Question 16·Easy·Transitions
Solar panels are becoming more affordable each year. _____ the overall cost of solar installations has dropped by nearly 70 percent since 2010.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first read the sentences without the answer choices and decide how the second sentence relates to the first: support/example, contrast, cause/effect, or time/sequence. Then quickly label that relationship in your own words (e.g., "this is an example"), and scan the options for the transition that matches that relationship. Finally, plug your choice back into the sentence to check that it creates a smooth, logical connection without changing the meaning.
Hints
Look at agreement or disagreement
Ask yourself: does the second sentence agree with and support the first sentence, or does it show something opposite or unexpected?
Classify the type of connection
Decide whether the second sentence is: (1) contrasting with the first, (2) showing something surprising, (3) simply happening at the same time, or (4) giving a specific detail that backs up the first sentence.
Match meanings of transitions to the relationship
Think about what each option usually signals—difference, surprising contrast, time, or support—and pick the one that matches how the statistic about a 70 percent cost drop relates to the idea that solar panels are becoming more affordable.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand how the two sentences are related
Read the two sentences together:
- "Solar panels are becoming more affordable each year." (general statement)
- "_____ the overall cost of solar installations has dropped by nearly 70 percent since 2010." (specific detail)
The second sentence gives a concrete statistic that supports and illustrates the idea that solar panels are becoming more affordable.
Recall what each transition usually signals
Think about the basic job of each transition:
- "In contrast," introduces an opposite or very different idea.
- "Nevertheless," introduces a surprising contrast or exception.
- "Meanwhile," shows two things happening at the same time but in different situations.
- One option introduces a specific illustration or instance of the previous idea.
Ask yourself: is the second sentence opposing the first, surprising compared to it, just something else happening at the same time, or is it backing it up with a concrete detail?
Eliminate mismatches and choose the supporting transition
The second sentence does not disagree with the first, so it does not show contrast or a surprising opposite; this eliminates "In contrast," and "Nevertheless,". It is not describing a separate event happening at the same time, so "Meanwhile," does not fit either.
Instead, the nearly 70 percent drop in cost is a specific statistic that supports the claim that solar panels are becoming more affordable. The only option that logically introduces this kind of supporting example is B) For example,.