10 original Transitions questions, easiest first. The logical connector between two sentences. Answer them all, then submit once to see every answer explained.
The fellowship committee reviewed hundreds of applications this cycle. ______, only a handful of finalists were invited to present their research.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
D — However,. Reviewing hundreds of applications but only a handful advancing is a contrast between quantity reviewed and quantity selected. 'However' signals this contrast appropriately.
The lightbulb is often credited as the single invention that made electric lighting practical for everyday use. ______, historians note that earlier arc-lighting systems had already begun illuminating streets and factories well before the incandescent bulb became widespread.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — Yet,. The sentence shifts from a common credited view to a more nuanced scholarly qualification (earlier systems already existed)—'Yet' signals this contrasting reframing.
The Rosetta Stone is often celebrated as the key that unlocked the ability to read ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. ______, scholars note that its trilingual inscription only worked as a key because researchers already understood one of its three languages, ancient Greek.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — Yet,. The sentence shifts from a common celebratory view to a more nuanced scholarly qualification (it only worked because Greek was already known)—'Yet' signals this contrasting reframing.
Early television sets were bulky, expensive, and prone to frequent technical failures. ______, families in the 1950s eagerly purchased them, drawn by the novelty of entertainment broadcast directly into the home.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
D — Even so,. Consumer enthusiasm despite significant drawbacks is a contrast. 'Even so' signals this concession-contrast relationship, unlike 'as a result,' which would incorrectly suggest the drawbacks caused the eagerness to buy.
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar produce no direct emissions during operation. ______, manufacturing the panels and turbines themselves requires energy and materials that carry their own environmental costs.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
D — That said,. The sentence shifts from an advantage (no emissions during operation) to a qualifying downside (manufacturing costs)—'That said' correctly introduces this qualifying contrast.
The bakery initially focused exclusively on selling bread to individual customers. ______, after struggling to build a steady customer base, it pivoted toward supplying bread wholesale to local restaurants instead.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — Eventually,. The sentence describes a shift over time from the initial retail focus to a later pivot toward wholesale—'Eventually' correctly marks this temporal progression after the described struggle.
The illustrator's early book covers used bold, simplified shapes and a limited color palette. ______, her later covers embraced highly detailed, painterly illustrations with dozens of subtle color gradations.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — By comparison,. The sentence contrasts two distinct phases of the illustrator's style (early vs. later). 'By comparison' correctly signals this contrast between periods.
Tidal power generates electricity with a highly predictable output, unlike wind or solar. ______, suitable tidal sites are geographically rare, limiting where the technology can be practically deployed.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — That said,. The sentence shifts from an advantage (predictable output) to a qualifying limitation (rare suitable sites)—'That said' correctly introduces this qualifying contrast.
The antibiotic requires a full ten-day course to fully eliminate the infection. ______, most patients begin feeling noticeably better within just two or three days of starting treatment.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — Nevertheless,. The sentence shifts from the requirement for a full course to a qualifying fact about early symptom relief—'Nevertheless' signals this concession-like contrast.
Certain species of deep-sea anglerfish attract prey using a bioluminescent lure that dangles above their mouths. ______, some species also use this same glowing lure to attract potential mates in the darkness of the deep ocean.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — In addition,. The second sentence adds another use (attracting mates) for the same tool (bioluminescent lure) already described (attracting prey)—an additive relationship best captured by 'In addition.'
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.