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Difficulty: MediumTransitions: Contrast and Concession

Many cognitive scientists hypothesized that language acquisition in infants relies entirely on domain-general learning mechanisms, such as pattern recognition and statistical learning. A recent study by Dr. Clara Mendez showed that infants are highly sensitive to statistical regularities in speech. ________, Mendez's team observed that this sensitivity alone is insufficient for infants to grasp syntactic structure, which appears to require innate domain-specific constraints.

Which choice completes the passage with the most logical transition?

  1. A
    Furthermore
  2. B
    Consequently
  3. C
    Specifically
  4. NeverthelessAnswer

Answer

The transition 'Nevertheless' is the most logical choice because it establishes a contrast or concession, indicating that despite the evidence of infants' statistical sensitivity, this sensitivity remains insufficient for acquiring syntax.
The transition 'Nevertheless' is correct because it properly establishes a contrast/concession relationship. The preceding sentence highlights a positive finding (infants' high sensitivity to statistical regularities), while the subsequent sentence introduces a critical limitation (this sensitivity is insufficient on its own for syntax acquisition). 'Nevertheless' correctly signals this concession.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relationship between the ideas in the sentences surrounding the blank.
The sentence before the blank describes a finding that infants are highly sensitive to statistical patterns. The sentence after the blank points out that this sensitivity is not enough for infants to acquire grammar.
Understanding the logical connection between the statements is necessary to choose the correct transition.
2
Determine the type of transition required to connect these ideas.
A transition indicating contrast or concession is needed because the second statement introduces a limitation that qualifies the positive finding of the first statement.
This guides the selection of the transition word that matches the logical direction of the text.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that fits the contrast/concession relationship.
'Nevertheless' is the only transition among the choices that expresses contrast or concession.
Selecting the correct transition ensures the passage flows logically and coherent meaning is maintained.

Key Concept

Transitions: Contrast and Concession
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Topics

Transitions: Contrast and Concession

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