Question 36·Easy·Transitions
Many community gardens struggle with limited resources and a small pool of volunteers. _____ a local high school has offered to send students every weekend to help with planting and maintenance.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read at least one sentence before and after the blank, then quickly summarize how those parts relate (example, contrast, cause/effect, restatement, or simple addition). Once you’ve labeled the relationship, check each answer by its function—not just its sound—and eliminate choices whose roles don’t match (for instance = example, moreover = addition, in other words = restatement). Finally, plug your best choice into the sentence to confirm that the logic and tone flow smoothly from the first idea to the second.
Hints
Label the tone of each sentence
Decide whether the first sentence sounds more negative or positive, and then do the same for the second sentence about the local high school sending students.
Figure out the relationship between the two ideas
Ask yourself: is the second sentence giving another example of the same problem, simply repeating the problem more clearly, or introducing information that changes the situation described in the first sentence?
Connect each transition to its general role
Think about what each type of transition word usually does: one often introduces an example, one often adds a similar point, one often restates something more clearly, and one often marks a change from the previous idea. Choose the one whose role best fits how the second sentence relates to the first.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
Read the two sentences together:
- "Many community gardens struggle with limited resources and a small pool of volunteers." → This sentence describes problems/difficulties.
- "_____ a local high school has offered to send students every weekend to help with planting and maintenance." → This sentence describes help/support being offered.
So the first part is negative (struggles), and the second part is positive (a solution or help).
Decide how the ideas are related
Ask yourself: does the second sentence
- give an example of the struggles?
- add another similar problem?
- restate the same idea in different words?
- or move in a different direction by introducing help that goes against/relieves the problem?
Here, the second sentence shifts from the problem (not enough help) to news that does provide help. That means the relationship is a change in direction between ideas, not an example, addition, or restatement.
Match that relationship to the best transition
Now match each answer choice to its usual job:
- For instance, introduces an example of what was just said.
- Moreover, adds another similar point in the same direction.
- In other words, restates the same idea in a different way.
- However, signals a shift or contrast between what was just said and what comes next.
Because the sentence moves from a problem to a helpful development, the transition that signals this contrast is D) However,.