Question 160·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Expression of Ideas
Some economic historians argue that the nineteenth-century gold standard constrained national governments, preventing them from implementing monetary policies that could soften economic downturns. ______ a growing body of research indicates that adherence to the standard may actually have enhanced financial stability by anchoring expectations about currency value.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, always read a full sentence before and after the blank, then briefly label the relationship between them (e.g., contrast, cause/effect, example, addition, similarity). Next, sort the choices by function—eliminate any that signal the wrong type of relationship, even if they sound smooth. Finally, check the remaining option in the sentence to ensure it clearly expresses the identified relationship and fits the tone and logic of the passage.
Hints
Restate the first sentence in your own words
Describe what economic historians are saying about the gold standard. Is their view positive, negative, or neutral?
Restate the second idea after the blank
What does the newer research say about the effects of adhering to the gold standard? Is this view more positive or negative?
Decide how the two ideas relate
Do the two parts support each other, give an example, show a result, or push back against each other? That relationship should guide your choice of transition.
Match the relationship to the transition type
Once you know the relationship (cause/effect, example, similarity, or opposition), eliminate any options that signal the wrong type.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the first claim
Read the first sentence: it says the nineteenth-century gold standard constrained governments and prevented them from using helpful monetary policies during downturns. This presents the gold standard as a problem or limitation.
Understand the second claim
Now read the part after the blank: “a growing body of research indicates that adherence to the standard may actually have enhanced financial stability by anchoring expectations about currency value.” This suggests the gold standard might have had benefits for financial stability.
Identify the relationship between the two ideas
Compare the two claims:
- First: gold standard constrained governments in a negative way.
- Second: research suggests the gold standard may have enhanced stability (a positive effect). These two ideas disagree; the second statement goes against what the first leads us to expect. So we need a transition that shows contrast, not cause, example, or similarity.
Test each answer choice against that relationship
Now check which option signals contrast:
- “As a result,” shows cause-and-effect, as if the second idea happens because of the first. But here, the second idea doesn’t follow as an effect; it challenges the first.
- “For example,” introduces an example of the previous point, but the second sentence is not an example of the first—it pushes back against it.
- “Similarly,” shows that two statements are alike, but these two are not alike; they present opposite evaluations.
- “Nonetheless,” signals that the second statement contrasts with or qualifies the first, which matches the relationship here.
So the correct transition is “Nonetheless,”.