Set 14: Transitions
Explanation
PASSAGE
The Silk Road was not a single route but a network of interconnected trade paths spanning over 4,000 miles. Merchants rarely traveled its entire length; _______ goods passed through many hands, with traders specializing in specific segments of the journey.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question asks you to choose the transition that best connects two ideas. Merchants didn't travel the full length. What happened instead? Goods passed through many hands. 'Instead' shows the alternative reality. Transitions signal the relationship between sentences or paragraphs. Determine the logical relationship (addition, contrast, cause-effect, example) and select the transition that accurately expresses it. The right transition makes the relationship between ideas crystal clear. Consider what logical connection exists: Is the second idea adding to the first? Contrasting it? Showing a result? The transition should accurately reflect this relationship.
Key Evidence:
• "rarely traveled its entire length"
• "goods passed through many hands"
Why others are wrong: A (Example - the relay system is not an example of not traveling the full route.), B (Contrast - there's no unexpected outcome here, just an alternative.), D (Sequence - this isn't describing a chronological sequence.).
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