Question 156·Hard·Transitions
Because the radio pulses from the object arrived with astonishing regularity, the research team jokingly dubbed the source “LGM,” short for “Little Green Men.” ______ careful analysis showed that slight variations in the pulse period matched expectations for a rotating neutron star, leading to the identification of the first known pulsar.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read a bit before and after the blank, then briefly describe in your own words how the ideas are related (contrast, cause-effect, example, addition, or final result). Next, match that relationship to the function of each transition word, eliminating any choice whose meaning (like "for example" or "consequently") doesn’t fit the actual connection. Finally, plug your best choice back into the sentence to confirm that the tone and logic feel smooth and natural.
Hints
First, paraphrase the sentence
Put the sentence into your own words: the team first gave the source a joking nickname, and later, detailed study revealed what it really was. Think about how those two stages of the story relate.
Identify the type of connection needed
Ask yourself: Is the second part mainly an example, a contrast, a direct result, or the later conclusion of the investigation that started in the first part?
Test each transition against that relationship
For each answer choice, say the full sentence in your head. Does it make the second part sound like an example, a result, a contrast, or the eventual outcome? Only one of those fits the way the story unfolds from joke to discovery.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each part of the sentence is saying
Read the sentence without the transition:
"Because the radio pulses from the object arrived with astonishing regularity, the research team jokingly dubbed the source 'LGM,' short for 'Little Green Men.' ______ careful analysis showed that slight variations in the pulse period matched expectations for a rotating neutron star, leading to the identification of the first known pulsar."
The first part describes an initial, joking interpretation (maybe aliens). The second part describes what detailed scientific analysis later revealed, which led to the real identification of the object.
Decide the logical relationship between the two parts
Ask yourself: How does the second part relate to the first?
- It does not give an example of the nickname.
- It does not show that analysis happened because they gave the nickname.
- It could be seen as slightly contrasting the alien joke with the real explanation, but more importantly, it presents the later, final result of further work.
So the main relationship is that the second part is the eventual outcome of ongoing investigation after the initial joke.
Match each transition type to that relationship
Now think about what each option usually signals:
- "However," usually introduces a contrast or opposing idea.
- "For example," introduces an example of something just mentioned.
- "Consequently," shows a direct result or effect of what came before.
- One option (left for the final step) signals a final outcome or conclusion after a process.
The sentence needs a word that fits the idea of a final conclusion after more analysis, not a simple contrast, example, or direct cause-and-effect.
Choose the transition that signals a final result
Since the second clause gives the final scientific conclusion that came after more study—identifying the first known pulsar—the transition that best introduces this final outcome is "Ultimately,".
The completed sentence is:
"Because the radio pulses from the object arrived with astonishing regularity, the research team jokingly dubbed the source 'LGM,' short for 'Little Green Men.' Ultimately, careful analysis showed that slight variations in the pulse period matched expectations for a rotating neutron star, leading to the identification of the first known pulsar."