Question 186·Hard·Transitions
Early experiments using low-resolution telescopes failed to detect any exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars. Advances in detection techniques have since led astronomers to discover hundreds of such worlds; ____, these findings have reshaped theories about where life might emerge in the universe.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read one sentence before and after the blank, then briefly restate in your own words how the ideas relate (cause-effect, contrast, example, time, etc.). Classify each answer choice by its basic function (result, contrast, example, time) and quickly eliminate any that do not match the relationship you identified; avoid picking what merely “sounds good” and instead choose the transition whose meaning precisely fits the logical connection between the ideas.
Hints
Look at both sides of the blank
Reread the full sentence, paying close attention to what happens before the semicolon and what is said after it.
Identify the relationship
Ask yourself: Is the second part contrasting with the first, happening at the same time, giving an example, or showing a result of what came before?
Focus on the phrase "these findings have reshaped theories"
Think about how the discoveries of exoplanets are connected to reshaping theories about where life might emerge. Does that sound like contrast, a time relationship, an example, or an effect of those discoveries?
Eliminate clearly wrong transition types
Remove any choices that mainly show contrast, time, or introduce an example if they do not match the relationship you identified.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first idea
Read the first part: "Early experiments using low-resolution telescopes failed to detect any exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars. Advances in detection techniques have since led astronomers to discover hundreds of such worlds."
This sets up a change over time: at first, no exoplanets were detected; later, improved techniques led to discovering hundreds.
Understand the second idea
After the semicolon, we have: "____, these findings have reshaped theories about where life might emerge in the universe."
This tells us what happened because of those discoveries: the findings caused scientists to rethink where life might appear.
Decide the logical relationship
Put the ideas together:
- New detection techniques → discovery of many exoplanets around red dwarfs
- As a result, theories about where life might emerge have changed.
So the relationship between the clauses is cause and effect or reason → result.
Match the transition to the relationship
Now check what each option means:
- "meanwhile," = at the same time (time/contrast)
- "nevertheless," = in spite of that (contrast)
- "for example," = introduces an example of something just mentioned
- One remaining option shows a result, meaning as a result or because of that.
Because the second clause is a result of the discoveries, the best transition is “consequently,”.