[Digital SAT Writing] Transitions

“O2 Arena,” an award-winning science fiction story by Nigerian author Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, takes place in an alternate version of Nigeria where breathable air is a rare commodity that is owned and sold by companies. ______ people must purchase it with currency called O2 credits.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

• Nevertheless,

• In any case,

• As a result,

• Earlier,

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?

• Thus,

• Instead,

• Furthermore,

• For instance,

A potter choosing which type of clay to use for a piece considers two key factors: the desired look of the piece and its intended use. ______ earthenware clay is often used for decorative pieces because of its rustic look. This type of clay is not often used in industrial settings, though, because it is less durable than other clays.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

• In conclusion,

• For example,

• Regardless,

• In other words,

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?

• Specifically,

• Conversely,

• Subsequently,

• Regardless,

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?

• Nowadays,

• For example,

• Similarly,

• For this reason,

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?

• For this reason,

• For example,

• However,

• Likewise,

The number of dark spots that appear on the Sun, known as sunspots, can vary greatly. For example, there were about 180 sunspots in November 2001. ______ there were only about 2 sunspots in December 2008.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

• In other words,

• Similarly,

• Therefore,

• By comparison,

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?

• Nevertheless,

• Additionally,

• In comparison,

• For instance,

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.

• Later,

• However,

• In conclusion,

• In other words,

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?

• Similarly,

• Specifically,

• For example,

• However,