Dr. Elena Rodriguez's groundbreaking research on memory formation was published in an obscure academic journal with limited circulation. ______ her...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Dr. Elena Rodriguez's groundbreaking research on memory formation was published in an obscure academic journal with limited circulation. ______ her findings have gained widespread recognition at major neuroscience conferences, where researchers frequently cite her work. The research has become influential despite its initial publication venue.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Consequently,
Nevertheless,
For example,
Similarly,
I'll solve this step by step, following the systematic approach for transition questions.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Elena Rodriguez's groundbreaking research on memory formation was published in an obscure academic journal with limited circulation." |
|
| "______" |
|
| "her findings have gained widespread recognition at major neuroscience conferences, where researchers frequently cite her work." |
|
| "The research has become influential despite its initial publication venue." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Rodriguez's research gained widespread recognition and influence despite being initially published in an obscure journal with limited circulation.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that important research was published in an unknown venue, then shows how it gained recognition anyway, and concludes by emphasizing this contrast between humble beginnings and eventual influence.
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
- We need a transition that shows the relationship between "published in obscure journal with limited circulation" and "gained widespread recognition at major conferences"
- These two ideas are in tension—we'd normally expect obscure publication to mean limited recognition, but instead the opposite happened
- The relationship we need is contrast—the transition should signal that despite the limited initial publication, something unexpected happened
- We need a word that means "even though the first thing suggested limited reach, the second thing shows broad impact"
Consequently,
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests that widespread recognition resulted from being published in an obscure journal
- Creates the wrong logical relationship—limited circulation wouldn't typically cause widespread recognition
Nevertheless,
✓ Correct
- Creates the perfect contrast between limited initial publication and widespread later recognition
- Shows that despite the first situation (obscure publication), the second situation (widespread recognition) happened anyway
For example,
✗ Incorrect
- Would introduce the conference recognition as an example of obscure publication
- Doesn't make logical sense—conference recognition isn't an example of limited circulation
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the conference recognition is like the obscure publication
- But widespread recognition at major conferences is the opposite of limited circulation in an obscure journal