The following text is from marine biologist Dr. Sarah Chen's 2019 field journal during her research expedition in the Arctic.Day...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from marine biologist Dr. Sarah Chen's 2019 field journal during her research expedition in the Arctic.
Day 47: The ice formations here display remarkable complexity, with crystalline structures that shift daily according to temperature fluctuations and wind patterns. Our instruments record precise measurements of salinity, depth, and current velocity. The data confirms our hypotheses about climate impact on polar ecosystems.
Yet beneath this scientific detachment, I find myself thinking of grandmother's stories about fishing these same waters decades ago, when the ice held firm through summer months.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It reveals the researcher's personal connection to the study area that underlies her scientific observations.
It demonstrates the researcher's uncertainty about whether her data collection methods are sufficiently rigorous.
It establishes that the researcher's family history creates bias that conflicts with objective scientific analysis.
It indicates that the researcher's current findings contradict established scientific understanding of the region.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Day 47: The ice formations here display remarkable complexity, with crystalline structures that shift daily according to temperature fluctuations and wind patterns." |
|
| "Our instruments record precise measurements of salinity, depth, and current velocity." |
|
| "The data confirms our hypotheses about climate impact on polar ecosystems." |
|
| "Yet beneath this scientific detachment, I find myself thinking of grandmother's stories about fishing these same waters decades ago, when the ice held firm through summer months." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A scientist conducting objective research in the Arctic finds herself connecting personally to the study area through her grandmother's stories about how different the region was in the past.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from purely scientific documentation of current conditions and research findings to a more personal reflection that reveals the researcher's family connection to the study area and historical context about environmental change.
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 underlined sentence shifts from the scientific, objective tone that dominates the passage to something much more personal
- The key elements the correct answer should capture are:
- The sentence reveals a personal/family connection to the research area
- It contrasts with the scientific detachment mentioned in the first part of the passage
- It shows how the researcher relates to this place beyond just scientific study
It reveals the researcher's personal connection to the study area that underlies her scientific observations.
✓ Correct
- Accurately captures that the sentence reveals a personal connection through grandmother's stories
- Correctly identifies that this connection underlies her scientific observations
- Matches our analysis that the sentence shifts from scientific detachment to personal reflection
It demonstrates the researcher's uncertainty about whether her data collection methods are sufficiently rigorous.
✗ Incorrect
- Misinterprets the sentence as being about research methods and rigor
- The grandmother's stories have nothing to do with data collection techniques
It establishes that the researcher's family history creates bias that conflicts with objective scientific analysis.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the family history creates bias that conflicts with scientific analysis
- The sentence doesn't suggest conflict or bias - it presents personal connection alongside scientific work
It indicates that the researcher's current findings contradict established scientific understanding of the region.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the researcher's findings contradict established scientific understanding
- No contradiction is mentioned - the data confirms their hypotheses