SAT Transitions: Choose a Contrast After an Unexpected Result

The restored instrument is more than a century old, and several of its original parts are worn. ___ it still produces clear, accurate measurements.

Which choice most logically completes the text?

State the first sentence’s expectation

The instrument is old and has worn parts. Those details could make a reader expect weaker performance.

Identify the actual relationship

The second sentence reports clear, accurate measurements despite that expectation. It concedes the first point and presents an unexpected contrast.

Choose the matching transition

“Nevertheless” signals that the second claim holds despite the first. It preserves the relationship without inventing a cause or example.

Paraphrase the pair using “although”: “Although the instrument is old and worn, it still produces accurate measurements.” That paraphrase exposes the contrast and rules out example, cause and similarity transitions.

• “For example” would introduce an illustration of age or wear; accurate measurements do not serve that role.
• “As a result” would claim that age and wear caused clear measurements, which the passage does not support.
• “Similarly” would signal comparable situations; the two claims instead create a contrast.

Choose therefore or nevertheless: “The forecast predicted rain. ___, the organizers kept the outdoor schedule because a covered stage was available.”

Answer: Nevertheless

Keeping the outdoor schedule contrasts with the expectation raised by rain. The covered stage explains why the decision remains possible; rain itself is not stated as the cause of keeping the schedule.

If this was difficult, return to transitions practice and identify the precise step to improve. These are original PeakSAT teaching examples, not official College Board questions or calibrated score predictions. For official adaptive test practice, use Bluebook (opens in a new tab).