Question 202·Easy·Transitions
Carlos wanted to improve his public speaking skills. He began by watching accomplished speakers online for inspiration. ______ he practiced delivering short talks in front of a mirror. Finally, he asked friends to critique a recorded presentation.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read at least one sentence before and after the blank, then decide what the logical relationship is: continuation, contrast, cause-and-effect, example, or sequence. Use any clue words already in the passage (like “Finally,” “Because,” or “In contrast”) to see whether the missing transition should show order, opposition, or another type of link, and then eliminate choices whose typical meaning does not match that relationship or that create grammar problems in the sentence.
Hints
Look at all three actions Carlos takes
Read the sentence before the blank and the sentence after the blank. What is Carlos doing in each sentence, and how are those actions related?
Use the word “Finally” as a clue
The last sentence begins with “Finally.” What does that tell you about where that action falls in the sequence, and what kind of connection the middle sentence should have?
Think about the type of connection, not the specific word
Ask yourself: Is the middle sentence showing a contrast, giving an example, or moving to another step in a process? Eliminate answer choices whose meaning does not match that relationship.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what is happening in the paragraph
First, read all three sentences together:
- Carlos wanted to improve his public speaking skills.
- He began by watching accomplished speakers online for inspiration.
- ______ he practiced delivering short talks in front of a mirror.
- Finally, he asked friends to critique a recorded presentation.
Notice that these are different actions Carlos takes toward the same goal.
Identify the relationship between the sentences
The first sentence about watching speakers shows how Carlos begins. The last sentence starts with “Finally,” which clearly introduces the last step in a sequence.
So the middle sentence (with the blank) is not a contrast or example; it is another step in a process, coming between the beginning step and the final step.
Match each transition type to the relationship
Think about what each answer choice usually shows:
- However, = contrast, something different or opposite
- For instance, = an example of a general idea
- Although = introduces a surprising contrast and usually starts a clause like “Although he practiced …”
The sentence after the blank is simply another action Carlos took, and it fits smoothly in a time order before “Finally.” We need a transition that shows progression in order, not contrast or example, and that also fits the punctuation after a period.
Choose the transition that shows progression
Only “Next,” correctly shows that this is the second step in Carlos’s process and fits with “Finally,” introducing the last step. So the best choice is B) Next,.