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Difficulty: MediumTransitions: Chronology and Sequence

In 1912, geophysicist Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, suggesting that Earth's continents were once joined in a single supercontinent. For decades, Wegener's hypothesis was widely dismissed by the scientific community due to the lack of a known physical mechanism that could move landmasses. ______ in the 1950s and 1960s, the discovery of seafloor spreading provided the geological evidence required to validate his ideas, paving the way for the acceptance of plate tectonics.

Which choice completes the passage with the most logical transition?

  1. A
    Previously,
  2. Subsequently,Answer
  3. C
    Conversely,
  4. D
    For instance,

Answer

Subsequently,
The transition 'Subsequently' is correct because it logically connects the chronological events in the passage. The passage first describes Alfred Wegener's 1912 proposal and the decades of skepticism that followed, and then transitions to a later event in the 1950s and 1960s (the discovery of seafloor spreading) that validated his ideas. 'Subsequently' correctly signals that this validation occurred after the initial proposal and dismissal.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the chronological relationship between the events in the text.
The first sentence sets the starting point of the timeline in 1912 (Wegener's proposal). The second sentence describes the following 'decades' of rejection. The final sentence introduces a later period: 'the 1950s and 1960s'.
Identifying the dates and sequence of events establishes the temporal flow of the passage.
2
Determine the direction of the chronological sequence.
The event in the blank sentence (the discovery of seafloor spreading in the 1950s and 1960s) occurred after the 1912 proposal and the decades of rejection.
Establishing that the second event occurs later in time indicates a sequential relationship.
3
Select the transition word that conveys an event occurring after another in time.
'Subsequently' is the only option that denotes an event happening later in a sequence.
Choosing 'Subsequently' correctly alerts the reader that the narrative has moved forward in time.

Key Concept

Chronological transitions establish the order in which events occur. When moving forward in time from an earlier event to a later one, transitions like 'subsequently', 'afterward', or 'later' should be used.
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Topics

Transitions: Chronology and Sequence

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