As biologist Terrie Williams has documented, deep dives present a challenge for seals and other marine mammals. A seal must...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
As biologist Terrie Williams has documented, deep dives present a challenge for seals and other marine mammals. A seal must exert enough energy to propel itself hundreds of meters downward, while keeping its heart rate low enough that it doesn't run out of oxygen while underwater. ______ a seal moves its flippers as little as possible on a deep dive, gliding to conserve energy.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
In the first place,
On the other hand,
For this reason,
In comparison,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "As biologist Terrie Williams has documented, deep dives present a challenge for seals and other marine mammals." |
|
| "A seal must exert enough energy to propel itself hundreds of meters downward, while keeping its heart rate low enough that it doesn't run out of oxygen while underwater." |
|
| "a seal moves its flippers as little as possible on a deep dive, gliding to conserve energy." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Seals have developed an energy-conserving diving strategy to handle the competing demands of deep diving.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that deep diving creates a challenging energy-oxygen trade-off for seals, then describes their adaptive response of minimizing energy expenditure through reduced flipper movement.
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 transition must connect the challenge/problem (energy vs oxygen demands) to the solution (minimal flipper movement)
- We need a cause-effect relationship showing that the diving challenge LEADS TO the energy-conserving behavior
- So the right answer should show causation
In the first place,
✗ Incorrect
- "In the first place" introduces a first point in a sequence
- This doesn't connect the challenge to the response
On the other hand,
✗ Incorrect
- "On the other hand" indicates contrast between two opposing ideas
- But the seal behavior isn't contrasting with the challenge - it's responding to it
For this reason,
✓ Correct
- Shows direct causation between the diving challenge and seal behavior
- Connects the problem to the solution perfectly
In comparison,
✗ Incorrect
- "In comparison" sets up a comparison between two different things
- The passage isn't comparing seals to other animals or comparing different behaviors