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Difficulty: HardTransitions: Contrast and Concession

Historically, evolutionary biologists viewed plant interactions as strictly competitive, assuming that individual specimens vied for identical resources in a zero-sum struggle. This paradigm was challenged by the discovery of mycorrhizal networks—underground fungal filaments through which trees share carbon and nutrients with neighbors. ______ some contemporary researchers caution against characterizing these networks as purely cooperative; they argue that fungi often act as resource brokers that exploit trees, showing that what appears to be mutual aid is frequently a form of parasitism.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

  1. Still,Answer
  2. B
    Additionally,
  3. C
    Consequently,
  4. D
    In other words,

Answer

Still,
The correct answer is the word 'Still' because it establishes the necessary contrast/concession. The text transitions from noting how mycorrhizal networks seem to challenge the competitive paradigm (by allowing trees to share resources) to describing a caution that these networks are not as cooperative as they seem. The transition 'Still' effectively signals that despite the cooperation-supporting evidence, a more competitive or parasitic reality may exist.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the ideas in the passage before and after the blank.
The sentence before the blank describes how mycorrhizal networks challenged the competitive model of plant biology by facilitating resource sharing (cooperation). The sentence after the blank notes that some researchers caution against describing this as purely cooperative, highlighting resource exploitation (competition/parasitism).
Understanding the semantic shift is necessary to identify what kind of transition is needed.
2
Determine the logical category of the transition needed.
Since the passage moves from a point supporting cooperation to a qualification warning against that view, a contrast or concession transition is required.
This allows us to eliminate transitions belonging to other categories like addition or cause-and-effect.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the correct transition word.
'Still' acts as a concession/contrast transition that fits the text. 'Additionally' (addition), 'Consequently' (cause-and-effect), and 'In other words' (restatement) do not fit the logical shift.
Selecting the option that matches the identified relationship guarantees logical flow.

Key Concept

Transitions: Contrast and Concession
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Topics

Transitions: Contrast and Concession

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