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Difficulty: MediumTransitions: Addition and Similarity

Which transition word or phrase most logically connects the two sentences in the passage below?

Answer:In historical linguistics, researchers use the comparative method to reconstruct extinct parent languages by comparing sister languages with documented histories. 【similarly】, evolutionary biologists analyze morphological and genetic features of modern species to reconstruct the characteristics of their long-extinct common ancestors.

Answer

similarly (or likewise)
The passage establishes a parallel between two different scientific fields: historical linguistics and evolutionary biology. The first sentence explains how historical linguists reconstruct extinct parent languages from sister languages. The second sentence describes how evolutionary biologists reconstruct extinct common ancestors from modern species. Because the second sentence presents an analogous process in a different discipline, a transition indicating similarity (such as 'similarly' or 'likewise') is required to connect the two ideas logically.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the first sentence and the second sentence.
The first sentence describes how historical linguists reconstruct extinct languages using the comparative method on sister languages. The second sentence describes how evolutionary biologists reconstruct extinct ancestors using morphological and genetic features of modern species.
To determine the logical connection that the transition word must establish.
2
Determine the transition category that best fits this logical connection.
Since both sentences describe analogous methods of using modern/extant data to reconstruct historical/extinct entities in different fields, the relationship is one of similarity or analogy.
To narrow down the correct transition words to those indicating similarity.
3
Select an appropriate transition word or phrase that expresses similarity.
Words like 'similarly' or 'likewise' fit the blank logically and grammatically.
To complete the sentence with a transition that correctly signals the similarity between the two research fields.

Key Concept

Transitions: Addition and Similarity
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Topics

Transitions: Addition and Similarity

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