Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Question

During a survey of the Sonoran Desert, a team of botanists measured how much water the region's shrubs lose through their leaves each day. The team found that species growing in the most exposed, sun-baked sites had unusually small leaves covered in dense white hairs. Small, hairy leaves expose less surface area to the sun and trap a thin layer of still air. ______, these plants lose far less water than their broad-leaved neighbors do.

Accepted Answer

C. Thus. The reduced water loss follows logically from the leaf features just described, so a cause-and-effect transition is needed: "Thus" is correct. (A) "Still" signals concession or contrast, but the final sentence agrees with and follows from the preceding one. (B) "For example" signals an illustration of a general claim, but the reduced water loss is the consequence of the leaf structure, not an instance of it. (D) "Previously" signals earlier time, but the water savings result from the leaf features rather than preceding them.

Answer

A. Still — "Still" signals concession or contrast, but the final sentence agrees with the one before it: small, hairy leaves are exactly why these plants lose less water.

Answer

B. For example — "For example" would make the reduced water loss an instance of the leaf features, but it's the consequence of them — a result, not an illustration.

Answer

D. Previously — "Previously" places the water savings earlier in time, but the savings follow from the leaf structure just described rather than preceding it.

Expression of Ideas practice question

Answer: C. Thus

Why the other answers are wrong

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