Question 197·Medium·Transitions
Many city governments have invested in rooftop gardens to combat the urban heat-island effect, and early studies suggest that these green roofs can lower building temperatures by several degrees. _____ later analyses indicate that without broader initiatives—such as increasing tree cover at street level—the overall temperature of densely populated neighborhoods remains largely unchanged.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the full sentence (or pair of sentences) and first decide the logical relationship between the ideas: addition, contrast, example, cause–effect, or emphasis. Ignore the choices at first; summarize the relationship in your own words (e.g., "this second part is a drawback to the first part"). Then quickly classify each answer choice by its typical function and eliminate those whose function doesn’t match the relationship you identified. If more than one seems possible, plug the remaining options back into the sentence and choose the one that makes the meaning clearest and most precise.
Hints
Look at the relationship, not just the blank
Reread the sentence before and after the blank. Decide whether the second part supports, contrasts with, gives an example of, or results from the first part.
Focus on the phrase after the blank
Pay attention to "without broader initiatives… the overall temperature… remains largely unchanged." Is this continuing the good news, or is it qualifying or limiting it?
Match the logical relationship to a transition type
Once you decide the second part is either adding, contrasting, exemplifying, or showing a result, eliminate any options whose meanings (addition, example, result) don’t fit that relationship.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the first part is saying
Read the sentence up to the blank:
"Many city governments have invested in rooftop gardens to combat the urban heat-island effect, and early studies suggest that these green roofs can lower building temperatures by several degrees. _____"
This tells us that rooftop gardens appear to help by lowering building temperatures. The tone here is positive and hopeful.
Understand what the second part is saying
Now read the part after the blank:
"later analyses indicate that without broader initiatives—such as increasing tree cover at street level—the overall temperature of densely populated neighborhoods remains largely unchanged."
This means that, even though individual buildings are cooler, the overall neighborhood temperature does not change much unless extra measures are taken. This is a limiting or contrasting idea compared to the earlier hopeful result.
Identify the relationship between the two parts
Ask: does the second part
- add another similar benefit?
- give an example of the first idea?
- show a result caused by the first idea?
- or contrast/qualify the first idea?
Here, the second part pushes back against the good news by saying the overall temperature does not change much. So the relationship is one of contrast or unexpected limitation: the initial positive effect does not lead to a broader improvement.
Match the transition to the contrast relationship
Now check each option’s general meaning:
- "Moreover," adds another similar point.
- "For example," introduces a specific illustration.
- "Consequently," introduces a result or effect.
- One option signals contrast or "in spite of that."
Because the sentence shifts from a positive result (cooler buildings) to a limiting contrast (neighborhood temperature unchanged), only "Nonetheless," correctly shows that contrast and completes the sentence logically.