Question 158·Medium·Transitions
Solar power has become one of the fastest-growing energy sources worldwide. In 2020 alone, global solar capacity increased by nearly 140 gigawatts, a record jump. _____ many regions still rely heavily on fossil fuels, and solar energy accounts for less than 5 percent of total electricity production.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the full sentence before and after the blank and briefly restate each idea in your own words. Decide the relationship between them—support, contrast, cause-and-effect, example, or simple addition—before looking closely at the choices. Then quickly label each option by its function (contrast word, result word, example word, etc.) and eliminate any whose function does not match the relationship you identified; this keeps you from being tricked by choices that sound good but don’t fit the logic.
Hints
Focus on the ideas, not just the blank
Read the full sentences before and after the blank. Ask yourself: does the second idea support, explain, result from, or go against the first idea?
Label the relationship
Decide if the sentence after the blank is mainly giving a cause/effect, an example, an additional similar point, or a contrast/limitation to the earlier information.
Think about each transition type
Before looking at the options in detail, remind yourself what each kind of transition usually signals: result, example, addition, or contrast. Then match that to the relationship you found in the passage.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each part of the passage is saying
Read the ideas right before and after the blank.
- First and second sentences: Solar power is growing very fast, with a record increase in capacity.
- After the blank: Many regions still rely heavily on fossil fuels, and solar is less than 5 percent of electricity. These two ideas are not both positive or both negative; the second idea limits or contrasts with the first.
Decide the relationship between the ideas
Ask: Is the third sentence showing a result, an example, an additional similar point, or a contrasting/limiting point?
- The first idea: big growth in solar.
- The second idea: despite that growth, solar is still a small share and fossil fuels are still dominant. That means the relationship is contrast or “surprising difference,” not cause-and-effect, example, or simple addition.
Match each answer choice to its type of transition
Identify what each transition word usually shows:
- Choice A: shows contrast between ideas.
- Choice B: means "as a result" and shows cause-and-effect.
- Choice C: introduces an example of what was just mentioned.
- Choice D: adds another similar point or continues the same direction. Only one of these types fits a situation where the second sentence pushes back against or limits the first.
Choose the transition that shows contrast
Because the passage contrasts impressive solar growth with the fact that fossil fuels still dominate and solar is under 5 percent, you need a transition that signals "even so" or "despite that." Among the options, “Nevertheless,” (Choice A) is the contrast word that correctly shows this unexpected difference, so it is the best choice.