Question 24·Hard·Transitions
Critics often claim that the eighteenth-century painter Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin confined himself almost exclusively to quiet domestic still lifes. ______ his later works reveal an increasingly experimental approach to portraiture, featuring loosened brushstrokes and unexpected color harmonies.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and read the sentence before and after the blank, summarizing each part in your own words. Decide whether the relationship is addition, contrast, cause/effect, or example. Then look at the choices and eliminate any transitions whose usual function (adding, contrasting, showing result, comparing) does not match the relationship you identified. This approach is faster and more accurate than trying to plug in each option by feel.
Hints
Compare the two parts of the sentence
Read carefully what critics “often claim” about Chardin before the blank and what is said about “his later works” after the blank. Ask yourself: are these descriptions alike or different?
Identify the logical relationship
Does the second part act as another example of the critics’ claim, a result of that claim, or does it call that claim into question?
Match the relationship to a transition type
Think about whether you need a word that shows result, addition, or comparison—and eliminate any transitions whose usual purpose does not match the relationship you found between the two parts.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first idea
Read the sentence up to the blank: critics say Chardin “confined himself almost exclusively to quiet domestic still lifes.” This suggests his work is limited in subject and calm in tone.
Understand the second idea
Now read after the blank: “his later works reveal an increasingly experimental approach to portraiture, featuring loosened brushstrokes and unexpected color harmonies.” This describes something different from quiet domestic still lifes—his work becomes experimental and focused on portraits.
Decide the relationship between the two ideas
Compare the critics’ claim with the description of his later works. The critics say he stayed mostly with quiet still lifes, but the sentence says his later works became experimental portraits. That pushes back against or contradicts the critics’ claim rather than supporting it or giving a result of it.
Match the relationship to the transition
Now check each choice:
- “Consequently,” shows result or effect.
- “In addition,” adds another similar point.
- “Similarly,” compares two similar things.
- “However,” introduces a point that contrasts with or qualifies the previous one.
Because the second idea challenges what critics claim, the contrast word “However,” (Choice D) is the only logical transition.