Question 166·Easy·Transitions
Scientists once believed coral reefs could only grow in shallow, warm waters. _____ they have discovered thriving cold-water corals more than a thousand meters beneath the surface.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and read the sentences around the blank to decide the exact relationship: addition, contrast, cause-and-effect, or similarity. Once you’ve labeled the relationship, quickly sort the options by what each transition word usually signals and eliminate any that don’t match that relationship, even if they “sound good” in the sentence. Focus on logic, not rhythm, and be especially careful to distinguish contrast words from addition or similarity words.
Hints
Restate the two ideas
Put each sentence into your own words: What did scientists used to think, and what do they know now?
Figure out the relationship
Ask yourself: Does the new information support the old belief, go against it, or come from it as a result?
Classify the transition types
Think about what each type of transition generally does: one adds similar information, one shows a cause-and-effect result, one shows similarity, and one shows contrast. Match the type to the relationship you found.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
Read both parts of the text carefully.
- First sentence: Scientists once believed coral reefs could only grow in shallow, warm waters.
- Second sentence: Scientists have discovered cold-water corals thriving deep beneath the surface.
So the second sentence describes a new discovery that does not fit the old belief.
Decide how the ideas are related
Ask: Does the new discovery support, add to, result from, or contradict the old belief?
If scientists thought corals could only grow in shallow, warm water, but then they found corals in cold, deep water, that means the new information challenges or contradicts the earlier belief.
So we need a transition that shows a contrast between the old belief and the new finding.
Match each transition type to the relationship
Now think about what each option usually shows:
- "In addition," introduces another similar point.
- "As a result," shows cause and effect.
- "Similarly," shows a comparison of similar ideas.
- One option shows contrast between what was thought before and what is true now.
Only the contrast type correctly fits the relationship between an old belief and a surprising, opposing discovery.
Choose the transition that shows contrast
Because the second sentence contradicts the earlier belief, the transition must signal contrast. Among the options, "Nevertheless," is the contrast word that shows the new discovery goes against what scientists once believed.
So the correct answer is B) Nevertheless,.