Learn / Reading and Writing / Expression of Ideas
Transitions
I worked these out from the practice questions. Each code says where to start reading, where to stop, what you can skip, and why it is safe.
1. Read both sides of the blank
- Start:
- Start with the sentence before the blank and then read the sentence after it.
- Stop:
- Stop after the sentence that comes after the blank. You rarely need more.
- Skip:
- Skip the choices until you have your own word for the link.
- Why:
- In every practice question, the answer came from the link between two sentences, not from the words themselves.
Used in questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
2. Sort into the six families first
- Start:
- Ask: contrast, addition, example, result, time or restate?
- Stop:
- Stop as soon as you know the family.
- Skip:
- Skip the choices from other families without reading them closely.
- Why:
- Each practice question had one choice per family, so naming the family left only one option.
Used in questions 1, 2, 4, 5
3. Expectation versus reality means contrast
- Start:
- Watch for words such as expected, believed, assumed, although, still.
- Stop:
- Stop at the sentence that gives what really happened.
- Skip:
- Skip result words like Accordingly and Therefore.
- Why:
- In questions 3, 6 and 7, the first sentence told a belief or plan and the second told something different.
Used in questions 3, 6, 7
4. Same topic does not mean result
- Start:
- Before choosing 'therefore' or 'consequently', ask whether the first idea really caused the second.
- Stop:
- Stop once you can say 'because of the first, the second happened' and it makes sense.
- Skip:
- Skip result words if they do not pass this test.
- Why:
- In question 7, Therefore tempted because both sentences were about population, but one did not cause the other.
Used in questions 1, 4, 7
5. General then particular means example
- Start:
- Look for a general first sentence followed by one case.
- Stop:
- Stop when the second sentence names a particular person, thing, number or case.
- Skip:
- Skip contrast and result words.
- Why:
- Questions 5 and 8 both went from a general statement to details: vocabulary memory, and a cracked screen.
Used in questions 5, 8
6. Use the word 'now' and 'previously' carefully
- Start:
- If the sentence says 'now' or 'can now', check whether a time word truly fits.
- Stop:
- Stop when a choice shows a result, not just an earlier time.
- Skip:
- Skip time words when the real link is cause.
- Why:
- In question 4, Previously tempted, but the solar plant caused the change.
Used in question 4
7. Check the direction of cause
- Start:
- If you choose a result word, put the sentences in order and read 'because of A, B'.
- Stop:
- Stop if it reads backward.
- Skip:
- Skip result words that reverse the cause.
- Why:
- In question 8, Consequently reversed the cause: bad ratings did not cause the cracks.
Used in question 8
8. Steps in order: First, Next, Finally
- Start:
- When the passage gives instructions or a sequence, find the words First, Next or Then before the blank.
- Stop:
- Stop when you know which step the blank introduces (last step means Finally).
- Skip:
- Skip contrast words such as However and Instead, because a new step is not a contrast.
- Why:
- In question 10, the earlier sentences used 'start' and 'Next', so the blank was the last step.
Used in question 10
9. Same time, different place means Meanwhile
- Start:
- Look for two scenes that happen together, such as the market and the bus park.
- Stop:
- Stop when the second sentence names a new place or person with the same time.
- Skip:
- Skip result words, because one scene does not cause the other.
- Why:
- In question 11, nothing caused anything, and the two scenes ran side by side.
Used in question 11
10. Said what did not happen, then what did
- Start:
- Look for a sentence with 'did not', 'worried', 'expected' or 'often leave out', followed by a sentence that gives the opposite.
- Stop:
- Stop when the second sentence reverses or strengthens the first.
- Skip:
- Skip Similarly, Previously and As a result, because they do not reverse anything.
- Why:
- In questions 14, 15 and 16, the first sentence set up a doubt or a gap, and the next sentence answered it with the opposite (In fact, Instead, Nevertheless).
Used in questions 14, 15, 16