Transitions
Transitions Words for Agreement
again, also, correspondingly, equally, likewise, similarly
Transitions Words for Disagreement
but, yet, conversely, though, still, in contrast, although, nevertheless, on the other hand,
however
Transition Words for Addition
additionally, also, too, moreover, in fact, furthermore
Transition Words for Exemplification
for example, for one thing, to demonstrate, for instance
Transition Words for Cause and Effect
since, because, thus, as a result, consequently, therefore
1. Researchers believe that pieces of hull found off Oregon’s coast are from a Spanish
cargo ship that was lost in 1697. Stories passed down among the area’s
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians support this belief. ______ Siletz stories
describe how blocks of beeswax, an item the ship had been carrying, began
washing ashore after the ship was lost.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. For this reason,
B. For example,
C. However,
D. Likewise,
2. It has long been thought that humans first crossed a land bridge into the Americas
approximately 13,000 years ago. ______ based on radiocarbon dating of samples
uncovered in Mexico, a research team recently suggested that humans may have
arrived more than 30,000 years ago—much earlier than previously thought.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. As a result,
B. Similarly,
C. However,
D. In conclusion,
3. Many marine animals rely on sound, which travels faster and farther through water
than through air, for critical functions like communication and navigation. ______
sperm whales use intricate sequences of clicks known as “codas” to identify one
another, coordinate group movements, and locate prey during deep foraging dives.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Conversely,
B. For example,
C. Additionally,
D. Instead,
4. British World War II propaganda called for British citizens to participate in city-wide
blackouts, encouraging them to “eat carrots,” as carrots were believed to be
essential for night sight. _____ while scientific studies have shown that carrots are
high in vitamin A, which is good for eye health, they do not give people the ability to
see in the dark.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Furthermore,
B. However,
C. As a result,
D. Similarly,
5. Riley Black—the author of critically acclaimed books such as My Beloved
Brontosaurus (2013)—is best known for writing about dinosaurs, but she has also
conducted hands-on fieldwork. ______ her fieldwork has included paleontological
digs in Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, and her dinosaur fossil discoveries can be
seen at places such as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Specifically,
B. Conversely,
C. Subsequently,
D. Regardless,
6. In 1891, dancer and choreographer Loie Fuller first performed her celebrated
Serpentine Dance, artfully twirling her long, flowing skirt to create striking visual
effects. ______ in 1896, cinema pioneers Auguste and Louis Lumière made a
groundbreaking short film of Fuller’s dance.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Later,
B. However,
C. In conclusion,
D. In other words,
7. In the 1850s, William Still was instrumental in helping nearly 1,000 people escape
from slavery, earning him the moniker “the Father of the Underground Railroad.”
______ despite the fame of his contributions during his lifetime, Still is discussed far
less today than other prominent Black abolitionists from his era, such as Frederick
Douglass and Harriet Tubman.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Similarly,
B. Specifically,
C. For example.
D. However,
8. With darkness falling, a mother elephant loses sight of her calf and wants to make
sure it is safe. ______ she releases an infrasonic call for the calf to hear. Infrasonic
sound is below the range of human hearing, but many animals can hear these
sounds from several miles away.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Nowadays,
B. For example,
C. Similarly,
D. For this reason,
9. Soursop is a popular fruit in Brazil, where it is eaten fresh or used in drinks and
desserts. The fruit is high in antioxidants and vitamin C, which are known to have a
variety of health benefits. ______ soursop is often recommended by doctors in Brazil
to patients concerned about their health.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Thus,
B. Instead,
C. Furthermore,
D. For instance,
10. Arkansas aviator Louise Thaden was already a record breaker when she won the
inaugural National Women’s Air Derby, a race from California to Ohio, in August of
1929. ______ in December of 1928, Thaden had set an aviation record when she
reached an altitude of 20,269 feet in a Travel Air biplane.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Earlier,
B. As a result,
C. Next,
D. However,
11. The ancient city of Petra, located in modern-day Jordan, is best known for its rock-
cut tomb façades, monuments carved into the landscape’s rose-colored
sandstone. ______, it is recognized for its complex water management system,
which included dams, cisterns, and water conduits to collect and store rainwater
for the city’s inhabitants.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Unfortunately,
B. Additionally,
C. Earlier,
D. Thus,
12. Some members of the scientific community urge caution around the use of
genetically modified (GM) crops, arguing that the long-term health effects of
consuming such crops are unknown. ______ they are concerned about the
environmental risks associated with GM crops, including their potential to disrupt
natural ecosystems by displacing or cross-pollinating with wild plants.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A. Nevertheless,
B. Additionally,
C. In comparison,
D. For instance,
