According to a veteran music producer, raw talent is often _____ industry connections when it comes to achieving commercial success....
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
According to a veteran music producer, raw talent is often _____ industry connections when it comes to achieving commercial success. Artists who combine exceptional musical ability with strong networking, marketing support, and label backing create a powerful synergy that propels them to the top of the charts.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
replaced by
amplified by
separated from
limited by
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "According to a veteran music producer, raw talent is often" |
|
| "[MISSING WORD/PHRASE]" |
|
| "industry connections when it comes to achieving commercial success." |
|
| "Artists who combine exceptional musical ability with strong networking, marketing support, and label backing create a powerful synergy that propels them to the top of the charts." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The relationship between raw talent and industry connections is crucial for commercial music success.
Argument Flow: A music producer makes a claim about how talent relates to industry connections, then the passage provides evidence showing that combining both elements creates powerful synergy that leads to chart-topping success.
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
- Looking at our passage analysis, we need a word that shows how talent relates to industry connections
- The key clue comes from the evidence sentence - artists who "combine" talent with industry support create "powerful synergy"
- This suggests that connections do not replace talent or work against it, but rather work together with talent to enhance success
- The missing word should reflect a relationship where industry connections make raw talent more effective or powerful, not where they compete with or limit talent
- So the right answer should show that industry connections enhance or strengthen raw talent's impact on commercial success
replaced by
✗ Incorrect
- "Replaced by" would mean connections substitute for talent entirely
- This contradicts the evidence showing artists need to "combine" both elements
- What trap this represents: Students might think the passage argues that connections matter more than talent
amplified by
✓ Correct
- "Amplified by" means connections make talent stronger and more effective
- This perfectly matches the "powerful synergy" described when both are combined
- Supports the idea that connections enhance rather than replace talent
separated from
✗ Incorrect
- "Separated from" would mean talent and connections are kept apart
- This directly contradicts the evidence about combining both for synergy
limited by
✗ Incorrect
- "Limited by" suggests connections restrict or hold back talent
- This contradicts the positive relationship shown in the synergy example