A rare species of deep-sea coral was discovered in 2021 when shifting ocean currents exposed a previously hidden underwater canyon...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A rare species of deep-sea coral was discovered in 2021 when shifting ocean currents exposed a previously hidden underwater canyon off the Chilean coast. The coral colony had survived approximately 800 years in the canyon's unique environment, where high salinity and consistently cold temperatures prevented the typical decay processes affecting shallow-water coral systems. Marine biologist Dr. Rosa Mendez observed that without protection from the canyon's isolated conditions, this coral type would typically deteriorate within decades due to temperature fluctuations and reduced salinity in more accessible waters.
What does the text indicate about the discovery of the coral colony?
The coral would have deteriorated if it had been exposed to shifting ocean currents earlier.
Environmental factors contributed to both preserving and revealing the coral colony.
Marine biologists would have eventually discovered the coral through systematic deep-sea exploration.
The discovery demonstrated that coral colonies are more resilient than scientists previously believed.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'A rare species of deep-sea coral was discovered in 2021 when shifting ocean currents exposed a previously hidden underwater canyon off the Chilean coast.' |
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| 'The coral colony had survived approximately 800 years in the canyon's unique environment, where high salinity and consistently cold temperatures prevented the typical decay processes affecting shallow-water coral systems.' |
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| 'Marine biologist Dr. Rosa Mendez observed that without protection from the canyon's isolated conditions, this coral type would typically deteriorate within decades due to temperature fluctuations and reduced salinity in more accessible waters.' |
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Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Environmental factors in an underwater canyon both preserved a rare coral colony for 800 years and enabled its recent discovery.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with the discovery event, then explains the environmental conditions that allowed this ancient coral to survive, and concludes with expert testimony about how vulnerable this coral would be outside its protective environment.
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 passage shows us two key things about the discovery: First, the discovery happened because environmental factors (shifting ocean currents) exposed the hidden canyon
- Second, the coral was only there to be discovered because other environmental factors (high salinity and cold temperatures) had preserved it for 800 years
- So the right answer should connect environmental factors to both the preservation and the revelation of this coral colony
The coral would have deteriorated if it had been exposed to shifting ocean currents earlier.
- This misses the point about the discovery itself
- The passage doesn't suggest earlier exposure to currents would have been bad - in fact, shifting currents are what revealed the coral
- Focuses only on deterioration, not on the discovery
Environmental factors contributed to both preserving and revealing the coral colony.
- Perfectly captures both sides: environmental factors preserved it (high salinity plus cold temps for 800 years) AND revealed it (shifting currents exposed the canyon)
- Matches our prethinking exactly - the discovery story is fundamentally about environmental factors playing dual roles
Marine biologists would have eventually discovered the coral through systematic deep-sea exploration.
- Pure speculation - the passage gives us no information about systematic exploration plans
- The discovery was accidental due to shifting currents, not systematic searching
The discovery demonstrated that coral colonies are more resilient than scientists previously believed.
- The passage actually suggests the opposite - this coral is quite vulnerable outside its specific environment (would deteriorate 'within decades')
- The discovery shows dependence on very specific conditions, not general resilience