Question 4·Easy·Transitions
Olivia enjoys gardening, and her backyard is full of herbs and vegetables. _____ she still buys most of her produce at the local farmers market, where she can find items she doesn’t have room to grow.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and decide on the relationship between the ideas: are they in contrast, is one a cause of the other, is it just an additional similar point, or is it an example? Look for clue words in the sentence itself (like "still," "however," or "as a result") that hint at this relationship. Then group the answer choices by type (contrast, cause/effect, addition, example) and quickly eliminate those that don’t match the relationship you identified, rather than picking what “sounds good.”
Hints
Look for the logical connection
Ask yourself: Does the second part of the sentence say something that is expected based on the first part, or something that seems a bit surprising or opposite?
Use the clue word "still"
Focus on the word "still" in the second clause. What does that tell you about how the second idea relates to the first?
Classify the transition types
Think about each answer choice: which ones show cause/effect, which show addition, which show examples, and which show contrast? Match that to the relationship you found between the two clauses.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the relationship between the two ideas
Paraphrase the sentence:
- Olivia enjoys gardening and has many herbs and vegetables in her backyard.
- She still buys most of her produce at the farmers market.
The word "still" suggests that what comes next is surprising or contrastive compared with what we just learned about her garden.
Decide what kind of transition is needed
Ask: Is the second idea a result, an additional similar point, an example, or a contrast to the first idea?
Here, it’s unexpected that someone with a backyard full of produce would still buy most of their produce elsewhere. That means we need a transition that highlights a contrast between expectation (garden) and reality (still buying produce).
Eliminate transitions that show the wrong relationship
Now check each option’s usual meaning:
- Consequently, = as a result (cause → effect)
- In addition, = also, plus another similar point
- For instance, = for example
None of these show contrast. Having a full garden does not logically cause her to buy most of her produce, so "Consequently," is wrong. "In addition," would add a similar detail, but buying most produce elsewhere doesn’t match the idea of relying on her own garden. "For instance," would introduce an example of gardening, but going to a farmers market is not an example of her backyard garden.
Confirm the correct contrast transition
The remaining choice must be the one that signals contrast. "Nevertheless," means something like "despite what was just said," which fits perfectly:
"Olivia enjoys gardening, and her backyard is full of herbs and vegetables. Nevertheless, she still buys most of her produce at the local farmers market..."
This clearly shows the unexpected contrast between having a productive garden and still buying most of her produce elsewhere, so the correct answer is B) Nevertheless,.