism but continuing anyway?
- Or is it acting because of the criticism?
The logical relationship here is cause and effect: criticism of GDP (cause) → policy change focusing on well-being (effect).
Check the meaning of each transition
Now match each option to the relationship:
- Conversely, = on the other hand; in contrast; the opposite case.
- Meanwhile, = at the same time; something happening in parallel.
- Nonetheless, = despite what was just said; contrast that ignores the previous point.
- In response, = as a reaction to what was just mentioned.
Only one of these clearly expresses a reaction to the criticism.
Choose the transition that shows a reaction
Because the new "well-being budget" is presented as a policy that answers the critics’ concerns about GDP, the transition must show that New Zealand’s action is a reaction to those criticisms. The choice that correctly shows this cause–effect relationship is D) In response,.