SAT OwlThe giant panda belongs to the order Carnivora, and its short digestive tract resembles those of other meat-eating mammals. ______ bamboo makes up about 99 percent of the panda's diet.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For instance,
Therefore,
Nevertheless,
Similarly,
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
The first sentence describes a body built like a meat eater's. The second says the panda eats almost nothing but bamboo, which is unexpected given the first sentence. "Nevertheless" signals that kind of contrast.
"Therefore" would mean that a meat eater's digestive tract leads to a bamboo diet, which is the opposite of what one would expect.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. For instance introduces an example, but the second sentence presents a surprising fact that contrasts with the first rather than illustrating it.
- B. Therefore implies the bamboo diet is a logical result of the carnivore anatomy, which contradicts the unexpected nature of the panda's diet.
- D. Similarly suggests the bamboo diet is comparable to the carnivore traits, failing to capture the contrast between the anatomy and the actual food source.
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