Business researcher Melanie Brucks and colleagues found that remote video conference meetings may be less conducive to brainstorming than in-person...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Business researcher Melanie Brucks and colleagues found that remote video conference meetings may be less conducive to brainstorming than in-person meetings are. The researchers suspect that video meeting participants are focused on staring at the speaker on the screen and don't allow their eyes or mind to wander as much, which may ultimately _______ creativity.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
recommend
criticize
impede
construct
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Business researcher Melanie Brucks and colleagues found that remote video conference meetings may be less conducive to brainstorming than in-person meetings are." |
|
| "The researchers suspect that video meeting participants are focused on staring at the speaker on the screen and don't allow their eyes or mind to wander as much," |
|
| "which may ultimately _____ creativity." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Research suggests video meetings may hurt brainstorming because participants focus too much on the screen rather than letting their minds wander freely.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a research finding, offers the researchers' explanation for why this might occur, and concludes with the predicted negative impact on creativity.
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 logical flow shows us that focused screen-staring and reduced mind-wandering would have a negative effect on creativity
- The research suggests video meetings are worse for brainstorming, and the explanation points to restricted mental freedom
- So the missing word should indicate that this behavior harms or limits creativity
recommend
- "Recommend" means to suggest or endorse something
- This doesn't make logical sense - the behavior described wouldn't suggest or promote creativity
criticize
- "Criticize" means to find fault with or express disapproval
- This doesn't fit the logical relationship - the behavior isn't critiquing creativity
impede
- "Impede" means to hinder, obstruct, or slow down progress
- Perfectly fits the logic: focused screen-staring and reduced mind-wandering would hinder or obstruct creativity
construct
- "Construct" means to build or create something
- This is the opposite of what the passage suggests - the behavior wouldn't build creativity