Question 220·Easy·Transitions
Jerusalem artichokes are neither from Jerusalem nor true artichokes. ______ they belong to the sunflower family and are native to North America. Early European settlers cultivated the plant for its edible tubers, which have a sweet, nutty flavor.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first read the sentences before and after the blank without looking at the answer choices, and describe in your own words how the ideas are related (addition, contrast, cause-effect, example, clarification, time, etc.). Then, label that relationship (for example, "clarifying the previous fact" or "showing a contrast"). Next, quickly recall what each answer choice generally signals and eliminate any whose meaning does not match the relationship you identified. Choose the transition whose function (not just its sound) best fits the logical connection between the sentences.
Hints
Check how the second sentence connects to the first
Ask yourself: Does the second sentence oppose the first idea, give another similar example, describe something happening at the same time, or give more specific facts about the same idea?
Think about the overall purpose
The first sentence tells you what Jerusalem artichokes are not. What is the purpose of the next sentence: to tell a different story, to compare to something else, or to explain more about what they actually are?
Review what each transition generally means
Mentally define each option: one shows similarity, one shows time/at-the-same-time, one shows contrast or "in spite of," and one is used to emphasize or clarify a surprising or important fact. Which type best matches the connection you found?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the two sentences are saying
Paraphrase the ideas:
- First sentence: Jerusalem artichokes are not from Jerusalem and are not real artichokes.
- Second sentence: They actually belong to the sunflower family and come from North America. So the second sentence adds more specific factual information about what Jerusalem artichokes really are and where they are from.
Identify the relationship between the ideas
Ask: Is the second sentence
- contrasting with the first?
- showing something happening at the same time?
- giving another similar example?
- or emphasizing/clarifying the surprising information in the first sentence? Here, the second sentence continues the description and clarifies the truth behind the surprising claim that they are neither from Jerusalem nor artichokes.
Match the transition type to the relationship
Now consider what each transition usually shows:
- "Similarly," shows a comparison to something else that is alike.
- "Meanwhile," shows two things happening at the same time or a shift to a different situation.
- "Regardless," shows that what comes next happens in spite of the previous idea.
- "In fact," emphasizes or reinforces a statement by adding a clarifying or more precise detail. Because the second sentence reinforces and clarifies the first with an additional factual detail, the transition that best fits is "In fact,".