Question 155·Easy·Transitions
Many desert animals are nocturnal, conserving water and avoiding the daytime heat. ______ the fennec fox emerges after sunset to hunt insects and small rodents in the cooler night air.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the choices and describe, in your own words, how the second idea relates to the first (addition, contrast, cause/effect, specific case, etc.). Then look at the answer choices and briefly recall what each transition usually signals. Eliminate any option whose meaning does not match the relationship you identified, and choose the one that fits the logic and tone of the sentences, not just what “sounds good.”
Hints
Look at the general vs. specific ideas
Notice that the first sentence is about "many desert animals" in general, while the second sentence is about the fennec fox. Think about how a general statement and a specific case usually connect.
Check whether the ideas agree or disagree
Ask yourself: Does the second sentence go against the first one, or does it support and fit with it? If they agree, transitions that show opposition or surprise are probably wrong.
Think about what each transition type does
Without looking at the wording yet, decide: Do you need a word that shows contrast, a result, something unexpected, or something else? Then match that need to the meanings of the answer choices.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
Read the first part: "Many desert animals are nocturnal, conserving water and avoiding the daytime heat." This is a general statement about desert animals.
Then read the second part: "____ the fennec fox emerges after sunset to hunt insects and small rodents in the cooler night air." This is about one specific animal, the fennec fox, that also comes out at night.
Decide the logical relationship between the ideas
Ask: How does talking about the fennec fox relate to the general statement about many desert animals being nocturnal?
- It does not disagree with the first sentence (they say the same type of thing: being active at night).
- It does not show a result or consequence of the first sentence.
- It does not present something surprising compared to the first sentence.
Instead, it fits with the first sentence and describes one specific case of the general idea.
Match the relationship to the transition types
Now think about what kind of transition each option usually shows:
- "In contrast," usually signals an opposite or different idea.
- "Therefore," usually signals a result or conclusion.
- "Nevertheless," usually signals something unexpected compared to what came before.
- "For example," usually introduces a specific case that fits the general idea.
We saw that the second sentence aligns with the first and presents one specific nocturnal desert animal. That means the best transition is the one that introduces a fitting specific case: "For example,".