Question

read the following passage: i can’t decide whether to go to the beyonce concert next month. she is my favorite singer. i’ve saved enough for the ticket. the trains stop running at midnight. i don’t know how i’d get home afterwards. which revision below most effectively uses transition words to create coherence? i can’t decide whether to go to the beyonce concert next month. she is my favorite singer, and i’ve saved enough for the ticket. on the other hand, the trains stop running at midnight, so i don’t know how i’d get home afterwards. i can’t decide whether to go to the beyonce concert next month. first, she is my favorite singer and i’ve saved enough for the ticket. second, the trains stop running at midnight, so i don’t know how i’d get home afterwards. i can’t decide whether to go to the beyonce concert next month. for example, she is my favorite singer. i’ve saved enough for the ticket. in contrast, the trains stop running at midnight. i don’t know how i’d get home afterwards. i can’t decide whether to go to the beyonce concert next month. to begin with, she is my favorite singer and in fact, i’ve saved enough for the ticket. however, on the other hand the trains stop running at midnight, which would mean that i don’t know how i’d get home afterwards. i’d get home afterwards.

Explanation:

To determine the best revision for coherence, we analyze the use of transition words. The original passage presents two reasons for indecision: the singer being a favorite (pro - concert) and trains stopping at midnight (con - concert). A good transition should connect these two contrasting ideas.

• The first option uses "On the other hand" which is appropriate for contrasting two ideas. It first states the positive (she is my favorite singer, saved for ticket) and then the negative (trains stop at midnight) using "On the other hand" to show the contrast, creating coherence.
• The second option uses "First" and "Second" which are for listing points in order, but here the two points are not in a sequential order but a contrasting one, so this is not suitable.
• The third option uses "For example" which is for giving an example, but the second point is not an example of the first, so it's incorrect.
• The fourth option uses "To begin with" and "on the other hand" in a confusing way as "To begin with" starts the positive but then "on the other hand" is used in a way that doesn't flow as well as the first option.

Answer:

The first option: "I can’t decide whether to go to the Beyonce concert next month. She is my favorite singer, and I’ve saved enough for the ticket. On the other hand, the trains stop running at midnight, so I don’t know how I’d get home afterwards."