Question 65·Medium·Transitions
Researchers in northern Australia recently documented a remarkable behavior among sugar gliders: the tiny marsupials were observed planting seeds they had carried from adjacent eucalyptus trees. _____ these findings impressed ecologists, the researchers cautioned that the study’s scope was too limited to confirm that the animals play a significant role in forest regeneration.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read at least one sentence before and after the blank and ask: Are the ideas similar, opposite, cause-and-effect, example/detail, or a restatement? Classify each answer choice by what relationship it signals, then eliminate any whose meanings don’t match the actual relationship in the sentence. Finally, check that the remaining choice fits grammatically in the sentence (for example, some are subordinating conjunctions that join clauses, while others are sentence connectors followed by a comma). This meaning-first, then-grammar approach is both fast and reliable on the SAT.
Hints
Identify the relationship between the clauses
Focus on what happens before and after the blank: is the second part supporting, explaining, contradicting, or limiting the first part?
Classify the transition types
Think about what each option usually does in a sentence: shows similarity, cause/effect, restatement, or some other relationship?
Check logic, then grammar
After you decide what relationship you need, eliminate options whose meanings don’t match that relationship, then see which remaining option makes a smooth, grammatically correct sentence.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the relationship between the two ideas
Read the whole sentence, mentally filling in the blank:
- First idea: Researchers documented a remarkable behavior; the behavior impressed ecologists.
- Second idea: Despite that, the researchers cautioned that the study was too limited to prove a big effect on forest regeneration.
So the sentence moves from an exciting, positive finding to a warning or limitation. That is a contrast relationship, not simple addition, cause-effect, or restatement.
Match the relationship to a transition type
Now think about what kind of transition word or phrase is needed:
- We do not want a word that means “similarly” (continuing the same kind of idea).
- We do not want a word that means “therefore/as a consequence” (cause and effect).
- We do not want a word that means “in other words” (restating the same idea differently).
We want a transition that contrasts the ecologists’ positive reaction with the researchers’ caution and limitation.
Check each option’s meaning and grammar
Look at each choice and think about both meaning and how it works in the sentence:
- Likewise, = similarly; would say the second idea is like the first.
- As a result, = therefore; would say the second idea is a consequence of the first.
- In other words, = that is / to put it differently; would say the second idea rephrases the first.
None of these express a “yes, but” contrast, and they don’t fit the sentence’s logical move from impressive results to caution.
We need the remaining choice, which does indicate contrast and works grammatically at the start of the clause: [correct answer revealed next].
Confirm the correct transition in the sentence
Now plug in the remaining option:
- “Although these findings impressed ecologists, the researchers cautioned that the study’s scope was too limited to confirm that the animals play a significant role in forest regeneration.”
This shows that even though the findings were impressive, the researchers still urged caution because of the study’s limits. It clearly expresses the contrast and is grammatically correct, so the correct answer is C) Although.