In a randomized classroom study, students who practiced retrieving key concepts from memory (rather than rereading notes) performed better on a final exam, even though they initially felt less confident during study sessions. the discomfort of struggling to recall information can be a sign that learning is strengthening, not that studying is failing.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
- Conversely
- Therefore (correct answer)
- Furthermore
- Even so
Explanation: The logical relationship is cause-and-effect—the first sentence presents research findings (retrieval practice works better despite feeling uncomfortable), and the second sentence draws a conclusion about what this discomfort actually means. The phrase "the discomfort...can be a sign that learning is strengthening" reinterprets the negative feeling mentioned in the first sentence as actually positive. "Therefore" (B) correctly signals this logical conclusion drawn from the evidence. "Conversely" (A) would incorrectly suggest opposition, while "Furthermore" (C) would add information rather than explain significance. When a second sentence reframes or explains the meaning of something from the first sentence, you typically need a conclusion transition like "Therefore" or "Thus."