Although the NeoProcessor achieved remarkable financial performance with revenues exceeding $50 billion in its inaugural year and secured 40% of...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Although the NeoProcessor achieved remarkable financial performance with revenues exceeding $50 billion in its inaugural year and secured 40% of the worldwide market, its manufacturing process relies on scarce rare earth materials available in exceptionally restricted amounts—and, given these stringent supply limitations, this market leadership is unlikely to be ______.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
sustained
replicated
exceeded
modified
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Although the NeoProcessor achieved remarkable financial performance with revenues exceeding \(\$50\) billion in its inaugural year and secured \(40\%\) of the worldwide market" |
|
| "its manufacturing process relies on scarce rare earth materials available in exceptionally restricted amounts" |
|
| "and, given these stringent supply limitations" |
|
| "this market leadership is unlikely to be ______" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Despite the NeoProcessor's initial success, its dependence on limited rare earth materials creates uncertainty about maintaining its market position.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a contrast structure—it opens with impressive achievements but then reveals a critical vulnerability (scarce materials) that threatens the sustainability of this 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
- The passage creates a clear cause-and-effect relationship
- We have initial success, but then a serious limitation (scarce materials with restricted supply)
- The logical conclusion is that this limitation will prevent something from happening to their market leadership
- Given the supply constraints, the market leadership is unlikely to continue or be maintained over time
- The word should capture the idea that their current dominance can't be kept going because of these material shortages
sustained
- "Sustained" means maintained or continued over time
- This perfectly matches our prethinking—the supply limitations make it unlikely they can maintain their market leadership
- Creates the logical connection: success despite constraints leads to leadership that can't continue
replicated
- "Replicated" means copied or duplicated by others
- This doesn't address the main issue—the passage is about their own ability to continue, not about others copying them
exceeded
- "Exceeded" means surpassed or gone beyond current levels
- This would suggest their leadership could grow even stronger, which contradicts the supply limitation logic
modified
- "Modified" means changed or altered
- While their leadership might change, this doesn't capture the severity that the supply limitations suggest