To determine whether declining bee populations in agricultural regions result from farmers' increased ______ neonicotinoid pesticides, environmental s...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
To determine whether declining bee populations in agricultural regions result from farmers' increased ______ neonicotinoid pesticides, environmental scientist Dr. James Chen found that areas with heaviest pesticide use showed the most severe colony collapse.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
regulation of
investment in
research into
reliance on
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "To determine whether declining bee populations in agricultural regions result from farmers' increased" |
|
| [MISSING WORD/PHRASE] |
|
| "neonicotinoid pesticides, environmental scientist Dr. James Chen found that areas with heaviest pesticide use showed the most severe colony collapse." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Chen's research suggests that farmers' increased use of neonicotinoid pesticides is linked to declining bee populations.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a research question about whether bee population decline results from farmers' increased relationship with pesticides, then provides evidence that areas with heaviest pesticide use had the worst colony collapse, supporting this connection.
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 research question asks whether declining bee populations result from farmers doing something more with pesticides
- The evidence shows that areas with the heaviest pesticide use had the most severe problems
- The right word needs to describe farmers' relationship with pesticides that would increase over time
- Connect logically to "heaviest pesticide use" in the findings
- Support the idea that this increased relationship could cause bee population decline
regulation of
✗ Incorrect
- This would mean farmers are controlling or restricting pesticide use
- Contradicts the evidence that "heaviest pesticide use" correlates with colony collapse
investment in
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on financial aspects rather than actual usage
- Doesn't directly connect to "heaviest pesticide use" in the findings
research into
✗ Incorrect
- This would mean farmers are studying pesticides, not using them
- Doesn't logically connect to the evidence about usage levels and colony collapse
reliance on
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the idea of farmers depending heavily on these pesticides
- Directly connects to "heaviest pesticide use" - heavy reliance leads to heavy use
- Creates logical flow from increased dependence to environmental consequences