Question 88·Easy·Transitions
Many people assume that effective meditation requires long, uninterrupted sessions in a silent room. ______ studies show that just five minutes of mindful breathing while waiting for the bus can significantly reduce stress levels.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read the sentences around the blank first and decide, in your own words, how the ideas relate (same idea, contrast, example, cause/effect, etc.) before looking at the options. Then sort the choices by their function (similarity, contrast, example, result) and pick the one whose function matches the relationship you identified; avoid being distracted by what “sounds good” and focus instead on logical connections.
Hints
Read past the blank
Ignore the answer choices at first. Read the whole sentence with a pause at the blank, and think about how the second part relates to the first assumption about meditation.
Compare the ideas
Ask yourself: Does the information about studies support the assumption, give an example of it, show a result of it, or challenge it?
Classify the answer choices by function
Before picking, think about what each type of transition does in general: one suggests similarity, one introduces an example, one shows a result, and one shows a different or opposing idea. Which function fits the relationship you found?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first idea
Read the first sentence: "Many people assume that effective meditation requires long, uninterrupted sessions in a silent room." This describes a common belief about how meditation must be done (long, quiet sessions).
Understand the second idea
Read the second part: "studies show that just five minutes of mindful breathing while waiting for the bus can significantly reduce stress levels." This says that short, everyday moments of meditation can also be effective, which does not match the original assumption.
Decide the relationship between the two ideas
Compare the two statements:
- First: Meditation is assumed to require long, silent sessions.
- Second: Research finds that even a very short, casual practice can work. The second idea challenges or goes against the assumption, rather than supporting it, giving an example of it, or showing a result of it.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
Now check each option:
- A) "Similarly," would introduce a similar idea, but the second sentence is not similar; it contrasts.
- C) "For instance," would introduce an example of the assumption, but the second sentence is not an example of long, silent sessions.
- D) "Consequently," would show a result of the first idea, but the second sentence is not a result; it disagrees. Only B) "However," correctly shows that the studies contradict the common assumption, so the answer is B) However,.