Question 215·Medium·Transitions
Many bird species migrate thousands of miles to exploit seasonal food abundance; ______ some species remain in their breeding territories year-round, braving harsh winters by adapting their diet and behavior.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and read the sentence carefully, especially the part before and after the blank. Decide the relationship between the ideas (cause/effect, contrast, similarity, example, emphasis, etc.) in your own words. Then quickly label each option by its function (for example, “consequently” = result, “similarly” = similarity, “by contrast” = difference) and choose the one whose function matches the relationship you identified. This approach is faster and more accurate than plugging in each option by feel.
Hints
Focus on the two different bird behaviors
Compare what the first part of the sentence says birds do with what the second part says some species do. Are they doing the same thing or different things?
Decide the type of relationship
Ask yourself: Is the second clause a result of the first, similar to the first, just adding emphasis, or showing a difference?
Connect relationship to transition meanings
Think about what each transition generally signals: result, similarity, emphasis, or difference. Then match that to the relationship you identified between the two clauses.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each part of the sentence says
Read the sentence up to and after the blank:
- First part: Many bird species migrate thousands of miles to exploit seasonal food abundance;
- Second part: some species remain in their breeding territories year-round, braving harsh winters by adapting their diet and behavior.
The first group of birds migrates to find food; the second group does not migrate and instead endures winter where they are.
Identify the logical relationship between the two parts
Ask: How does the second idea relate to the first?
- Is staying in breeding territories a result of migrating? No.
- Is it similar to migrating? No, it’s the opposite.
- Is it just emphasizing or giving another example of migrating? No, it describes a different strategy.
The sentence is contrasting two different behaviors: migrating vs. staying put and adapting.
Match the relationship to transition types
Now think about what type of transition word fits a contrast:
- A cause-and-effect word would suggest the second idea happens because of the first.
- A similarity word would suggest the second idea is like the first.
- An emphasis/addition word would suggest the second idea supports or strengthens the first.
- A contrast word shows a difference between two ideas.
You need the option that signals a difference between the two bird strategies.
Choose the transition that signals contrast
Look at the answer choices:
- “Consequently,” = as a result (cause/effect)
- “Similarly,” = in the same way (similarity)
- “In fact,” = actually / indeed (emphasis)
- “By contrast,” = on the other hand / in opposition (difference)
Because the sentence is contrasting birds that migrate with birds that stay year-round, the best transition is C) By contrast,.