Question 59·Medium·Transitions
Over the past decade, several European municipalities have committed to ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions. Copenhagen, for instance, has expanded its network of bicycle lanes and invested heavily in offshore wind farms. _____ the city of Nottingham unveiled a program that allows residents to collectively own shares in local solar installations.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and decide how the second idea relates to the first: is it a contrast, a cause or result, an example in the same direction, or just something happening at the same time? Then quickly label each transition choice by its relationship type (contrast, cause/effect, addition, time, etc.) and pick the one that matches your prediction. This approach prevents you from being distracted by words that sound sophisticated but don’t fit the logical connection in the passage.
Hints
Look at the two specific examples
Focus on the Copenhagen sentence and the Nottingham sentence. Are these two cities being described as doing opposite things, as one causing the other, or as both doing related actions?
Decide the general relationship first
Before looking at the answer choices in detail, decide if the Nottingham sentence is: (a) a contrast, (b) a result, or (c) just another example that fits with the idea in the Copenhagen sentence.
Connect each option to a relationship type
Think about what type of connection each transition usually shows: one signals contrast, one signals cause/effect, one signals time/simultaneous events, and one signals that the next idea lines up with the previous one. Choose the one whose relationship matches what you decided in Hint 2.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
First sentence: Over the past decade, some European municipalities have made ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions.
Second sentence: Copenhagen is an example; it has added bicycle lanes and invested in wind farms.
Third sentence (after the blank): Nottingham is another city, and it has a program for residents to own shares in local solar installations.
So overall, the passage lists different cities and the climate-friendly actions they are taking.
Identify the relationship between Copenhagen and Nottingham
Ask: How does the Nottingham example relate to the Copenhagen example?
It is not the opposite of Copenhagen’s actions and it is not caused by Copenhagen’s actions. Instead, Nottingham’s program is another example of the same general idea: a city investing in clean energy or emission-reducing measures.
Match the relationship to the general types of transitions
Now think about the general types of relationships that transitions can show:
- One type shows contrast (an opposing or different idea).
- One type shows cause and effect (a result of what came before).
- One type shows time or simultaneity (something happening at the same time).
- One type shows an additional example or point that aligns with what came before.
The relationship we found in Step 2 is that Nottingham is an additional, aligned example of a city taking similar climate actions.
Choose the option that fits that relationship
Now attach each answer choice to its relationship type:
- However, introduces a contrast.
- Consequently, introduces a result of something just mentioned.
- Meanwhile, introduces something happening at the same time as something else.
- Similarly, introduces another example or point that is in line with the previous one.
Because the Nottingham sentence adds another aligned example to the Copenhagen sentence, the transition that best fits is “Similarly,”.