Question 196·Easy·Transitions
Coral reefs teem with life, supporting approximately one-quarter of all marine species despite covering less than 1 percent of the ocean floor. ______ these ecosystems also protect coastal communities by absorbing wave energy during storms.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always ignore the answer choices at first and focus on the logic between the ideas before and after the blank: decide whether they show addition, contrast, cause-and-effect, or another relationship. Once you’ve labeled the relationship, eliminate any options that signal a different type (for example, remove contrast words if the ideas are similar) and then choose the word or phrase that best matches the relationship you identified. This “predict first, then match” approach is faster and prevents being tricked by choices that sound good but don’t fit the logic.
Hints
Identify what each sentence is saying about coral reefs
Ask yourself: Is each part talking positively or negatively about coral reefs, and what role or function is being described in each?
Decide how the two ideas are related
Are these two statements contradicting each other, showing a result of the first, or simply listing multiple benefits of the same thing?
Match the relationship to transition types
Remember: some transitions show contrast (like "however"), some show result (like "as a result"), and some show addition (like when you list another similar point). Decide which type fits here, then pick the option that matches that type.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first idea
Read the first sentence: "Coral reefs teem with life, supporting approximately one-quarter of all marine species despite covering less than 1 percent of the ocean floor." This tells us that coral reefs are very important for marine life—they support many species.
Understand the second idea
Now read the second part: "____ these ecosystems also protect coastal communities by absorbing wave energy during storms." Here, reefs are described as doing something else good: they protect coastal communities from storm waves.
Figure out the relationship between the two ideas
Both parts describe benefits of coral reefs. The second part does not oppose or replace the first; it simply gives another important role reefs play. There is also no direct cause-and-effect stated between “teeming with life” and “protecting coastal communities” — they are just two separate advantages.
Match the relationship to the best transition
We need a transition that shows we are adding another, similar positive point about coral reefs. Among the choices, “In addition” is the phrase that clearly signals another point is being added, so B) In addition is the correct answer.