Question 96·Hard·Transitions
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, supporting thousands of marine species. Climate change has already caused widespread bleaching events, and scientists predict that rising temperatures will continue to stress reef systems. __ conservationists are exploring techniques such as selective breeding of heat-tolerant corals and the installation of artificial shading structures to help reefs survive.
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 briefly label what each is doing (problem, result, contrast, example, explanation, etc.). Decide the relationship between those parts—are they contrasting, giving an example, showing a cause and its outcome, or just continuing a similar idea? Next, group the answer choices by the type of relationship they signal (contrast words, example words, cause–result words) and eliminate any that do not fit the relationship you identified. Finally, plug your top choice back into the sentence to make sure the paragraph reads smoothly and logically.
Hints
Connect the second and third sentences
Read only the second and third sentences together. Ask yourself: what situation is described in the second sentence, and what is happening in the third sentence because of that situation?
Identify the role of the third sentence
Does the third sentence disagree with the second, add a different viewpoint, illustrate something from the second, or describe actions taken in response to the situation in the second?
Match the relationship to a transition type
Think about which general kind of link fits best here: a contrast, an example, or a response to a problem. Then pick the transition that signals that type of link.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is saying
First, summarize the ideas:
- Sentence 1: Coral reefs are very biodiverse and support many species.
- Sentence 2: Climate change is harming reefs now and will keep stressing them.
- Sentence 3: Conservationists are exploring techniques to help reefs survive.
So the text moves from importance → threat/problem → response/action.
Decide how sentence 3 relates to sentence 2
Focus on sentences 2 and 3, since the blank starts sentence 3.
- Sentence 2 explains an ongoing problem: climate change stresses reefs.
- Sentence 3 shows what people are doing because of that problem: they are exploring ways to help reefs survive.
So sentence 3 is not disagreeing with sentence 2 or giving another, opposite viewpoint. Instead, it describes actions taken in response to the problem just described.
Match the relationship to the type of transition
Now look at the general types of transitions in the choices:
- Some show contrast (a difference or opposition).
- One shows giving an example.
- One shows a result or outcome of what came before.
Here, the conservationists’ actions are a response to the climate-change stress described before, so we need the transition that signals a result/outcome of that situation.
Choose the transition that shows the correct relationship
The choice that signals that the conservationists’ actions are a result of the climate-change impacts is D) Consequently,.
The completed sentence reads smoothly and logically:
“Climate change has already caused widespread bleaching events, and scientists predict that rising temperatures will continue to stress reef systems. Consequently, conservationists are exploring techniques such as selective breeding of heat-tolerant corals and the installation of artificial shading structures to help reefs survive.”
The other options either show contrast or introduce an example, which do not match the cause–response relationship between the sentences.