The two transitions that best signal connections between ideas from the options provided are:
- because - This transition indicates a cause-and-effect relationship between ideas.
- after all - This transition can be used to reinforce a point or to suggest that what follows is a conclusion based on the preceding information.
"Despite" indicates contrast, and "by and large" is more of a generalization, so they are not as effective for connecting ideas in the same way as the chosen options.