Archaeological investigations near the Nile Delta have determined the impressive scope of an ancient urban complex. Analysis reveals that this...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Archaeological investigations near the Nile Delta have determined the impressive scope of an ancient urban complex. Analysis reveals that this settlement, potentially the most extensive discovered in the region, ______ nearly 180 square kilometers.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
encompasses
establishes
reveals
constructs
Looking at this fill-in-the-blank question, I need to find the word that best connects a settlement to its 180 square kilometer size. Let me work through this systematically.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Archaeological investigations near the Nile Delta have determined the impressive scope of an ancient urban complex.' |
|
| 'Analysis reveals that this settlement, potentially the most extensive discovered in the region,' |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| 'nearly 180 square kilometers.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Archaeological investigations have uncovered an ancient urban complex near the Nile Delta that may be the largest discovered in the region, covering nearly 180 square kilometers.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces an archaeological discovery, then provides context about the settlement's potential significance in the region, followed by specific size information that supports the claim about its impressive scope.
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 have a settlement described as 'potentially the most extensive discovered in the region' followed by a specific measurement 'nearly 180 square kilometers'
- The missing word needs to connect the settlement to this area measurement in a logical way
- The relationship we need is one where the settlement has some kind of coverage or inclusion relationship with the 180 square kilometers
- We need a word that means the settlement covers, includes, or spans this area
encompasses
✓ Correct
- 'Encompasses' means to include or contain within scope
- This perfectly describes how a settlement relates to its total area - it encompasses or includes that area within its boundaries
- Matches our prethinking about needing a word that shows the settlement covers this area
establishes
✗ Incorrect
- 'Establishes' means to set up or create
- A settlement doesn't establish an area measurement - the settlement exists within an area, it doesn't create the area itself
- This reverses the logical relationship
reveals
✗ Incorrect
- 'Reveals' means to show or make known
- The settlement doesn't reveal 180 square kilometers - the analysis reveals information about the settlement
- Students might be confused because 'analysis reveals' appears earlier in the sentence
constructs
✗ Incorrect
- 'Constructs' means to build
- A settlement doesn't construct square kilometers - it occupies or covers them
- This doesn't make logical sense in the context of area measurement