Question 73·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Expression of Ideas
In her lab, Dr. Chen insists that field experiments should precede any computer modeling. ______ her latest project began with months of simulations to narrow the set of variables worth testing; the team then validated those predictions in the field.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For transition questions, first ignore the answer choices and decide how the ideas before and after the blank relate: contrast, cause/effect, example, addition, or similarity. Briefly paraphrase each side in your own words, then label the relationship (e.g., “this is a contrast”). Next, eliminate any options whose meanings don’t match that relationship (“consequently” = result, “in addition” = extra point, “similarly” = alike, “however” = contrast). Only after you’re clear on the logic should you look at the choices and pick the one that matches, rather than trying each word by sound alone.
Hints
Summarize each sentence
Put the first part into your own words: what does Dr. Chen usually want? Then summarize the second part: what did the team actually do on the latest project?
Decide if the example follows the rule
Ask yourself: in the latest project, did they follow Dr. Chen’s normal order of work, or did they do something different from what she insists on?
Match the transition to the relationship
Now think: do these two ideas show cause-and-effect, add another similar point, emphasize similarity, or show a contrast? Choose the transition that fits that relationship.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the first sentence says
The first sentence tells us about Dr. Chen’s usual principle: in her lab, field experiments should come before any computer modeling. This sets up an expectation about the normal order of work—field tests first, then simulations.
Understand what the second sentence describes
The second part tells us what actually happened in her latest project: it began with months of simulations and only then did the team validate those predictions in the field. This is the reverse of her stated preference.
Identify the logical relationship between the two parts
Compare the rule to the example: she insists on field experiments first, but in this specific project, they started with simulations instead. The example is not following her usual rule; it is contrasting with it, even slightly contradicting it.
Match the relationship to the correct transition
We need a transition that signals a contrast between a stated preference and what actually happened. Among the options, only “However,” shows this kind of contradiction, so Choice A, “However,” is the correct answer.