A turtle shell appears external to the animal, protecting its body like armor. ______ the shell is often incorrectly assumed...

GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions

Source: Practice Test

Expression of Ideas

Transitions

HARD

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Notes

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A turtle shell appears external to the animal, protecting its body like armor. ______ the shell is often incorrectly assumed to be an exoskeleton, a rigid outer casing like that of a crustacean or an insect, when in fact it is an endoskeleton, a part of the turtle's internal bone structure, more akin to a spine or a pair of ribs.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

That being said,

However,

For instance,

Hence,

Solution

Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage

Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table

Text from Passage	Analysis
'A turtle shell appears external to the animal, protecting its body like armor.'	What it says: shell = external, protective like armor What it does: Introduces how turtle shells look and function What it is: Opening observation
'______'	What it is: Missing logical connector
'the shell is often incorrectly assumed to be an exoskeleton, a rigid outer casing like that of a crustacean or an insect,'	What it says: people wrongly think shell = exoskeleton (like bugs/crabs) What it does: Presents a common misconception about turtle shells What it is: Misconception claim
'when in fact it is an endoskeleton, a part of the turtle's internal bone structure, more akin to a spine or a pair of ribs.'	What it says: actually shell = endoskeleton (internal bones, like spine/ribs) What it does: Corrects the misconception with the true nature of turtle shells What it is: Corrective explanation

Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements

Main Point: Turtle shells are commonly misunderstood as external exoskeletons when they are actually internal endoskeletons that are part of the turtle's bone structure.

Argument Flow: The passage starts with how turtle shells appear externally, then moves to explain how this appearance leads to a common misconception about their nature, and finally corrects this misconception by revealing their true internal structure.

Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely

This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.

Step 3: Prethink the Answer

The sentence before the blank tells us turtle shells appear external and protective
The sentence after the blank tells us this leads to people incorrectly assuming they're exoskeletons
We need a transition that shows the external appearance CAUSES or RESULTS IN the misconception
The logical relationship is: external appearance leads to misconception
So we need a word that signals consequence, result, or logical conclusion

Answer Choices Explained

That being said,

✗ Incorrect

This phrase introduces a contrasting point, not causation between appearance and misconception

However,

✗ Incorrect

This word introduces contrast, suggesting the misconception contrasts with the appearance, when actually the appearance causes the misconception

For instance,

✗ Incorrect

This phrase introduces an example
The misconception is not an example of the external appearance but a result of it

Hence,

✓ Correct

This word means therefore or as a result
It perfectly shows how the external appearance leads to the misconception
This matches our prethinking about needing a cause-and-effect transition

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