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Difficulty: HardSentence-Level Transitions

The following passage is an excerpt from an essay about nineteenth-century science.

In the mid-nineteenth century, Irish physicist John Tyndall set out to study the radiative properties of gases, aiming to understand how the atmosphere traps heat. He expected that the most abundant atmospheric gases, nitrogen and oxygen, would be the primary absorbers of solar radiation, [1] furthermore, his rigorous testing demonstrated that these dominant gases were virtually transparent to infrared rays, while trace gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide absorbed heat greedily.

Which choice provides the most logical transition between the two clauses while maintaining correct sentence structure?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. radiation. Instead, hisAnswer
  3. C
    radiation. Consequently, his
  4. D
    radiation, instead, his

Answer

radiation. Instead, his
The correct option correctly uses a period to separate the two independent clauses and uses the contrast transition 'Instead' to connect the scientist's expectation with the contradictory results of his experiment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the two connected clauses.
The first clause describes Tyndall's expectation that nitrogen and oxygen would absorb the most heat. The second clause reveals the experimental result: these dominant gases were transparent, while trace gases were the actual absorbers. This represents a contrast/contradiction relationship.
Identifying the logical relationship determines the category of transition word needed.
2
Identify correct transition words for a contrast relationship.
Transitions like 'instead', 'however', or 'rather' fit a contrast relationship. Transitions like 'furthermore' (addition) and 'consequently' (cause-effect) are logically incorrect.
Eliminating incorrect transition types narrows down the choices.
3
Examine the grammatical punctuation required to connect two independent clauses.
Since both clauses are independent, they must be separated by a period, a semicolon, or a comma combined with a coordinating conjunction. Joining them with only a comma and a conjunctive adverb creates a comma splice.
Punctuation rules prevent run-on sentences and comma splices.
4
Combine logical and grammatical constraints to select the correct option.
The option with a period followed by the contrast transition 'Instead' is the only choice that is both grammatically correct and logically coherent.
Ensuring both syntax and logical cohesion are correct yields the final answer.

Key Concept

Sentence-Level Transitions
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Topics

Sentence-Level Transitions

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