Although traditional reforestation efforts in degraded tropical regions often fail due to poor soil conditions and invasive species, conservation biol...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Although traditional reforestation efforts in degraded tropical regions often fail due to poor soil conditions and invasive species, conservation biologists have achieved significant ecosystem restoration using alternative methods like assisted natural regeneration and native seed broadcasting. These alternative approaches have successfully reestablished diverse plant communities and wildlife habitats in areas where conventional tree planting was unsuccessful. The biologists' achievements therefore suggest that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
ecosystem restoration requires abandoning traditional reforestation techniques entirely.
alternative restoration methods are always more effective than conventional tree planting.
successful habitat restoration can occur even when standard approaches prove ineffective.
conservation efforts should focus exclusively on developing new restoration techniques rather than improving existing methods.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Although traditional reforestation efforts in degraded tropical regions often fail due to poor soil conditions and invasive species,' |
|
| 'conservation biologists have achieved significant ecosystem restoration using alternative methods like assisted natural regeneration and native seed broadcasting.' |
|
| 'These alternative approaches have successfully reestablished diverse plant communities and wildlife habitats in areas where conventional tree planting was unsuccessful.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Alternative restoration methods have succeeded in ecosystem restoration where traditional reforestation has failed.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that traditional reforestation often fails, then contrasts this with the success of alternative approaches.
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 right answer should recognize that successful ecosystem restoration is possible even when standard approaches prove ineffective
ecosystem restoration requires abandoning traditional reforestation techniques entirely.
✗ Incorrect
- Too extreme - suggests completely abandoning traditional techniques
alternative restoration methods are always more effective than conventional tree planting.
✗ Incorrect
- Uses the absolute word 'always' - overgeneralizes from specific success
successful habitat restoration can occur even when standard approaches prove ineffective.
✓ Correct
- Captures key insight that restoration can succeed even when standard approaches fail
conservation efforts should focus exclusively on developing new restoration techniques rather than improving existing methods.
✗ Incorrect
- Too extreme with 'exclusively' - goes beyond what evidence supports