After decades of research into cellular biology, Barbara McClintock proved to be a ______ researcher: her groundbreaking work on genetic...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
After decades of research into cellular biology, Barbara McClintock proved to be a ______ researcher: her groundbreaking work on genetic transposition, initially dismissed by the scientific community, eventually earned her a Nobel Prize and revolutionized our understanding of chromosome behavior.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
pioneering
conventional
reluctant
cautious
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "After decades of research into cellular biology, Barbara McClintock proved to be a" |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| "researcher: her groundbreaking work on genetic transposition," |
|
| "initially dismissed by the scientific community," |
|
| "eventually earned her a Nobel Prize and revolutionized our understanding of chromosome behavior." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Barbara McClintock's innovative research, though initially rejected, ultimately transformed scientific understanding and earned prestigious recognition.
Argument Flow: The sentence establishes McClintock as a long-time researcher, then uses her work's journey from dismissal to Nobel Prize recognition to demonstrate what type of researcher she was. The missing word should capture someone whose work was ahead of its time and ultimately transformative.
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 word needs to describe someone whose work was "groundbreaking" and "revolutionized" understanding, suggesting innovation and breaking new ground
- The fact that her work was "initially dismissed" but later won a Nobel Prize suggests she was ahead of her time - doing work that others didn't immediately understand or accept
- This pattern points to someone who opens up new paths in their field, rather than following established approaches
pioneering
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures someone who opens new paths and does groundbreaking work
- Fits the pattern of work being initially dismissed (pioneers are often ahead of their time)
- Aligns with "revolutionized our understanding" - pioneers transform their fields
conventional
✗ Incorrect
- Describes following established methods rather than breaking new ground
- Contradicts "groundbreaking work" and "revolutionized our understanding"
reluctant
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests hesitation or unwillingness to engage in research
- Nothing in the passage indicates she was hesitant about her work
cautious
✗ Incorrect
- Implies careful, conservative approaches rather than groundbreaking work
- Contradicts the description of work that "revolutionized" understanding