Question 151·Easy·Transitions
Green roofs are gaining popularity in many cities because they help insulate buildings and lower cooling costs. ______ they also offer aesthetic value and provide habitat for birds and insects.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and focus on the sentences around the blank. Decide the relationship in your own words: are you adding a similar point, showing contrast, giving an example, showing cause-and-effect, or drawing a conclusion? Then quickly label each option by its function (addition, contrast, example, etc.) and choose the one whose function matches the relationship you identified. Using context clues like “also,” “however,” or “for example” can help you quickly eliminate choices that don’t fit.
Hints
Look at the overall direction of the ideas
Read both parts of the sentence and decide whether the second part goes with the first idea (same direction) or against it (contrast). Are both parts positive/beneficial, or is one of them negative or surprising?
Use the word “also” as a clue
Notice the word “also” right after the blank. What does that tell you about how the second idea relates to the first?
Categorize each answer choice by function
Before picking an answer, ask yourself: which choice shows contrast, which introduces an example, and which one connects another similar idea? Then pick the one whose function matches the relationship between the two parts of the sentence.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each part of the sentence is saying
Read the full sentence without a transition:
Green roofs are gaining popularity in many cities because they help insulate buildings and lower cooling costs. ______ they also offer aesthetic value and provide habitat for birds and insects.
The first part explains why green roofs are popular: they insulate buildings and lower cooling costs. The second part talks about other positive benefits: they look nice and provide habitats for animals.
Identify the relationship between the two parts
Ask: Is the second part
- disagreeing with or limiting the first part?
- giving a specific example of the first part?
- or adding more, similar reasons/benefits?
Here, the second part adds more benefits of green roofs. The clue word “also” already suggests that we are adding information rather than contrasting or giving an example.
Classify each transition type in the answer choices
Now think about what kind of relationship each option usually shows:
- One option shows that you are adding another point.
- Two options show contrast (an opposing or surprising idea compared to what came before).
- One option introduces an example.
You want the option that matches an “adding more similar information” relationship, not contrast or example.
Match the correct transition to the relationship
Because the second clause simply adds more, similar benefits of green roofs, the best transition is the one that signals addition. That choice is A) Additionally,.