Question 216·Hard·Transitions
Archaeologists once dismissed small, abraded stones found at the site as the products of natural breakage. ____ a reexamination under high magnification revealed microscopic wear patterns consistent with grinding seeds, suggesting the stones were tools.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the choices and decide on the relationship between the ideas: are they in contrast, cause and effect, example, or similarity? Put that relationship into a simple word (like "contrast" or "result") in your head. Then, check each answer choice against that relationship and eliminate any that don’t match; finally, plug the best remaining option into the sentence to confirm it makes the logic flow naturally.
Hints
Check the direction of the argument
Ask yourself: Does the second part support, explain, or contradict what the archaeologists originally thought?
Name the relationship in your own words
Without looking at the answer choices, describe the connection between the two parts using a simple word like "example," "result," "contrast," or "similarity."
Test each option’s typical use
Think about when you normally use words like "For instance," "Consequently," and "Similarly." Which kind of connection does each one usually show between ideas?
Plug in and read for logic
Briefly insert each choice into the blank and read the full sentence. Which one makes the reasoning between the old view and the new evidence sound natural and logical?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the first clause says
Read the first part: "Archaeologists once dismissed small, abraded stones found at the site as the products of natural breakage."
This means archaeologists used to think the stones were just naturally broken rocks, not tools or anything special.
Understand what the second clause says
Now read the part after the blank: "a reexamination under high magnification revealed microscopic wear patterns consistent with grinding seeds, suggesting the stones were tools."
This says that a later, more careful study found evidence the stones were actually used as tools.
Determine the relationship between the two ideas
Compare the two parts:
- First idea: the stones were dismissed as natural breakage (not tools).
- Second idea: new evidence suggests they were tools.
The second idea disagrees with or reverses the earlier belief. This is a contrast between an old assumption and new evidence.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
Now check each transition against that contrast relationship:
- A word for contrast is needed because the new finding goes against the earlier dismissal.
- "For instance," would introduce an example of something just mentioned.
- "Consequently," would show a result of something.
- "Similarly," would show that two things are alike.
Only "However," introduces a contrasting idea that overturns the previous view, so the correct answer is A) However,.