The following text is adapted from a World War II memoir describing communication between military units.Captain Morrison had obtained critical...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from a World War II memoir describing communication between military units.
Captain Morrison had obtained critical intelligence through reconnaissance operations and required immediate transmission to headquarters. Morrison assigned the encrypted communication to Sergeant Davis, who rapidly navigated the trench system en route to the command station. Upon arrival, Davis discovered Colonel Reynolds examining tactical maps within his underground shelter, evidently anticipating intelligence from field operations. Although concerned that shelling might compromise the sealed dispatch, Davis successfully transferred the communication. Davis withdrew prior to observing the colonel's reaction. Reynolds, nevertheless, felt immense relief when he decoded the transmission; it provided precisely the strategic intelligence he needed, since in military operations, no asset surpasses the worth of prompt information.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
It shows a military officer's need for strategic information, and then explains how intelligence gathering methods work.
It describes concerns about wartime communication risks, and then reveals the specific contents of a coded message.
It presents the transmission of military intelligence, and then shows a commander's relief upon receiving crucial information.
It establishes the challenges of battlefield communication, and then demonstrates how those challenges were overcome.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Captain Morrison had obtained critical intelligence through reconnaissance operations and required immediate transmission to headquarters.' |
|
| 'Morrison assigned the encrypted communication to Sergeant Davis, who rapidly navigated the trench system en route to the command station.' |
|
| 'Upon arrival, Davis discovered Colonel Reynolds examining tactical maps within his underground shelter, evidently anticipating intelligence from field operations.' |
|
| 'Although concerned that shelling might compromise the sealed dispatch, Davis successfully transferred the communication.' |
|
| 'Davis withdrew prior to observing the colonel's reaction.' |
|
| 'Reynolds, nevertheless, felt immense relief when he decoded the transmission; it provided precisely the strategic intelligence he needed, since in military operations, no asset surpasses the worth of prompt information.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage describes the successful transmission of critical military intelligence and the commander's relief upon receiving the needed strategic information.
Argument Flow: The text first establishes the urgent need to transmit intelligence and follows the delivery process through Davis's mission. It then shifts focus to the receiving end, showing Reynolds's relief and emphasizing the supreme value of timely military intelligence.
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
- Looking at our structure analysis, we can see the passage has two clear movements: First, it presents the entire process of transmitting military intelligence - from Morrison's assignment to Davis's successful delivery
- Then, it shifts to show the outcome from Reynolds's perspective, focusing on his relief and the value of receiving the information
- The right answer should capture this two-part structure: the transmission process first, followed by the commander's positive reaction to receiving the intelligence
- So the right answer should describe both the delivery of military intelligence and the recipient's relief upon getting crucial information
It shows a military officer's need for strategic information, and then explains how intelligence gathering methods work.
- Claims the text explains 'how intelligence gathering methods work' but the passage doesn't explain methods - it follows one specific transmission mission
It describes concerns about wartime communication risks, and then reveals the specific contents of a coded message.
- Says the text 'reveals the specific contents of a coded message' but we never learn what the actual intelligence contained - just that it was valuable
It presents the transmission of military intelligence, and then shows a commander's relief upon receiving crucial information.
- Accurately captures the two-part structure we identified
- 'Presents the transmission of military intelligence' matches our first major section (Morrison to Davis to Reynolds)
- 'Shows a commander's relief upon receiving crucial information' perfectly matches the final section about Reynolds's reaction
- Aligns exactly with our prethinking about the passage's organization
It establishes the challenges of battlefield communication, and then demonstrates how those challenges were overcome.
- Claims the text 'establishes the challenges of battlefield communication' but while shelling is mentioned as a concern, challenges aren't the focus - the successful transmission is