12. Transitions (SAT) (SAT WRITING)

​Digital SAT

Grammar Section

Lesson 12

​Transitions

​Transition questions are the most common type of Writing question, with each test containing around eight to 10 such items-around 15-20% of the test.

On the SAT, you must also be able to recognize when transitions do and do not create logical connections between two sentences or parts of a sentence. Usually, these questions contain four grammatically acceptable answers; the focus is on testing your ability to identify the most logical option in context.

​Although T.S. Eliot devoted several years to writing "The Waste Land", it sold only about 330 copies in the six months following its publication in 1922.
________ Eliot was forced to seek other sources of income. In the mid-1920s, he took a job as the director of a new publishing firm called Faber & Faber.

​Although T.S. Eliot devoted several years to writing "The Waste Land", it sold only about 330 copies in the six months following its publication in 1922.
________ Eliot was forced to seek other sources of income. In the mid-1920s, he took a job as the director of a new publishing firm called Faber & Faber.

A. Alternatively

B. Consequently

C. In fact

D. Moreover

​Although T.S. Eliot devoted several years to writing "The Waste Land", it sold only about 330 copies in the six months following its publication in 1922.
________ Eliot was forced to seek other sources of income. In the mid-1920s, he took a job as the director of a new publishing firm called Faber & Faber.

A. Alternatively

B. Consequently

C. In fact

D. Moreover

​Types of Transitions

1. Continuers indicate that two sentences are expressing similar ideas.
Correct: Erenna sirena, a relative of the jellyfish, is one the rare marine organisms to emit red light. Indeed, only a few other deep-sea creatures produce a glow that color.

2. Cause and Effect words indicate that one action is the result of another.
Correct: The light from most quasars was emitted when the universe was only a fraction of its present age. Therefore, quasars offer an important clue to the appearande of the early universe.

​Types of Transitions

3. Contradictors indicate that two sentences are expressing different ideas.

Correct: An increased reliance on computerized systems can leave users vulnerable to cyberattacks. However, current defences are stronger than many people realize.

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Add information: also, and, futhermore, in addition, moreover
Give Example: for example, for instance, specifically
Define-Clarify: effectively, essentially, in other words, that is
Emphasize: in fact, indeed
Compare: likewise, similarly
Sequence of Events: previously, subsequently, finnaly, while

Cause and Effect
Accordingly, As a result, As such, Because, Consequently, For, Hence, Since, So, Thus, Therefore, To this end

Contradict
Alternately, Alternatively, (Al)though, But, Conversely, Despite/Insipe of, Even so, Even though, However, In any case, In contract, Instead, Meanwhile, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, On the contrary, On the other hand, Otherwise, Rather, Regardless, Still, Whereas, While, Yet

How to Work Through Transition Questions

As a general rule, it is crucial to do as much work as you can toward determining the precise relationship between the statements in question before you look at the choices. If you plug in choices without really knowing what you're looking for, you may be tempted to "twist" options that don't really fit.

How to Work Through Transition Questions

1. Reread both sentences or parts of the sentence.

2. Determine the relationship between them, and try to predict the answer.
Contrast: however, nevertheless, still, in contrast
Add similar idea: futhermore, moreover, in addition, similarly, likewise
Result: therefore, consequently, accordingly
Example: for example, for instance, specifically
Emphasis: indeed, in fact

3. Check the answers, and pick the option that matches.

Conditions in the of Antarctica are inhospitable to many forms of life: sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and extreme dryness make it impossible for most animals to survive. ________ the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands have relatively mild temperatures and liquid water, allowing many species to thrive there.

A. Therefore,
B. For instance,
C. Indeed,
D. In contrast,

Conditions in the of Antarctica are inhospitable to many forms of life: sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and extreme dryness make it impossible for most animals to survive. ________ the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands have relatively mild temperatures and liquid water, allowing many species to thrive there.

A. Therefore,
B. For instance,
C. Indeed,
D. In contrast,

Despite the sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and extreme dryness that characterize the Antarctic interior, a small number of hardy species dwell there. _______ certain mosses, lichens, and microscopic protozoa have adapted to the harsh conditions and able to thrive.

A. In addition,
B. Specifically,
C. Accordingly,
D. Nevertheless,

Despite the sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and extreme dryness that characterize the Antarctic interior, a small number of hardy species dwell there. _______ certain mosses, lichens, and microscopic protozoa have adapted to the harsh conditions and able to thrive.

A. In addition,
B. Specifically,
C. Accordingly,
D. Nevertheless,

Transitions in the Middle or at the End

In the examples we've looked at so far, transitions have appeared at the beginnings of sentences or clauses. In some cases, however, the transition may appear between two commas in the middle of a sentence.

Although questions containing this construction may appear to ask about only one sentence, they are actually about the relationship between two sentences: the sentence that contains the underlined transition and the previous sentence(s).

V1. Therefore, tropical marine mammals have very few fat reserves in their bodies.
V2. Tropical marine mammals, therefore, have very few fat reserves in their bodies.

The difference here is purely stylistic-the sentences have the exact same meaning, and in both cases the transition serves to connect the sentence to a previous statement.

Healthy artic marine mammals have a thich layer of fat beneath the skin. Tropical marine mammals, ________ have very few reserves in their bodies. As a result, many of them dwell primarily in the warm waters that surround coral reefs.

A. therefore,
B. likewise,
C. however,
D. for instance,

Healthy artic marine mammals have a thich layer of fat beneath the skin. Tropical marine mammals, ________ have very few reserves in their bodies. As a result, many of them dwell primarily in the warm waters that surround coral reefs.

A. therefore,
B. likewise,
C. however,
D. for instance,

Contradictors
Unlike continuers, which are generally placed at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, contradictors can appear at the beginning (followed by a comma); middle (surrounded by commas); or end (following a comma).

1) Healthy arctic marine mammals have a thick layer of fat beneath the skin. However, tropical marine mammals have very few fat reserves in their bodies

2) Healthy arctic marine mammals have a thick layer of fat beneath the skin. Tropical marine mammals, however, have very few fat reserves in their bodies.

3) Healthy arctic marine mammals have a thick layer of fat beneath the skin. Tropical marine

mammals have very few fat reserves in their bodies, however.

All of the sentences have the exact same meaning, with however serving the exact same function: to indicate that the second sentence opposes the first.

Healthy artic marine mammals have a thich layer of fat beneath the skin. Tropical marine mammals, have very few reserves in their bodies, _________.
As a result, many of them dwell primarily in the warm waters that surround coral reefs.

A. therefore
B. however
C. moreover
D. in fact

Healthy artic marine mammals have a thich layer of fat beneath the skin. Tropical marine mammals, have very few reserves in their bodies, _________.
As a result, many of them dwell primarily in the warm waters that surround coral reefs.

A. therefore
B. however
C. moreover
D. in fact

Tropical marine mammals have few fat reserves in their bodies and dwell primarily in the warm waters that surround coral reefs. In contrast, healthy arctic marine mammals have a thick layer of fat beneath their skin, _____
they are able to tolerate much colder waters.

A. so
B. for
C. yet
D. whereas

Tropical marine mammals have few fat reserves in their bodies and dwell primarily in the warm waters that surround coral reefs. In contrast, healthy arctic marine mammals have a thick layer of fat beneath their skin, _____
they are able to tolerate much colder waters.

A. so
B. for
C. yet
D. whereas

Glossary of Transitions
Accordingly
Therefore, as a result
Consequently

Correct: Dolphins are highly social creatures. Consequently / Accordingly, they live in pods of up to a dozen animals.

Futhermore
In addition
Moreover

Correct: Dolphins are social animals. Furthermore / Moreover, they are highly intelligent.

Glossary of Transitions
In fact
Used to emphasize a preceding statement
Indeed

Correct: Dolphins are highly intelligent. In fact / Indeed, they are one of the smartest mammals.

Even so
Nevertheless Despite this, however
Still

Correct: Dolphins are descended from land-dwelling animals.
Even so / Nevertheless / Still, they canonly survive in water.

Glossary of Transitions
Whereas - Although
Correct: A salmon is a type of fish, whereas a dolphin is a type of mammal.

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Like wise - Similarly, In the same way
Correct: Many people think of dolphins as fish. Meanwhile, they ignore scientific research, which long ago established that dolphins are actually mammals.
Subsequently - Afterward
Correct: In the 1980s, dolphin populations began to decline because too many animals were caught in fishing nets. Subsequently, fishing companies began taking steps to reassure customers that products were "dolphin safe."

Glossary of Transitions
As such - As a + noun
As such is one of the trickest transitions, and it's best explained with an example.
Let's start with this sentence:

Correct: Dolphins are social animals. Because they are social animals, they live in pods of up to a dozen animals.

We can also write it this way:

Correct: Dolphins are social animals. As social animals, they live in pods of up to a dozen animals.

These sentences are fine grammatically, but the repetition of the phrase social animals in the second sentence is awkward. To eliminate the repetition, we can replace the phrase as social animals with as such.

Correct: Dolphins are social animals. As such, they live in pods of up to a dozen animals.

That is - In other words; introduces a definition or explanation, and often follows a dash.
Correct: Dolphins are mammals - that is, they are warm-blooded and nourish their

young with milk.

Practice