Contraste: however, in contrast, even so, still. Causa–efecto: therefore, consequently, as a result.
Ejemplo: for example, for instance. Añadir: moreover, in addition. Aclarar: that is, in other words. Conceder: granted.
Tiempo: meanwhile (a la vez), later, eventually.
Estrategia paso a paso
Sin mirar las opciones, decide la relación entre las dos frases (contraste, causa, ejemplo…).
Si dos opciones significan lo mismo, ninguna de las dos suele ser la correcta.
Trampas habituales
Leer solo la frase con el hueco: la relación depende de la frase anterior.
Ejemplo resuelto
“The trail is steep and rocky. ______ most hikers need five hours to finish it.” → As a result.
Preguntas de ejemplo
Intenta responder antes de abrir la solución. Las preguntas están en el idioma del examen.
Pregunta 1
Dificultad fácil≈ 1 min
When the city’s subway system first opened, it had a single line with nine stations. ______ the system had expanded to twelve lines serving more than two hundred stations.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
AA. Similarly,
BB. Eventually,
CC. For example,
DD. Instead,
Ver respuesta y explicación
Respuesta correcta: B. Eventually,
Explicación
The text moves from the system’s small beginning to its much larger later size. “Eventually” signals that this growth happened over time.
The later system is not similar to the first one (“Similarly”), not an example of it (“For example”), and not a replacement for something described earlier (“Instead”).
Pregunta 2
Dificultad media≈ 1 min
Tool use was once thought to be unique to humans, but researchers have since observed it in a wide range of animals. ______ sea otters float on their backs and use rocks to crack open the shells of clams and sea urchins.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
AA. For instance,
BB. Nevertheless,
CC. In contrast,
DD. As a result,
Ver respuesta y explicación
Respuesta correcta: A. For instance,
Explicación
The first sentence says that tool use has been observed in many animals, and the second describes one such animal: sea otters using rocks. “For instance” introduces this example.
The second sentence supports the first rather than contrasting with it, so “Nevertheless” and “In contrast” do not fit. Otters’ tool use is not a consequence of researchers’ observations, so “As a result” is illogical.
Pregunta 3
Dificultad difícil≈ 2 min
Most birds that migrate long distances stop many times along the way to rest and refuel. The bar-tailed godwit, ______ makes its autumn journey from Alaska to New Zealand without a single stop, flying for more than a week across the open Pacific Ocean.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
AA. by contrast,
BB. for example,
CC. as a result,
DD. similarly,
Ver respuesta y explicación
Respuesta correcta: A. by contrast,
Explicación
Most migrating birds stop many times along the way, but the godwit makes its entire journey without stopping. The godwit is the opposite of the pattern just described, so “by contrast” fits.
“For example” and “similarly” would present the godwit as another case of a bird that stops often. “As a result” would wrongly make its nonstop flight a consequence of other birds’ behavior.