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Difficulty: MediumTransitions: Contrast and Concession

For decades, agricultural scientists assumed that the primary benefit of flooding rice paddies was to provide the crops with constant hydration. Recent field trials, ______ have shown that rice plants can grow equally well in moist but unflooded soil, suggesting that the practice of flooding is actually more useful for suppressing weeds than for watering the crops.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

  1. however,Answer
  2. B
    furthermore,
  3. C
    consequently,
  4. D
    for instance,

Answer

however,
The transition word 'however' is correct because the text establishes a contrast between a historical assumption (that flooding rice paddies is primarily for hydration) and recent findings (that flooding is actually more useful for weed suppression and that rice grows well in unflooded soil).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the two parts of the text.
The first part describes a long-held assumption that flooding rice paddies is for hydration. The second part introduces new findings that rice plants grow well without flooding and that flooding actually serves to suppress weeds.
To determine the appropriate transition, the logical connection between the ideas must be identified.
2
Identify the correct category of transition word.
Since the new findings contradict the old assumption, a transition of contrast or concession is required.
This aligns the logical flow of the sentence with the relationship of contrast.
3
Evaluate the options to find the transition that fits this category.
The transition 'however' indicates contrast, making it the correct choice. The other options ('furthermore', 'consequently', 'for instance') indicate addition, cause-and-effect, and exemplification, respectively.
Only the transition indicating contrast fits the context of the sentence.

Key Concept

Transitions: Contrast and Concession
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Topics

Transitions: Contrast and Concession

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