Skill and Form Number: Recognizing Transitional Words #1
Recognizing Transitional Words
It was pouring heavily outside the house. Evie stood out in the yard slowly becoming soaked. She
was trying to prove a point to her brother Jasper. She wanted to show him that she could be just as
bold as he was.
Jasper watched Evie stand out in the rain and sighed. Once again, Evie was being dramatic. She
also was being stubborn even after he had called her to come inside the house. Even though Jasper
didn’t mean to offend her, he felt she was being too arrogant. _______, Evie was just being plain
mean. Jasper had to put her in place. She was in the rain shivering with cold. Without hesitation,
Jasper grabbed an umbrella and raced outside.
1. Read the following sentences from paragraph 1 of the passage.
It was pouring heavily outside the house. Evie stood out in the yard slowly becoming soaked.
Which linking word or phrase best connects these two sentences?
A. Previously,
B. Despite the rain,
C. After the rain,
D. In this case,
2. Read the following sentences from paragraph 2 of the passage.
Even though Jasper didn't mean to offend her, he felt she was being too arrogant. _______, Evie was
just being plain mean.
Which linking word best fits in the blank?
A. Moreover
B. Meanwhile
C. Since
D. Afterward
3. Read the following sentences from paragraph 2 of the passage.
Jasper had to put her in place. She was in the rain shivering with cold.
Choose the sentence that best connects these two sentences.
A. Jasper had to put her in place. On the other hand, she was in the rain shivering
with cold.
B. Jasper had to put her in place. As a result, she was in the rain shivering with cold.
C. Jasper had to put her in place; for instance, she was in the rain shivering with
cold.
D. Jasper had to put her in place, and now, she was in the rain shivering with cold.
Skill and Form Number: Recognizing Transitional Words #1
(1) The fatigued cowboys scoured the countryside from hill to valley. (2) _______, there were no
signs of the lost cows anywhere. (3) It had taken the cowboys days to hunt down a possible trail for
the cows. (4) The track marks that they could find were barely visible. (5) The dust and wind picked
up across the plains. (6) This was troubling for the cowboys. (7) They needed to find the cows before
sundown because there was no way these animals could survive in this dust storm. (8) The cowboys
steadily moved forward.
4. For sentence 2, which linking word or phrase best fits in the blank?
A. Next
B. Before this
C. Yet
D. To illustrate
5. Which linking word or phrase best begins sentence 8?
A. For example,
B. Sometimes,
C. In addition,
D. Therefore,
6. Choose the sentence that best combines sentences 4 and 5.
A. The track marks that they could find were barely visible; after, the dust and wind
picked up across the plains.
B. The track marks that they could find were barely visible since the dust and wind
picked up across the plains.
C. The track marks that they could find were barely visible. Indeed, the dust and
wind picked up across the plains.
D. The track marks that they could find were barely visible. On the whole, the dust
and wind picked up across the plains.
Summer Fun
(1) During our summers, we'd spend all day at the small pond down the street from our
neighborhood. (2) We could relax there, soak up some rays, swim, and have a good time with all of
our friends. (3) Nothing held us back: no school, no jobs. (4) The water was so cold. (5) Bill said it
was fed by a spring from the ground. (6) He called it mineral water.
(7) The swimming hole has dried up. (8) It's really nothing more than a mud puddle. (9) Dad
blames it on the construction projects. (10) He says they diverted the spring to fill a new
reservoir. (11) I didn't know people could do that. (12) Mom says that change is just one of those
things I'm going to have to get used to as I grow older.
7. Choose the sentence that best joins the two paragraphs.
Skill and Form Number: Recognizing Transitional Words #1
A.
B.
C.
D.
Over time, water evaporates.
Now, times have changed.
Bill is my best friend.
I don't know what happened.
(1) Once in a while, you may have walked through a park and noticed artwork lying around. (2)
These pieces of art are called sculptures. (3) They can be in the shape of humans or can take any
form. (4) These art pieces are different from your typical framed painting. (5) They are threedimensional pieces that use materials such as stone, wood, and clay.
(6) Sculptures were created in different cultures around the world. (7) Early artists used durable
materials to create their sculptures. (8) _______, their pieces of art consisted of bronze, stone, or
ivory. (9) Many of these sculptures have lasted today and give a glimpse into the past.
(10) _______, artists create their sculptures using all sorts of materials and media, like light and
sound, in their pieces. (11) These add modern touches to the works of art that have been around for
centuries.
8. Which linking word or phrase best connects sentences 4 and 5?
A. Following this,
C. Nevertheless,
B. Immediately,
D. For instance,
9. Read sentences 7 and 8 from the passage.
Early artists used durable materials to create their sculptures. _______, their artwork consisted of
bronze, stone, or ivory.
Which linking word or phrase best fits in the blank?
A. Furthermore,
B. In these cases,
C. Again,
D. Without a doubt,
10. In sentence 1, why does the author use the phrase Once in a while?
A. to begin a sequence of events about the movement of art
B. to summarize the huge impact of artwork like sculptures
C. to describe the art pieces found while walking in the park
D. to show that finding art in a park does not happen often
Skill and Form Number: Recognizing Transitional Words #1
Answers
1. B
2. A
3. D
4. C
5. D
6. B
7. B
8. D
9. B
10. D
Explanations
1. The best link to connect these sentences is Despite the rain. This link signals that
there is an exception to what is expected to happen. Instead of staying dry inside, Evie
is getting wet.
2. The best link adds more information to the previously stated sentence. In this case,
Jasper believes that Julia is arrogant as well as mean. Therefore, Moreover is the best
link because it signals that more information is to follow it.
3. The best link to connect these sentences is and now. It lets the reader know that
there is additional information about the events that are happening.
4. The link Yet lets the reader know that a comparison follows. Even though the
cowboys search everywhere, there are still no signs of the cows.
5. The link Therefore signals to the reader that the effect of not finding the cows
follows it. In this case, the cowboys continue to pursue the cows.
6. The best link to connect sentence 4 and 5 is since. It signals the cause of the barely
visible track marks, which is the combination of the dust and the wind.
7. Strong transitions move from topic to topic gently. Transitions make use of words like
"now," "then," "next," "following," and so on. The best transitions make a reader feel
comfortable when moving to the next sentence or paragraph.
8. The best link shows how artwork in a garden is different from paintings. In this case,
the link For instance lets the reader know that an example follows it.
9. The best link shows what kinds of materials were used by early artists. The link In
these cases signals that examples of materials follows it.
Skill and Form Number: Recognizing Transitional Words #1
10. The link Once in a while lets the reader know that this activity does not happen all
too often. Finding pieces of art during a walk does not happen very frequently.
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