Transitions

SAT Reading and Writing· difficulty 5/5

Linguists once assumed that all human languages share a small set of universal grammatical features. Recent surveys of underdocumented languages, however, have turned up exceptions to nearly every proposed universal. ______ , some scholars now argue that what appear to be universals are simply tendencies, shaped by common cognitive limitations rather than by an innate grammar.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

  • A

    Accordingly

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  • B

    Specifically

  • C

    Nevertheless

  • D

    By contrast

Explanation

The discovery of exceptions led some scholars to a new interpretation. "Accordingly" signals the consequence of the evidence. "Nevertheless" and "by contrast" oppose; "specifically" introduces a specific instance.

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