Question 90·Hard·Transitions
Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau popularized scuba diving through his documentaries, introducing millions to underwater worlds they had never seen. _____ his films rarely mention the extensive damage caused by dynamite fishing—a practice Cousteau himself employed early in his career to collect specimens.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For SAT transition questions, always read at least one full sentence before and after the blank, then name the relationship in your own words (e.g., "contrast," "cause and effect," "example," "restatement"). Next, briefly define each option’s usual purpose and cross out any that don’t match the relationship you identified. Be especially wary of trap choices like "Similarly," "Therefore," and "In other words," which are often wrong when the sentences clearly contradict or complicate each other. Once you have the relationship clear, the correct transition usually becomes obvious and you avoid guessing based on the word that just "sounds right."
Hints
Check the tone of each sentence
Look at whether the first sentence describes Cousteau in a mainly positive, neutral, or negative way, and then do the same for the second sentence.
Compare the ideas before and after the blank
Ask yourself: Do the two parts agree with each other, explain each other, or is there some kind of tension or opposition between them?
Eliminate transition types that don’t fit
Think about what each answer choice usually does: does it show similarity, result, or restatement? Which of those relationships actually matches what happens between the two sentences?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first sentence
Read the first sentence carefully: it describes Jacques Cousteau as someone who popularized scuba diving and introduced millions to underwater worlds. This sets up a positive, admirable image of Cousteau and his work.
Understand the second sentence
Now read the sentence after the blank: it says that his films rarely mention the extensive damage from dynamite fishing, which he used himself early in his career. This introduces a negative and somewhat troubling detail that contrasts with the positive portrait in the first sentence.
Identify the relationship between the two ideas
Put the ideas together:
- First idea: Cousteau is a popularizer and explorer who opens people’s eyes to the ocean.
- Second idea: His films leave out the destructive practice (dynamite fishing) he once used. These two ideas do not match in tone; the second complicates or goes against the simple positive view from the first.
Match the relationship to the transition type
Now decide what kind of transition connects a positive portrayal with a contradictory or surprising flaw. It is not showing similarity, cause-and-effect, or a restatement; instead, it marks a contrast between Cousteau’s reputation and his omissions. Among the options, only D) Yet correctly introduces this contrast, so D) Yet is the best choice.