Question 147·Hard·Transitions
Arctic terns migrate about 44,000 miles each year, traveling from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back—the longest migration in the animal kingdom. ______ scientists recently fitted several birds with miniature GPS trackers, revealing that some individuals take even longer, meandering routes that increase the journey by thousands of miles.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and decide how the second sentence relates to the first: does it show contrast, cause/effect, a sequence in time, or additional support/clarification? Once you’ve named the relationship in your own words, quickly categorize each option by its usual function (contrast, result, emphasis, etc.) and eliminate any that do not match the relationship you identified. Finally, reread the sentence with your selected transition to check that it sounds natural and keeps the logical flow of ideas clear.
Hints
Compare the ideas in the two sentences
Ask yourself: Does the second sentence disagree with the first, explain a cause or result, or add more evidence/details to the same idea?
Focus on the GPS trackers and what they show
The phrase beginning with “revealing that some individuals take even longer…” tells you whether the new information goes against the first sentence or makes it even more impressive.
Match each choice to its function
Think about what each transition usually does: Which ones signal contrast or an alternative, which one signals a result, and which one introduces more support or emphasis?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the relationship between the two sentences
Paraphrase the sentences:
- First sentence: Arctic terns migrate about 44,000 miles each year, which is the longest migration in the animal kingdom.
- Second sentence: Scientists put GPS trackers on some birds and found that some take even longer, winding routes that add thousands of miles.
The second sentence is on the same topic and makes the first point even more striking by adding a surprising detail: some birds go even farther than the already huge distance mentioned first.
Decide what kind of transition you need
Ask: Is the second sentence
- contrasting with the first (showing something different or opposite)?,
- showing a result of the first sentence?, or
- adding/strengthening the information in the first sentence?
Here, the second sentence does not disagree with the first; instead, it adds a new detail that makes the original claim about long migration even stronger. It also is not a consequence of the first sentence; it is a description of a study and what it found.
Match each choice to its typical use
Now connect each transition to its usual function:
- “Instead,” is used to present an alternative or replacement.
- “Therefore,” is used to show a result or conclusion.
- “Nonetheless,” is used to show contrast or something surprising despite the previous statement.
- The remaining choice is used to emphasize or reinforce the previous point.
Based on step 2, we want a word that fits an adding/strengthening relationship, not contrast or result.
Select the transition that fits the relationship
Eliminate the choices that do not match the relationship:
- The second sentence is not an alternative to the first, so “Instead,” does not fit.
- The scientists fitting trackers is not a result of the long migration, so “Therefore,” is incorrect.
- The second sentence does not go against the first; it intensifies it, so “Nonetheless,” is wrong.
The only option that correctly introduces supporting, reinforcing information is A) Indeed,.