Many people fear or dislike spiders, but these creatures are
mostly beneficial because they prey on insects and other pests. The spiders commonly seen out in the open during the day are usually harmless and rarely bite people. Poisonous species, _________, spend most of their time in woodpiles, corners, or boxes, and rarely come into contact with humans.

. Pyramids are most commonly associated with
ancient Egypt. ________ many people are surprised
to learn that the Nubians, who lived in modern-day
Sudan, constructed a far greater number of
pyramids than the Egyptians did.

Modern chemistry keeps insects from ravaging crops,
removes stains, and saves lives. _________ constant exposure to chemicals is taking a toll on many people’s health.

On the screen, three people walk in a garden. The image is
black-and-white, and the figures move in a jerky way. After a few seconds, they disappear. Filmed in 1888, Roundhay
Garden Scene seems primitive in comparison to the slick,
sophisticated Hollywood films of today.___________, it is the oldest surviving film in existence.

The Silk Road acquired its name from the lucrative trade in
Chinese silk carried out along its 4,000 miles, beginning during the Han dynasty (206 BCE—220 AD). The Chinese took great interest in the safety of their goods. _________,they extended the Great Wall of China to ensure the protection of their trade routes.

In 1959, Project Mercury became the first human spaceflight program led by NASA. The project was aimed at putting an American into orbit before the Soviet Union could accomplish that goal. The program allowed seven astronauts to travel into space; ________, it was shut down only four years after it began.

Chimpanzees and bonobo monkeys resemble each other
physically, but their social behaviors differ greatly. Chimpanzees have an omnivorous diet, a troop hunting culture, and complex social relationships. Bonobo monkeys, ________eat mostly fruit, rarely hunt, and do not have a strict social hierarchy.

The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight
wonders of the world. _________ some people believe
that its architectural beauty has never been
surpassed.

In the Middle Ages, fairs often attracted large crowds and
led to rioting. _________ authorities were reluctant to grant
permission for fairs to be held.

Modern chemistry keeps insects from ravaging
crops, removes stains, and saves lives. __________
constant exposure to chemicals is taking a toll on
many people's health.

Despite the sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and
extreme dryness that characterize the Antarctic
interior, a small number of hardy species dwell
there. __ certain mosses, lichens, and
microscopic protozoa have adapted to the harsh
conditions and are able to thrive.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

Bacteria have one or many appendages known as a
flagellum, which is made of thousands of identical
subunits. ________ a tail that was straight or only slightly
flexible would leave an organism unable to move,
bacteria have evolved rotating, corkscrew-shaped
propellers that push them forward. Scientists call the
formation of this shape "supercoiling," and now, after
more than half a century, they understand how the
process works.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

A recent study suggests that consuming food
 late in the evening has profound effects on the
 hunger-regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin, I
 which influence our drive to eat. __________
 researchers found that levels of the hormone leptin, I
 which signals satiety, remained low for 24 hours for
 a group of subjects instructed to eat dinner late, I
 whereas leptin levels were much higher in a group
that ate dinner early.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

Computerized fingerprint scanners have been a
staple of spy movies for decades, but until recently, they were rarely found in the real world. Over the last few years, however, scanners have become common in many different
locations, including police stations, high-security buildings, and even computer keyboards. The price of a scanner has also decreased significantly. _________, it is now possible to purchase a USB fingerprint scanner for under $100.

Although T.S. Eliot devoted several years to writing
"The Waste Land," it sold only about 330 copies in 
the six months following its publication in 1922.
__________Eliot was forced to seek other sources of 
income. In the mid-1920s, he took a job as the
director of a new publishing firm called Faber &
Faber.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

Pyramids are most commonly associated with ancient
Egypt. _________ many people are surprised to learn that the Nubians, who lived in modern-day Sudan, constructed a far greater number of pyramids than the Egyptians did.

Modern technology offers remarkable opportunities for self expression and communication. _________it offers many
possibilities for distraction.

____________ fingerprint scanners have been a
staple of spy movies for decades, but until recently, they were rarely found in the real world. Over the last few years, however, scanners have become common in many different
locations, including police stations, high-security buildings, and even computer keyboards. The price of a scanner has also decreased significantly. Indeed, it is now possible to
purchase a USB fingerprint scanner for under $100.

While doing fieldwork on Gorgonilla Island in
Colombia in 2014, Hermann Bermudez found spherule
deposits-layers of sediment filled with tiny glass 
beads. These beads formed when the heat and
pressure from an asteroid impact melted and scattered 
the crust of the Earth, ejecting tiny liquid blobs into
the atmosphere. _________ they fell back to earth in solid form under the influence of gravity.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

Researchers are unable to drill into the Earth’s core;
_________ its chemical composition remains a mystery.

Skilled managers are in high demand. _________
management professionals with the right experience and
credentials are currently some of the most sought-after
professionals in the world.

In the past, coffees were blended to suit a homogenous
popular taste, _________ many different coffee flavors are now being produced.

Executive editors play one of the most important roles at
newspapers and magazines: they oversee assistant editors and generally have the final say about which stories are published. _________, if a writer covering local news proposes a piece about the candidates in a city election, the executive editor decides whether to approve the article and determines what angle the writer should take. Executive editors also plan budgets and negotiate contracts with freelance writers, sometimes called “stringers.” Although many executive editors work for newspaper publishers, some are employed by television stations or advertising firms.

Although the abstract painter Joan Mitchell
disliked being compared to Monet, the parallels
between them were undeniable. Her terrace
overlooked a house that Monet occupied from 1878
to 1881, as well as a landscape that he painted.
________ some of her own late works unmistakably
hark back to the paintings that Monet produced in
his twilight years at Giverny.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

In order to save an endangered species, preservationists
must study it in detail. _________ scientific information about some endangered animals is scarce.

Rather than embrace the type of abstract work that
many artists of her generation preferred, Gwendolyn
Knight preferred to depict figures in a spontaneous
and personal manner. ____________ she painted oil portraits
of friends as well as studies of dancers in motion.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

Music serves no obvious purpose. It has, _________ played
a role in every known civilization on earth.

Researchers are unable to drill into the Earth's
core. __________ its chemical composition remains a
mystery.

Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the
development of China, India, and Europe, opening long-distance political and economic interactions. ____________ was certainly the major trade item from China, numerous other types of goods, including textiles, cloth, and pottery, also traveled along the Silk Road.

In the past, coffees were blended to suit a
homogenous popular taste. ___________ many different
coffee flavors are now being produced.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

From the moment 2001: A Space Odyssey premiered I in 1968, it was clear that the film would become best
known for its special effects. It featured spacecraft that
flew realistically-not zooming around in a cartoonish
manner, as was the case in other films of the time.
__________ Kubrick imagined a fully realized vision of
regular human spaceflights in Earth orbit and beyond.

Blue whales recognize when the wind is changing
 their habitat and identify places where ocean currents
 produce large aggregations of krill. The tiny shrimp are 
 the primary food sources for the massive animals, which
 can weigh 165 tons or more. ________their ability to locate
these dense concentrations of nutrients is a matter of
survival.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

Discarded electronic devices such as cell phones 
and tablets are a rapidly growing source of waste. One
way to mitigate the problem, ____________ could be to include
components made with renewable resources.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

By turning the camera on herself, Cindy Sherman
established her reputation as one of the most respected
photographers of the late twentieth century. The majority of her photographs are pictures of herself; however, these
photographs are most definitely not self-portraits. Rather,
Sherman uses herself as a vehicle for commentary on a variety of issues of the modern world: the role of the woman, the role of the artist, and many more. It is through these ambiguous and eclectic photographs that Sherman has developed a distinct signature style. _________, she has raised important and challenging questions about the role of women in society and the nature of artistic creation.

In 1959, Project Mercury became the first human
spaceflight program led by NASA. Aimed at putting an
American into orbit before the Soviet Union could
accomplish that goal, it was shut down after less than
half a decade. ______ in the four years of its existence,
seven astronauts were able to travel into space.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?

Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the
development of China, India, and Europe, opening long distance political and economic interactions. _________ silk was certainly the major trade item from China,
numerous other types of goods, including textiles, cloth,
and pottery, also traveled along the Silk Road.

Music serves no obvious purpose. It has,
___________ played a role in every known civilization on earth.

A gamelan is a traditional musical ensemble from Indonesia, usually from the islands of Java and Bali. Gamelans typically feature a variety of instruments, including xylophones, gongs, and bamboo flutes. Some ensembles also include vocalists. ______________ is an integral part of Indonesian culture.

Straw has been used as a building material for
centuries, and contrary to popular belief, it is not
easily destroyed. _______ it can be remarkably durable.
In the nineteenth century, settlers in the Nebraska
Sand Hills used straw to build houses when wood and
clay were scarce; some of the structures are still
standing today.

In order to save an endangered species,
preservationists must study it in detail. Scientific
information about some endangered animals is
scarce,_________