As discussed by scholar Anna Mladentseva, many artworks produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s exclusively for exhibition on...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
As discussed by scholar Anna Mladentseva, many artworks produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s exclusively for exhibition on the internet, such as Sinae Kim's Genesis (2001), have become inaccessible because viewing them requires the use of ________ software (most notably Adobe Flash, discontinued in 2021).
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
defunct
arcane
ubiquitous
extraneous
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "As discussed by scholar Anna Mladentseva, many artworks produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s exclusively for exhibition on the internet, such as Sinae Kim's Genesis (2001), have become inaccessible" |
|
| "because viewing them requires the use of _______ software" |
|
| "(most notably Adobe Flash, discontinued in 2021)" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Early internet artworks have become inaccessible because they depend on software that is no longer available.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. It identifies a problem (inaccessible internet art), explains the cause (dependence on certain software), and provides a concrete example (Adobe Flash being discontinued).
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 key clue is "discontinued in 2021" - this tells us the software is no longer available or functioning
- We need a word that describes software that was once operational but is now no longer working or available
- The word should capture the idea that this software has become obsolete or non-functional, which is why it creates accessibility problems for viewing the artworks
defunct
- "Defunct" means no longer existing, working, or functioning
- Perfectly matches our prethinking - describes software that once worked but is now non-functional
- Directly aligns with "discontinued in 2021" - when something is discontinued, it becomes defunct
arcane
- "Arcane" means mysterious, difficult to understand, or known only to specialists
- Doesn't address the availability issue - software can be arcane but still functional
- Misses the key point about Adobe Flash being discontinued
ubiquitous
- "Ubiquitous" means present everywhere or very common
- Creates a logical contradiction - if the software were everywhere, the artworks wouldn't be inaccessible
extraneous
- "Extraneous" means irrelevant or unnecessary
- Doesn't make sense - if the software were irrelevant, why would its discontinuation matter?
- Mischaracterizes software that's actually essential for viewing these artworks