Conservationists worldwide are working to protect ecosystems from habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, and in many cases, initiatives that rely...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Conservationists worldwide are working to protect ecosystems from habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, and in many cases, initiatives that rely on natural features or processes can help address such challenges. In response to a rapidly dwindling population of blueback salmon, the Quinault Indian Nation (a tribe in Washington State) partnered with the conservation organization Wild Salmon Center to restore naturally occurring logjams in the Quinault River. The logjams create shady pools where the blueback salmon can rest and spawn, thus promoting blueback population recovery.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
A partnership between the Quinault Indian Nation and Wild Salmon Center shows the importance of collaborative approaches to preserving biodiversity.
Nature-based approaches can be effective ways to achieve conservation goals.
As indicated by a recent project, logjams help the blueback salmon thrive and reproduce.
Scientists now realize that nature-based conservation methods offer better long-term solutions to environmental issues than methods that are not nature-based do.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Conservationists worldwide are working to protect ecosystems from habitat destruction and biodiversity loss," |
|
| "and in many cases, initiatives that rely on natural features or processes can help address such challenges." |
|
| "In response to a rapidly dwindling population of blueback salmon, the Quinault Indian Nation (a tribe in Washington State) partnered with the conservation organization Wild Salmon Center to restore naturally occurring logjams in the Quinault River." |
|
| "The logjams create shady pools where the blueback salmon can rest and spawn, thus promoting blueback population recovery." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Nature-based conservation approaches can effectively address ecosystem protection challenges.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the global conservation challenge, presents nature-based solutions as effective, then illustrates this with a specific salmon restoration project that uses natural logjams to create habitat for recovery.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? The central message that encompasses the whole passage
Any limiting keywords? "main idea" - we need the overarching point, not a detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should capture the central theme about conservation approaches
- Reflect that the passage advocates for nature-based methods
- Be broad enough to encompass both the general claim and the specific example
- Emphasize that nature-based conservation methods are effective solutions
A partnership between the Quinault Indian Nation and Wild Salmon Center shows the importance of collaborative approaches to preserving biodiversity.
- Focuses specifically on collaboration/partnership
- While the passage mentions a partnership, that's just one detail in the example, not the main idea
Nature-based approaches can be effective ways to achieve conservation goals.
- Directly matches the passage's main claim that "initiatives that rely on natural features or processes can help address such challenges"
- The salmon example serves as evidence for this broader point
As indicated by a recent project, logjams help the blueback salmon thrive and reproduce.
- Focuses too narrowly on logjams and salmon specifically
- This is just the example, not the main idea of the entire passage
Scientists now realize that nature-based conservation methods offer better long-term solutions to environmental issues than methods that are not nature-based do.
- Makes claims about what "scientists now realize" that aren't supported by the passage
- Introduces comparisons not present in the text