Dr. Chen's research team noticed that their experimental plants were growing unusually tall. The laboratory had been experiencing power fluctuations...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Dr. Chen's research team noticed that their experimental plants were growing unusually tall. The laboratory had been experiencing power fluctuations that caused temperature spikes during the night. ______ the elevated temperatures were accelerating the plants' metabolic processes and growth rates.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For example,
Similarly,
As a result,
Next,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Chen's research team noticed that their experimental plants were growing unusually tall." |
|
| "The laboratory had been experiencing power fluctuations that caused temperature spikes during the night." |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "the elevated temperatures were accelerating the plants' metabolic processes and growth rates." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Temperature spikes in the laboratory were causing the research plants to grow unusually tall by accelerating their metabolic processes.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from observation (unusual plant growth) to context (temperature problems in the lab) to explanation (how temperature affects plant metabolism and growth). The missing transition needs to connect the lab conditions to their effect on the plants.
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 transition must connect the temperature spikes (before the blank) to their effect on plant growth (after the blank)
- We need a cause-and-effect relationship - the temperature problems led to the metabolic changes
- The word should signal that what follows is a consequence or result of what came before
For example,
- "For example" introduces an illustration or specific instance of something general
- The sentence after the blank isn't providing an example - it's explaining the cause of the plant growth
Similarly,
- "Similarly" indicates comparison or likeness to something mentioned before
- There's no comparison being made here - we're explaining causation, not similarity
As a result,
- "As a result" clearly indicates cause and effect
- This perfectly connects the temperature spikes (cause) to the accelerated plant processes (effect)
Next,
- "Next" indicates chronological sequence or the following step in a process
- The sentence isn't describing what happened next in time - it's explaining why the plants grew tall