After the 2010 oil spill severely damaged coastal wetlands, environmental engineer Maria Santos recognized that traditional cleanup methods were insuf...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
After the 2010 oil spill severely damaged coastal wetlands, environmental engineer Maria Santos recognized that traditional cleanup methods were insufficient for the ecosystem's recovery. The contamination's complexity required her team to ______ specialized bioremediation techniques using native plant species.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
reject
implement
postpone
study
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "After the 2010 oil spill severely damaged coastal wetlands," |
What it says: 2010 spill damaged wetlands What it does: Provides background context What it is: Context/setting |
| "environmental engineer Maria Santos recognized that traditional cleanup methods were insufficient for the ecosystem's recovery." |
What it says: Santos saw traditional methods not enough for recovery What it does: Introduces the problem Santos identified What it is: Problem identification |
| "The contamination's complexity required her team to" |
What it says: Complex contamination required team to... What it does: Explains what the complexity demanded What it is: Causal setup |
| "specialized bioremediation techniques using native plant species." |
What it says: Specific bio techniques with native plants What it does: Describes the approach Santos team needed to take What it is: Solution method |
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The complexity of oil spill contamination required Santos team to take action with specialized bioremediation techniques.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a problem (oil spill damage and insufficient traditional methods), then explains that the contamination complexity created a necessity for Santos team to do something with specialized bioremediation techniques using native plants.
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 the logic: Santos recognized traditional methods were insufficient, and the contamination complexity "required" her team to do something with specialized techniques. The word "required" signals necessity and urgency.
- Key elements the correct answer must have:
- Shows the team taking decisive action with the techniques
- Matches the sense of necessity created by "required"
- Makes logical sense given that traditional methods were insufficient and specialized ones were needed
- So the right answer should indicate the team actually put these specialized bioremediation techniques into practice or action.
reject
- "reject" means to refuse or dismiss
- This contradicts the logic - if traditional methods were insufficient and complexity required action, rejecting specialized techniques makes no sense
- Would leave the ecosystem recovery problem unsolved
implement
- "implement" means to put into effect or carry out
- Perfectly matches the necessity implied by "required" - they needed to put the specialized techniques into action
- Follows logically from recognizing traditional methods were insufficient
postpone
- "postpone" means to delay or put off
- Contradicts the urgency implied by "required" - you do not delay something that is necessary
- Would leave the damaged wetlands without needed treatment
study
- "study" means to examine or research
- Does not match the action-oriented context of what is "required"
- Students might think studying techniques is a logical step, but the passage indicates the complexity required immediate action, not further research