The following text is from a 2019 research methodology guide. Dr. Martinez had established herself as a respected environmental scientist,...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from a 2019 research methodology guide. Dr. Martinez had established herself as a respected environmental scientist, but as her career progressed, she found herself increasingly dependent on grant funding from large corporations and government agencies. These funding sources, while providing necessary resources for her research, gradually began to influence the questions she investigated and the conclusions she emphasized. The priorities and interests of her financial backers started to determine her research agenda.
As used in the text, what does the word "determine" most nearly mean?
Dictate
Conclude
Evaluate
Identify
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Martinez had established herself as a respected environmental scientist" |
|
| "but as her career progressed, she found herself increasingly dependent on grant funding from large corporations and government agencies" |
|
| "These funding sources, while providing necessary resources for her research, gradually began to influence the questions she investigated and the conclusions she emphasized." |
|
| "The priorities and interests of her financial backers started to determine her research agenda." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Martinez's dependence on corporate and government funding gradually compromised her research independence, with funders ultimately controlling her research direction.
Argument Flow: The passage traces Dr. Martinez's career evolution from respected independence to problematic dependency. It shows how financial necessity led to subtle influence, which eventually became outright control over her research priorities.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? This is a Words in Context question asking us to choose the best synonym for "determine" as it's used in the passage.
What type of answer do we need? The answer must capture the precise meaning of "determine" in this specific context about funding influence.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our passage analysis, we see that "determine" appears in the final consequence: "The priorities and interests of her financial backers started to determine her research agenda."
- This comes after we've learned that the funding sources "gradually began to influence" her work.
- The word "determine" here shows the progression from influence to something stronger - the funders aren't just influencing anymore, they're controlling what she researches.
- The context suggests that "determine" means the funders are setting or controlling her research agenda based on their own priorities and interests.
- This isn't about concluding something or evaluating something - it's about having the power to decide or control what happens.
- So the right answer should mean "control" or "set" or "dictate."
Dictate
- "Dictate" means to control or command what happens.
- This perfectly matches how the funders' priorities are controlling Dr. Martinez's research agenda.
- The progression from "influence" earlier to "determine" here shows increasing control, which "dictate" captures perfectly.
Conclude
- "Conclude" means to reach a decision or judgment after consideration.
- The funders aren't concluding anything about her research agenda - they're controlling it.
- This misses the power dynamic that "determine" establishes in this context.
Evaluate
- "Evaluate" means to assess or judge the value of something.
- The passage shows funders controlling the agenda, not assessing it.
- Students might choose this because "determine" can sometimes mean "figure out," but context shows control, not analysis.
Identify
- "Identify" means to recognize or point out something.
- The funders aren't identifying her research agenda - they're setting it based on their interests.
- This completely misses the control aspect that's central to the passage's concern.