Question 187·Easy·Transitions
Some critics argue that daylight saving time should be abolished because it disrupts sleep schedules and provides little energy savings. ______ supporters contend that the practice benefits public safety by giving commuters more daylight in the evening.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read at least one sentence before and after the blank and decide the exact logical relationship between the ideas (contrast, continuation, example, cause/effect, or time). Once you’ve labeled the relationship in your own words, quickly sort the choices by their typical function and eliminate any that don’t match. Finally, plug your best remaining option back into the sentence to confirm that it creates a smooth, logical connection with no change in meaning or tone.
Hints
Identify what each side is saying
First, summarize the critics’ point and the supporters’ point in your own words. Are they saying the same thing or different things?
Decide the logical relationship
Ask yourself: Does the second part give a result of the first, an example of it, something happening at the same time, or a contrasting idea?
Eliminate transitions that don’t match that relationship
Look at each answer choice and think about what kind of connection it usually shows (time, example, cause/effect, or contrast), then rule out any that don’t fit how critics and supporters are related here.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the relationship between the two clauses
Read the full sentence without a transition:
"Some critics argue that daylight saving time should be abolished because it disrupts sleep schedules and provides little energy savings. ______ supporters contend that the practice benefits public safety by giving commuters more daylight in the evening."
The first clause gives critics’ negative view (it disrupts sleep and doesn’t save much energy). The second clause gives supporters’ positive view (it helps public safety by giving more evening daylight). These are opposing viewpoints.
Match the relationship to a transition type
Ask: Are the two parts showing
- a contrast (opposite ideas),
- a time/sequence relationship,
- an example of the first idea, or
- a cause-and-effect relationship?
Here, supporters are not giving an example of the critics’ argument, nor are they a result of it, and there is no special focus on time order; instead, they disagree with the critics. So we need a transition that signals contrast between two opposing views.
Test each answer choice against the needed relationship
Now analyze each option:
- "Meanwhile," is usually used for events happening at the same time, not for direct disagreement.
- "For example," introduces a specific instance of something just mentioned, but the supporters’ point is not an example of the critics’ claim.
- "As a result," shows cause and effect, but critics’ views do not cause supporters’ views.
- "However," is used to introduce a statement that contradicts or contrasts with what came before, which fits critics vs. supporters.
Because the sentence shifts from critics’ objections to supporters’ benefits—two opposing viewpoints—the correct transition is "However,".