Because rainfall patterns have become increasingly erratic and difficult to predict, traditional rain-fed agriculture isn't ______: farmers can no lon...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Because rainfall patterns have become increasingly erratic and difficult to predict, traditional rain-fed agriculture isn't ______: farmers can no longer count on seasonal precipitation to water their crops reliably.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
dependable
affordable
sustainable
intensive
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Because rainfall patterns have become increasingly erratic and difficult to predict," |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| "traditional rain-fed agriculture isn't ______:" |
|
| "farmers can no longer count on seasonal precipitation to water their crops reliably." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Because rainfall has become unpredictable, traditional rain-fed agriculture is no longer reliable for farmers.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a cause-effect relationship where unpredictable rainfall patterns make traditional rain-fed agriculture problematic, then explains this by noting that farmers can no longer depend on seasonal precipitation.
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 must describe what rain-fed agriculture is NOT due to unpredictable rainfall
- The explanation tells us farmers "can no longer count on" seasonal precipitation "reliably"
- The blank should connect logically to the idea that farmers cannot rely on or depend on the rainfall
- So the right answer should describe rain-fed agriculture as not being reliable, trustworthy, or dependable.
dependable
✓ Correct
- "Dependable" means reliable and trustworthy
- Fits perfectly with the explanation that farmers "can no longer count on" rainfall "reliably"
- Creates clear logical flow: unpredictable rainfall → agriculture isn't dependable → farmers can't rely on it
affordable
✗ Incorrect
- "Affordable" relates to cost, not reliability
- The passage discusses prediction and reliability issues, not economic factors
- What trap this represents: Students might think unpredictable weather makes farming more expensive, but the passage focuses on reliability, not cost
sustainable
✗ Incorrect
- While "sustainable" could seem relevant to agriculture, the passage isn't about long-term environmental viability
- The focus is on immediate reliability problems, not long-term sustainability
- What trap this represents: Students might connect agriculture and sustainability as common topics, but miss that the passage is specifically about reliability issues
intensive
✗ Incorrect
- "Intensive" means requiring a lot of effort or resources
- Doesn't connect to the reliability theme established by "can no longer count on" and "reliably"
- The passage isn't discussing the effort level required for farming