Question 83·Medium·Transitions
Early forecasts predicted that solar power would account for the bulk of renewable energy expansion over the next decade. _____ recent innovations in turbine technology and offshore installation have positioned wind energy as the sector’s fastest-growing segment.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the sentence before and after the blank and first decide the relationship between the ideas: are they similar, contrasting, cause-and-effect, example, or a sequence in time? Once you know the relationship, quickly sort the answer choices by what they mean, not how they sound, and eliminate any that don’t match that relationship. This approach is much faster and more reliable than picking a word that just “sounds good” in the sentence.
Hints
Check the main point of the first sentence
Ask yourself: What did early forecasts say would happen with renewable energy? Which type of energy was expected to grow the most?
Check the main point of the second sentence
Ask: What type of energy does the second sentence say is now growing the fastest, and why (what has changed)?
Compare expectation and reality
Does the second sentence agree with the prediction in the first sentence, show a result of it, give an example of it, or show that something different is happening instead?
Match meaning, not sound
For each transition, think about what kind of connection it shows (same idea, result, example, or different idea) and choose the one that fits the relationship you found between the two sentences.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the first sentence says
Read the first sentence: it says that early forecasts predicted solar power would make up most of the growth in renewable energy over the next decade. So the original expectation is: solar will lead the expansion.
Understand what the second sentence says
Now read the second sentence: it says that recent innovations in turbine technology and offshore installation have positioned wind energy as the sector’s fastest-growing segment. This means that, in reality, wind, not solar, is growing the fastest.
Decide how the ideas relate
Compare the two ideas:
- Expectation: solar will dominate renewable energy expansion.
- Reality: wind is actually the fastest-growing segment. The second sentence does not support or give an example of the prediction; instead, it shows that something different from the prediction is happening.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
We need a transition that shows a contrast between the prediction (solar will dominate) and the actual outcome (wind is growing fastest). Among the choices, only A) However, signals this kind of contrast, so A) However, is the correct answer.