Select the transition word or phrase that best expresses the logical relationship between two sentences.
93 original transitions questions in the SAT Ranker bank, with instant scoring and an Elo-based rank once you sign up. Below are a few free samples with full explanations.
The bridge had passed every scheduled inspection for a decade. ___, engineers recommended an unplanned structural review after nearby construction altered water flow beneath its supports. Which transition best fits the blank?
The recommendation runs counter to what the good inspection record might lead readers to expect, so a contrast transition like 'Nonetheless' fits best; it isn't an example, a similarity, or a direct result of the inspection history itself.
The novel received mixed reviews upon release. ___, it went on to sell over a million copies within its first year. Which transition best fits the blank?
Mixed reviews would typically predict modest sales, so the strong sales figure is a contrast to that expectation, best signaled by 'Yet.'
The vaccine trial's initial results appeared promising, with early participants showing strong immune responses. ___, researchers cautioned against drawing firm conclusions, noting that the trial's first phase included too few participants to rule out chance results. Which transition best fits the blank?
The second sentence tempers the optimistic first sentence with a caution, which is a contrast relationship best signaled by 'However.'
Restoring a painting's original colours sounds like an unambiguous good. ______, the artist may have anticipated the yellowing of the varnish and adjusted the palette beneath it, in which case the cleaned surface shows something no viewer was ever meant to see.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
The second sentence undercuts the first, replacing the obvious reading with a complication, which is the corrective work 'In fact' does. 'Consequently' would make the complication follow from the first sentence, 'Likewise' would make them agree, and 'Finally' would place it last in a sequence.
Researchers found that participants who slept eight hours after learning a new skill retained it significantly better than those who stayed awake an equivalent number of hours. ___, several follow-up studies have failed to find the same effect for skills learned immediately before a stressful event. Which transition best fits the blank?
The follow-up findings run counter to the original result, marking a contrast best signaled by 'However.'