The following text is adapted from a 2019 report on archaeological discoveries at an ancient settlement site.After months of careful...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from a 2019 report on archaeological discoveries at an ancient settlement site.
After months of careful excavation, the research team uncovered pottery fragments and tools that had remained buried for nearly two millennia. These artifacts, preserved beneath layers of sediment and debris, were finally reaching the surface through the patient work of the archaeologists-remnants from a lost civilization, only now being revealed to modern science.
As used in the text, what does the word 'reaching' most nearly mean?
Stretching toward
Coming to
Grasping for
Extending through
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "After months of careful excavation, the research team uncovered pottery fragments and tools that had remained buried for nearly two millennia." |
|
| "These artifacts, preserved beneath layers of sediment and debris, were finally reaching the surface through the patient work of the archaeologists" |
|
| "remnants from a lost civilization, only now being revealed to modern science." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Archaeological excavation is bringing ancient artifacts to the surface for the first time in nearly two millennia.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from establishing the context of a long archaeological dig, to describing how artifacts are emerging from underground through the excavation process, to emphasizing the historical significance of these discoveries for modern science.
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
- In our passage analysis, we saw that artifacts buried underground are "reaching the surface through the patient work of the archaeologists."
- The context shows these objects moving from being buried to appearing at ground level through excavation.
- The word "reaching" here describes artifacts arriving at or coming to the surface.
- So the right answer should mean "arriving at" or "coming to" the surface.
Stretching toward
✗ Incorrect
- This implies the artifacts are extending toward the surface but not necessarily getting there
- Does not capture the completion aspect
Coming to
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures that the artifacts are arriving at the surface destination
- Matches our analysis that excavation is bringing these objects from underground to ground level
Grasping for
✗ Incorrect
- Implies the artifacts are actively trying to grab something
- Does not make sense since artifacts are inanimate objects
Extending through
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the artifacts are stretching across or passing through the surface rather than arriving at it