Question 248·Medium·Transitions
Biologists recently discovered that the Amazon river dolphin changes its vocalizations when boats pass through its territory. The noise of boat engines interferes with the dolphins' communication, making it harder for them to coordinate hunting. _____ researchers are investigating whether limits on boat traffic could help the dolphins thrive.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and decide in your own words how the sentences relate: are they showing cause and effect, contrast, example, or a time/order sequence? Then label each answer choice by its function (e.g., contrast, result, example, time) and eliminate any that don’t match the relationship you identified. This approach is faster and more reliable than trying each word in the blank and “seeing what sounds right,” and it keeps you focused on logical connections rather than guesswork.
Hints
Look at how the third sentence connects to the first two
Ask yourself: Is the third sentence disagreeing with the first two, giving a result of them, giving an example of them, or telling when something happened?
Identify the problem and the response
What problem do the first two sentences describe, and how are the researchers in the third sentence reacting to that problem?
Classify each transition type
Think of each option as one of four types: contrast, result, example, or time. Decide which type best fits the relationship you found between the sentences.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the first two sentences are saying
Read the first two sentences and put them in your own words. They say that Amazon river dolphins change their vocalizations when boats pass, and that the noise from boat engines makes it harder for dolphins to communicate and hunt. This sets up a problem caused by boat traffic.
Understand what the last sentence is doing
The last sentence says that researchers are investigating whether limits on boat traffic could help the dolphins thrive. This is a response to, or follow-up action based on, the earlier problem with boat noise and communication.
Decide the logical relationship between the ideas
Combine the ideas: because boat noise interferes with dolphins’ communication and hunting, researchers are now studying whether limiting boats could help them. That means the third sentence describes a result of the situation in the previous sentences, not a contrast, an example, or a time shift.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
Now look at the choices:
- One option shows contrast (a “but” relationship).
- One shows cause-and-effect (a result).
- One introduces an example.
- One signals an earlier time. Since the third sentence presents what happens as a result of the problem with boat noise, the cause-and-effect transition "Consequently," is the only logical choice.