SAT OwlIn 1925, astronomer Cecilia Payne concluded that stars are made mostly of hydrogen and helium, a finding that contradicted the widely held view that the Sun's composition resembled Earth's. A senior astronomer persuaded her to describe the result in her dissertation as "almost certainly not real." ______ within a few years other astronomers had reached the same conclusion using independent methods, and Payne's finding became the accepted view.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Ultimately, though,
In the same way,
For that reason,
In other words,
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
Payne was pressured to dismiss her own result, but in the end other astronomers confirmed it. The final sentence contrasts with the dismissal and describes the eventual outcome, so "Ultimately, though" fits.
"For that reason" would mean the later confirmation happened because Payne called her result "not real," but the confirmation reversed that dismissal rather than following from it.
Why the other choices are wrong
- B. "In the same way" would present the later confirmation as parallel to the dismissal of Payne's result. The confirmation actually reversed that dismissal, so the sentence needs a contrast.
- C. This suggests the later confirmation was a direct result of Payne calling her finding not real, but the text shows the confirmation actually reversed that dismissal rather than following from it.
- D. This phrase is used to restate a previous idea in different words, but the final sentence introduces a new contrasting outcome rather than rephrasing the earlier statement.
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