Question 241·Easy·Transitions
The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia. _____ it supports one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, carrying millions of tons of cargo each year.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the sentence before and after the blank together, then briefly label the relationship in your own words (e.g., contrast, cause/effect, example, addition, comparison). Next, go through the answer choices and match each transition to its usual function, eliminating any that do not fit the relationship you identified. Avoid picking a word just because it “sounds good”; it must clearly reflect the logical connection between the two parts of the text.
Hints
Read both sentences together
Combine the two sentences in your mind and think about how the second one relates to the first. Is it opposing, explaining, illustrating, or just continuing the idea?
Label the type of relationship
Ask yourself: Does the second sentence show an opposite idea, a specific instance, a comparison, or another important fact about the Yangtze River?
Match the transition to the relationship
Think about what each transition word usually does (contrast, example, comparison, or continuation) and eliminate any choices that do not fit the relationship you identified.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the relationship between the two sentences
Read both sentences together:
- First: "The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia."
- Second: "_____ it supports one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, carrying millions of tons of cargo each year."
Ask: Is the second sentence disagreeing with the first, giving a specific example of it, comparing it to something else, or just adding another important fact about the Yangtze River?
Decide what the second sentence is doing
The second sentence gives another impressive fact about the Yangtze River: it supports a very busy shipping route.
It does not:
- Go against or oppose the first idea (no contrast)
- Give a specific instance of a general idea from the first sentence (the first sentence is already specific, not general)
- Compare the Yangtze to another river or thing (only the Yangtze is mentioned)
So the relationship is that the second sentence is adding more related information about the same subject.
Match each transition type to the relationship
Now think about what each option usually signals:
- "In contrast," usually shows an opposite or contrasting idea.
- "For example," usually introduces a specific example of a general statement.
- "Similarly," usually compares two different but alike things.
- One option signals that the writer is adding another related point to strengthen or extend the idea.
Because the second sentence is simply adding another strong fact about the Yangtze River, the best transition is the one that shows you are adding more information.
Correct answer: C) Furthermore,