Question 230·Medium·Transitions
Researchers have long understood that urban green spaces improve air quality. ______ recent studies suggest they also significantly enhance residents’ mental health.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the sentence (or pair of sentences) without the transition first, and decide on your own how the ideas relate: addition, cause/effect, contrast, example, or summary. Then eliminate any choices whose usual meanings do not match that relationship, even if they ‘sound’ okay. This meaning-first approach is much faster and more accurate than plugging each option in and reading them all one by one.
Hints
Read both parts together
Combine the sentence parts in your head: what does the first part say about urban green spaces, and what new information does the second part add about them?
Decide how the ideas are connected
Ask yourself: Is the second part showing a result of the first idea, contradicting it, or simply adding another related point?
Match meaning to transition type, not sound
Think about what each choice usually shows: one shows a result, one shows similarity, one shows contrast, and one simply adds another related idea. Which type of connection fits these two clauses?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each part of the sentence says
Read the two parts together:
- "Researchers have long understood that urban green spaces improve air quality."
- "recent studies suggest they also significantly enhance residents’ mental health."
The first part gives one benefit of green spaces (better air quality). The second part says that studies now show another benefit (better mental health).
Identify the relationship between the ideas
Ask: How is the second idea related to the first?
- It does not show a cause or result of the first idea; it just adds more information.
- It does not contrast or disagree with the first idea; it supports and extends it.
- It presents an additional benefit of the same thing (urban green spaces).
So we need a transition that adds a new, supporting point to the first statement.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
Now compare what each transition generally shows:
- Some transitions show result (a consequence of the previous statement).
- Some show similarity (something is like what was just mentioned).
- Some show contrast (opposition or exception).
- One shows addition (another supporting point).
Because the second clause adds another benefit of urban green spaces to the first clause, the transition that signals addition is the best fit.
Correct answer: D) Moreover,