SAT OwlAround 270 BCE, the Greek astronomer Aristarchus proposed that Earth travels around the Sun. His idea won few supporters. Many of his contemporaries reasoned that if Earth moved, the stars should appear to shift position slightly over the course of a year, yet no such shift could be detected. ______ the view that Earth stands still at the center of the universe remained dominant for roughly eighteen centuries.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Nevertheless,
In comparison,
Specifically,
As a result,
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
The third sentence gives the reason Aristarchus's contemporaries rejected his idea: the expected shift in the stars could not be seen. The last sentence describes what followed from that rejection, so "As a result" fits.
"Nevertheless" may appeal to readers who know Aristarchus was right, but the text presents the missing shift as a reason to reject his idea, so the final sentence is a result, not a contrast.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. This transition signals a contrast, but the text presents the lack of observed stellar shift as the direct cause for the geocentric view's dominance, not a contradiction to it.
- B. This choice implies a comparison between two distinct items, yet the passage describes a causal sequence where the failure to detect a shift leads to the persistence of the old theory.
- C. This word introduces a specific detail or example, but the final sentence states the broader consequence of the earlier reasoning rather than providing a specific instance of it.
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