Question the-43

3.3 Transitions - Cause–effect transitions (therefore, thus)
0:00

The 435 state districts in the US House of Representatives are designed to be roughly equal in population. These districts average around 760,000 people in size. However, only about 730,000 people live in the state of Alaska. blank Alaska has just one House district, encompassing the entire state. 

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A.

As a result,

B.

Instead,

C.

Finally,

D.

For instance,

The 435 state districts in the US House of Representatives are designed to be roughly equal

Medium-difficulty · SAT Reading & Writing · Transitions — Cause–effect transitions (therefore, thus). Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice A is the best answer. "As a result" logically signals that the information in the sentence—that, in the US House of Representatives, the entire state of Alaska has just one district—is the result or consequence of Alaska having only about 730,000 people. This is slightly below the average for House districts, which are designed to have roughly equal populations.

Choice B is incorrect because "instead" illogically signals that Alaska having just one state district is an alternative to the information about the state’s population in the previous sentence. Rather, the fact that Alaska has just one district is a result or consequence of the entire state having slightly fewer people than an average-sized district. Choice C is incorrect because "finally" illogically signals that the information in this sentence about Alaska having just one district indies a last step in a process or a concluding summary. Instead, the fact that Alaska has just one district is a result or consequence of the entire state having slightly fewer people than an average-sized district. Choice D is incorrect because "for instance" illogically signals that the information in this sentence about Alaska having just one district exemplifies the information about the state’s population in the previous sentence. Instead, the fact that Alaska has just one district is a result or consequence of the entire state having slightly fewer people than an average-sized district.