Question 214·Easy·Transitions
Solar power is becoming increasingly affordable for homeowners. ______ the average cost of residential solar panels has fallen by nearly 70 percent since 2010.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and decide how the second sentence relates to the first: is it an example, a cause, an effect, a contrast, or just another detail? Put that relationship into a simple phrase (like "this is an example" or "this is a contrast"), then eliminate any choices whose meanings don’t match that relationship. Focus strictly on logic, not on what "sounds good," and remember that many wrong answers suggest the wrong kind of relationship (contrast vs. support, cause vs. example, etc.).
Hints
Identify the role of the second sentence
Ask yourself: is the second sentence introducing a cause, an effect, a contrast, an example, or just something happening at the same time?
Summarize the connection
In your own words, describe how the information about the 70 percent cost drop relates to the idea that solar power is becoming more affordable.
Match meaning, not sound
Ignore which option "sounds" nice. Instead, think about what each transition actually means (cause/effect, contrast, example, time) and see which meaning fits the connection you described.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first sentence
Read the first sentence: "Solar power is becoming increasingly affordable for homeowners." This is a general statement about a trend: solar power is getting cheaper.
Understand the sentence after the blank
Now read the part after the blank: "the average cost of residential solar panels has fallen by nearly 70 percent since 2010." This is a specific statistic that supports or illustrates how solar power is becoming more affordable.
Decide the logical relationship
Put the ideas together in your own words: the passage first states that solar power is getting more affordable, and then gives a concrete number showing how much the cost has dropped.
That means the second sentence is supporting evidence or an example of the first sentence, not a result, a contrast, or a separate simultaneous event.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
Now test each option to see which one correctly shows that the second sentence is an example or piece of evidence for the first:
- One choice is specifically used to introduce a specific illustration of a general idea.
- The others show cause/effect, contrast, or events happening at the same time, which do not match the relationship you identified.
The only transition that correctly introduces a specific illustration of the previous statement is "For example," so that is the best answer.