According to Potawatomi ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer, the Indigenous method of harvesting Hierochloe odorata, or sweetgrass, by snapping the plant...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
According to Potawatomi ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer, the Indigenous method of harvesting Hierochloe odorata, or sweetgrass, by snapping the plant off at the root actually _______ wild populations: it may seem counterintuitive, she says, but this method of removal allows new sweetgrass plants to repopulate the space, with an overall increase in number and vigor.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
selects
originates
conditions
replenishes
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'According to Potawatomi ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer, the Indigenous method of harvesting Hierochloe odorata, or sweetgrass, by snapping the plant off at the root actually' |
|
| '[MISSING WORD]' |
|
| 'wild populations:' |
|
| 'it may seem counterintuitive, she says,' |
|
| 'but this method of removal allows new sweetgrass plants to repopulate the space, with an overall increase in number and vigor.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Indigenous method of harvesting sweetgrass by snapping plants at the root has a positive effect on wild populations by promoting new growth.
Argument Flow: The passage presents an Indigenous harvesting technique, notes that its actual effect on plant populations might seem surprising, then explains how this removal method paradoxically leads to increased plant numbers and health through natural repopulation.
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 word must describe what the Indigenous harvesting method does TO wild populations
- Based on our analysis, the method leads to 'repopulation' with 'an overall increase in number and vigor'
- The word should capture this positive, restorative effect and make sense with the 'counterintuitive' signal
selects
✗ Incorrect
- 'Selects' means to choose or pick out specific items
- This doesn't capture the restorative effect described in the explanation
originates
✗ Incorrect
- 'Originates' means to create or start something new
- While new plants do grow, the method doesn't create entirely new wild populations
conditions
✗ Incorrect
- 'Conditions' could mean prepares or trains
- While this might suggest preparing populations for something, it doesn't capture the growth and increase described
replenishes
✓ Correct
- 'Replenishes' means to restore or refill something that has been depleted
- This perfectly matches the explanation: the harvesting method restores wild populations through 'repopulation' with 'increase in number and vigor'
- Creates the logical counterintuitive relationship: removing plants actually restores the population