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Difficulty: HardParagraph-Level Transitions

The following paragraphs are from an essay about the restoration of Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

For nearly five centuries, the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel ceiling were obscured by layers of soot from altar candles, coal dust from historical heating systems, and resinous varnishes applied by previous restorers. This accumulation of grime created a dark, shadowy patina, leading generations of art historians to conclude that Michelangelo worked with a somber, muted color palette.

[1] The restoration team, led by Gianluigi Colalucci, utilized a mild chemical solution known as AB57 to dissolve the centuries of buildup. As the dark residue was wiped away, it revealed a startling array of brilliant pastel pinks, vivid yellows, and apple greens. This discovery shattered the conventional view of Michelangelo as a dark, brooding painter and proved he was a master of vibrant color.

Which choice provides the most effective transition from the preceding paragraph to the paragraph that follows?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    Conservators began their work in 1980, they used a specialized solvent to clean the ceiling.
  3. This long-held assumption was challenged, however, when a restoration team led by Gianluigi Colalucci began utilizing a mild chemical solution known as AB57.Answer
  4. D
    Although art historians have long accepted this dark appearance, the restoration team will proceed to use new chemical cleaning methods.

Answer

This long-held assumption was challenged, however, when a restoration team led by Gianluigi Colalucci began utilizing a mild chemical solution known as AB57.
The correct choice provides a strong logical bridge between the paragraphs. The phrase 'This long-held assumption' refers back to the idea from the first paragraph that Michelangelo painted with a dark palette. The introduction of the restoration team and the solvent 'AB57' sets up the rest of the second paragraph, which describes the process of washing away the dark residue.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main idea of the preceding paragraph.
The first paragraph describes how centuries of grime led art historians to believe that Michelangelo used a dark, muted color palette.
Understanding the preceding paragraph establishes the starting point for the transition.
2
Analyze the main idea of the following paragraph.
The second paragraph describes the cleaning process and the discovery of bright, vibrant colors.
Understanding the following paragraph establishes the endpoint for the transition.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that logically connects these two main ideas while maintaining grammatical correctness.
The correct choice refers to the belief as a 'long-held assumption' (connecting to the first paragraph) and introduces the restoration cleaning (connecting to the second paragraph) without grammatical errors.
A transition must serve as a logical bridge and be free of grammatical mistakes like comma splices or tense shifts.

Key Concept

Paragraph-Level Transitions
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Topics

Paragraph-Level Transitions

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