Which transition best signals a cause/effect relationship?

• A. Consequently
• B. Meanwhile
• C. Nevertheless
• D. Therefore

Answer: (A)

Understanding cause-and-effect transitions helps you see how one idea leads to another. A transition that signals cause and effect points to the result of what came before. Consequently does this best by directly tying the preceding event to its outcome, making the link clear and immediate. The other options don’t fit as neatly: meanwhile signals things happening at the same time, not a result; nevertheless signals a contrast instead of a consequence; therefore also signals a conclusion from reasoning, which can feel more like a deduction than a direct, event-driven outcome. So, consequently is the strongest cue for a direct cause-and-effect relationship.