Question 250·Easy·Transitions
Some species of hummingbirds migrate thousands of miles every year. ______ they manage to complete this journey with surprisingly little energy expenditure, thanks to their rapid metabolism and efficient flight mechanics.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first restate in your own words how the second sentence relates to the first: Is it adding similar information, contrasting, showing cause and effect, giving an example, or emphasizing surprise? Then quickly label each answer choice by its function (contrast, cause/effect, example, emphasis, etc.) and eliminate any that don’t match the relationship you identified. This “relationship first, word second” approach is faster and more accurate than trying to plug in each option by feel.
Hints
Check the topic of both sentences
Notice that both sentences are about the same hummingbirds and their migration. Ask yourself whether the second sentence is arguing against the first, explaining a result, or adding a surprising detail.
Look for contrast or cause-and-effect signals
Do the sentences present opposite ideas, or does one clearly cause the other? If not, transitions that show contrast (like “however” or “in contrast”) or cause-and-effect (like “consequently”) may not fit.
Think about tone
The phrase “surprisingly little energy expenditure” suggests the writer is emphasizing how unexpected or impressive something is. Which transition best sets up that tone?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
First sentence: Some hummingbirds migrate very long distances (thousands of miles).
Second sentence: They complete that long journey using surprisingly little energy because of how their bodies and flight work.
So both sentences are about the same hummingbirds and the same journey; the second sentence adds a surprising detail about that journey.
Decide how the second sentence relates to the first
Ask: Is the second sentence
- Contradicting the first?
- Showing a result of the first?
- Highlighting a difference between two things?
- Or adding a surprising or noteworthy fact about the same idea?
Here, the second sentence does not contradict the first. It also is not clearly a cause or effect: migrating thousands of miles does not cause low energy use. There is also no second thing to contrast with. Instead, the writer is pointing out that it is surprising that such a long trip uses little energy.
Match the relationship to the transition types
Now match meanings:
- “However,” signals a contrast or opposition.
- “Consequently,” signals a result or effect.
- “In contrast,” compares two different things or ideas.
- One option (the correct one) signals that what follows is surprising or noteworthy given what was just said.
Because the relationship is “this is surprising given the previous fact,” we need the transition that introduces something remarkable, not contrasting or causal.
Select the transition that introduces a surprising fact
The only choice that introduces the second sentence as a surprising or noteworthy detail about the first is B) Remarkably, which fits the meaning and tone of the passage. So B is the correct answer.