Question 177·Hard·Transitions
Wild honeybees construct intricate nests consisting of densely packed hexagonal cells, structures that maximize storage space while minimizing the amount of wax required. ______ engineers studying efficient design principles have modeled ventilation systems and architectural supports on this naturally occurring geometry.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read a bit before and after the blank, then briefly summarize each side in your own words to identify the type of relationship (cause/effect, contrast, example, comparison, emphasis). Once you know the relationship, eliminate any choices whose meanings don’t match that relationship, even if they “sound” smooth. Avoid choosing transitions based on flow alone—always be able to name the logical connection they signal.
Hints
Focus on the relationship, not just the sound
Reread the entire sentence smoothly, imagining a simple connector like "because of this" or "on the other hand" in the blank. Decide whether the second part is supporting, opposing, comparing, or following from the first.
Summarize each part in your own words
Put the first part in your own words (what are bees doing and why is it important?), then the second part (what are engineers doing?). Ask yourself: is the second part an effect, a contrast, a comparison, or just extra emphasis?
Match meaning, not grammar
Briefly recall what each type of transition usually signals: one shows contrast, one sets up a comparison, one adds emphasis, and one shows an outcome. Which type of connection fits how engineers’ actions relate to the bees’ nest design?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the first sentence is saying
Read the first part carefully: it explains that wild honeybees build hexagonal cells that maximize storage space and minimize wax use. This is describing an efficient, advantageous design found in nature.
Understand what the second part is saying
The part after the blank says that engineers studying efficient design principles have modeled ventilation systems and architectural supports on this natural geometry. In other words, engineers copy or use this bee structure in their designs.
Identify the logical relationship between the two parts
Ask: How does the second idea relate to the first? The bees’ efficient structure comes first, and then we are told that engineers use that structure in their own designs. This shows that what engineers do is a consequence of (or is inspired by) the efficiency described earlier.
So the relationship is cause → effect: efficient natural design (cause) leads to engineers modeling their systems on it (effect).
Match the relationship to the best transition
Now check each option’s basic meaning:
- "Nevertheless," shows contrast (something surprising or opposite).
- "By comparison," sets up a direct comparison.
- "In fact," adds emphasis or an additional supporting point.
- "As a result," shows a consequence or outcome.
Because the sentence is showing what happens because the honeycomb design is efficient, the transition that correctly shows a consequence is "As a result," (Choice D).