10 original Transitions questions, easiest first. The logical connector between two sentences. Answer them all, then submit once to see every answer explained.
The dam was designed to withstand floods up to a once-in-100-years severity. ______, engineers incorporated an emergency spillway to handle even more extreme, if unlikely, flood events.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — Nonetheless,. Adding extra protection beyond the stated design threshold despite it already being the design standard suggests a cautious extra step—'Nonetheless' fits this sense of going beyond what might seem sufficient.
The lecture covered the physics of sound waves in exhaustive detail. ______, it devoted almost no time to the biology of how the human ear processes those waves.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — However,. Detailed coverage of physics but little coverage of biology is a contrast in emphasis. 'However' correctly signals this shift.
The neighborhood's tool-lending library initially struggled to attract members. ______, membership has grown substantially each year since local hardware stores began posting flyers about the program.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
D — Since then,. The sentence describes a change over time from an initial struggle to substantial growth—'Since then' correctly marks this temporal progression tied to the flyers.
The bridge was designed to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 7.0. ______, engineers built in additional structural redundancies to protect against even more extreme, if unlikely, seismic events.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — Nonetheless,. Adding extra protection beyond the stated design threshold (magnitude 7.0) despite it already being the design standard suggests a cautious extra step—'Nonetheless' fits this sense of going beyond what might seem sufficient.
The composer's early symphonies followed the strict formal conventions of the era, adhering closely to traditional movement structures. ______, his later symphonies broke sharply from convention, experimenting with irregular movement lengths and unresolved harmonic endings.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — By comparison,. The sentence contrasts two distinct phases of the composer's style (early vs. later). 'By comparison' correctly signals this stylistic contrast between periods.
Early electric streetlights required constant manual maintenance to replace burnt-out filaments. ______, city officials in the 1890s eagerly installed them, drawn by the promise of safer, better-lit streets at night.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — Even so,. Official enthusiasm despite the maintenance burden is a contrast. 'Even so' signals this concession-contrast relationship, unlike 'as a result,' which would incorrectly suggest the maintenance burden caused the eagerness to install.
Many species of termite build elaborate mounds to regulate internal temperature and humidity. ______, some species also engineer internal tunnel networks specifically to maximize airflow during the hottest parts of the day.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — Additionally,. The second sentence introduces another engineering behavior (airflow tunnels) alongside the first (temperature/humidity regulation)—an additive relationship best captured by 'Additionally.'
The admissions committee reviewed hundreds of applications for the fellowship. ______, only a dozen finalists were invited for an in-person interview.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — However,. Reviewing hundreds of applications but only a dozen advancing is a contrast between quantity reviewed and quantity selected. 'However' signals this contrast appropriately.
Early automobile designs were notoriously unreliable, prone to frequent mechanical breakdowns. ______, consumers in the early twentieth century were eager to purchase them, drawn by the promise of independent, rapid travel.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — Even so,. Consumer enthusiasm despite unreliability is a contrast. 'Even so' signals this concession-contrast relationship, unlike 'as a result,' which would incorrectly suggest unreliability caused the eagerness to buy.
Honeybees communicate the location of food through an intricate 'waggle dance.' ______ some ant species lay chemical trails that guide nestmates to a food source. Both behaviors let insects share spatial information.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — Similarly,. The two sentences give parallel examples of insects sharing spatial information ('Both behaviors...'), so a transition of similarity fits: 'Similarly.' Contrast words (B, A) and the causal 'As a result' misrepresent the parallel relationship.
Score:
Every question above is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted, any wrong option you picked is flagged, and each explanation is open.
No. Every question here is original, written to the College Board's published Digital SAT Reading & Writing specification for the Transitions skill. No retired or copyrighted College Board material appears anywhere on this site.
Transitions asks which word or phrase best connects two sentences — however, therefore, for example, similarly, in contrast, and their relatives. The two sentences are always given in full; the only question is what relationship holds between them.
Cover the answer choices. Read both sentences and name the relationship in one word of your own: contrast, cause, result, example, addition, or restatement. Only then uncover the choices and pick the one in that family. Reading the choices first is what makes this question type feel like a judgement call — it is not one, and there is exactly one relationship the sentences support.
No, and deliberately so. This drill is 10 Transitions questions back to back; a real Reading & Writing module is 27 questions in 32 minutes drawn from all eleven skills. Use a drill to fix one weakness, then take a full module to practice the real thing.
No. The SAT has no penalty for a wrong answer — a blank and a wrong guess both score zero — so answer every question, including the ones you have to guess.