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Transitions: Cause and Effect

43 questions

All types43Multiple choice23Fill in the blank20
Question 41Question →

Read the passage about the giant rosette plant *Espeletia*. Write the transition word or phrase that best completes the text by establishing a cause-and-effect relationship.

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In the cold, high-altitude ecosystems of the Andes, the giant rosette plant *Espeletia* faces freezing nightly temperatures followed by intense daytime heat. To survive, the plant retains its dead leaves around its trunk to act as insulation. , the plant's delicate vascular tissues remain shielded from the sub-zero temperatures, ensuring the continuous transport of nutrients.
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Answer

The transition word must express a cause-and-effect relationship, such as 'consequently', 'therefore', 'thus', 'hence', 'as a result', or 'accordingly'.
The passage describes a protective adaptation of the *Espeletia* plant (retaining dead leaves as insulation) and immediately follows it with the outcome of that adaptation (vascular tissues remaining shielded). A cause-and-effect transition like 'consequently', 'therefore', or 'thus' is required to logically connect these two sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical connection between the two sentences surrounding the blank.
The sentence before the blank states that the plant retains its dead leaves to act as insulation. The sentence after the blank describes the outcome of this action: the plant's delicate vascular tissues remain shielded from sub-zero temperatures.
Evaluating how the ideas relate to one another is necessary to determine the correct logical transition.
2
Identify the transition type that matches this logical connection.
The second sentence is a direct consequence of the first sentence. A cause-and-effect transition is needed.
Transitions like 'consequently' or 'therefore' show that the shielding of the tissues is the effect of the leaf insulation.

Key Concept

Transitions: Cause and Effect
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 42Question →

During volcanic eruptions, vast plumes of iron-rich ash are carried by winds and deposited into the nutrient-deficient surface waters of the subarctic Pacific Ocean. ______ marine phytoplankton, whose growth is typically restricted by the scarcity of dissolved iron in these high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions, undergo rapid multiplication and generate massive, satellite-visible algal blooms that temporarily alter the local marine ecosystem.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

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Answer: Consequently,

Answer

Consequently,
The transition word 'consequently' correctly establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between the deposition of iron-rich volcanic ash and the subsequent growth of iron-limited marine phytoplankton.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relationship between the two sentences in the passage.
The first sentence describes how winds deposit iron-rich volcanic ash into iron-deficient ocean waters. The second sentence describes how marine phytoplankton, normally limited by iron scarcity, grow rapidly and bloom.
Understanding the logical connection between the sentences is necessary to select the correct transition.
2
Determine the appropriate transition category based on the identified relationship.
Since the introduction of iron (the cause) directly enables and results in the rapid multiplication of the iron-limited phytoplankton (the effect), a cause-and-effect transition is required.
This allows us to eliminate transitions that denote contrast, addition, or chronological sequence.
3
Select the option that matches the cause-and-effect category.
The word 'consequently' is a cause-and-effect transition and logically links the two sentences.
It correctly signals that the phytoplankton growth is a direct result of the volcanic ash deposition.

Key Concept

Transitions: Cause and Effect
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 43Question →

Read the following passage. Which transition word or phrase logically completes the text to establish a cause-and-effect relationship?

Fill in the blanks below

In certain dense forests, the canopy exhibits a phenomenon known as "crown shyness," where the uppermost branches of adjacent trees do not touch. This leaves narrow gaps of open sky between individual crowns, which significantly reduces the transmission of leaf-eating insects between trees. , the overall health and survival rate of the forest community are enhanced because localized pest outbreaks are less likely to spread widely.
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Answer

Consequently (or other cause-and-effect transitions such as therefore, thus, or as a result)
The correct transition must establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the two ideas. The passage explains that the gaps between crowns reduce insect transmission, which in turn leads to the enhancement of overall forest health. Transition words such as 'consequently,' 'therefore,' 'thus,' 'hence,' 'accordingly,' or 'as a result' are correct because they show that the second idea is a direct result of the first.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the ideas in the passage.
The first sentence explains that 'crown shyness' leaves gaps that reduce the transmission of leaf-eating insects. The second sentence states that the overall health of the forest is enhanced as a result of these reduced outbreaks.
Identifying how the two sentences relate to each other is necessary to select the correct transition.
2
Determine the appropriate type of transition.
A cause-and-effect transition is required because the forest health enhancement is the direct effect of the reduced insect transmission.
The transition must signal that the second statement is a logical consequence of the first statement.

Key Concept

Transitions: Cause and Effect
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