Catherine L. Cardelús is a researcher who studies canopy soil. Canopy soil is formed in a tree's branches (its canopy)...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Catherine L. Cardelús is a researcher who studies canopy soil. Canopy soil is formed in a tree's branches (its canopy) when dead leaves and other falling things collect. This material breaks down, becoming canopy soil. Canopy soil helps preserve a healthy water cycle (how water moves through the environment) in rainforests. This benefit is one reason Cardelús is interested in the canopy soils in large choibá trees in rainforests in Costa Rica.
Which choice best describes the text's overall structure?
It explains a disagreement between researchers and how it was resolved.
It presents an idea and mentions a researcher who disagrees with that idea.
It compares the sizes of two types of trees over several years.
It introduces a researcher and gives information about what she researches.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Catherine L. Cardelús is a researcher who studies canopy soil.' |
|
| 'Canopy soil is formed in a tree's branches (its canopy) when dead leaves and other falling things collect.' |
|
| 'This material breaks down, becoming canopy soil.' |
|
| 'Canopy soil helps preserve a healthy water cycle (how water moves through the environment) in rainforests.' |
|
| 'This benefit is one reason Cardelús is interested in the canopy soils in large choibá trees in rainforests in Costa Rica.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage introduces researcher Catherine L. Cardelús and explains what she studies (canopy soil), including why it's important and how it relates to her specific research focus.
Argument Flow: The passage follows a clear informational structure: it introduces a researcher, defines and explains her research subject, establishes why that subject is significant, and then connects that significance back to her specific research focus in Costa Rica.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The overall structure of the text - how the information is organized and presented
What type of answer do we need? A description of how the passage is structured - what pattern or framework the author uses to present information
Any limiting keywords? 'Overall' tells us we need to look at the big picture structure, not just one part
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage has a very straightforward structure
- It starts by introducing a researcher and what she studies, then explains what that research subject is and why it's important, and finally connects that importance back to her specific work
- So the right answer should recognize this pattern of introducing someone and then providing information about their research focus
It explains a disagreement between researchers and how it was resolved.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims there's a disagreement between researchers and its resolution
- No disagreement is mentioned anywhere in the passage
- The passage is purely informational about one researcher's work
It presents an idea and mentions a researcher who disagrees with that idea.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims an idea is presented along with a researcher who disagrees
- Again, no disagreement or conflicting viewpoints are mentioned
- The passage presents information harmoniously without conflict
It compares the sizes of two types of trees over several years.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text compares sizes of two tree types over time
- No comparison of tree sizes is made
- No time progression or multiple years are discussed
It introduces a researcher and gives information about what she researches.
✓ Correct
- Accurately describes the passage as introducing a researcher (Cardelús) and giving information about her research
- Matches our structure map perfectly: researcher introduction followed by research details
- Captures the overall organization we identified in our prethinking