Question 62·Medium·Transitions
Many urban planners advocate for the expansion of bike lanes because they reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. Several cities that have invested heavily in cycling infrastructure have seen a noticeable drop in car usage. ______ overall commute times in these cities have shortened, benefiting drivers and cyclists alike.
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 label the relationship between them in your own words (for example: cause→effect, contrast, example, sequence, or addition). Once you know the relationship, eliminate any choices whose meaning (contrast, option, simple addition, etc.) does not match that relationship, even if they “sound fine” in the sentence; pick the transition whose logical function best fits how the two ideas connect.
Hints
Check the sentence before the blank
Look at the second sentence: it mentions a noticeable drop in car usage in cities that invested in cycling infrastructure. Think about how the next sentence relates to that idea.
Check the sentence after the blank
The sentence after the blank explains what has happened to overall commute times. Decide whether this is a result, a contrast, an option, or just another similar point.
Classify each transition type
Ask yourself: which option shows opposition, which shows a choice between possibilities, which simply adds another idea, and which shows that one thing happens because of another?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the context of the passage
Read the sentences before the blank:
- Sentence 1: Urban planners support bike lanes because they reduce traffic and improve air quality.
- Sentence 2: Cities that invested in cycling infrastructure have seen a drop in car usage.
So far, everything is positive and connected: investment in bike lanes leads to less car use.
Determine the relationship to the sentence after the blank
The sentence after the blank says: “overall commute times in these cities have shortened, benefiting drivers and cyclists alike.”
Ask: Is this idea opposing, adding on, offering a choice, or showing a result of the drop in car usage? It describes a further effect or outcome of fewer cars on the road: shorter commute times.
Match the logical relationship to the transition type
Now match the relationship you identified (effect/result) to each answer type:
- A cause-and-effect word would show that shorter commute times are an outcome of the drop in car usage.
- A contrast word would show opposition (not happening here).
- An alternative word would suggest another option (not a choice here).
- An addition word would just stack another similar fact, without clearly signaling that it’s a result.
The best transition is the one that clearly signals a result of the previous sentence: “Consequently,”.