Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist, is described by colleagues as someone who derives confidence from rigorous data collection and...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist, is described by colleagues as someone who derives confidence from rigorous data collection and pattern analysis: ______
Which quotation from interviews with Dr. Chen most effectively illustrates this claim?
I spend most of my time in the field collecting samples and recording oceanographic data, which requires extremely precise measurement protocols and careful attention to environmental variables.
When I analyze months of data and suddenly recognize the underlying pattern—seeing how all these seemingly random measurements connect into a coherent system—I feel completely secure in my scientific approach. That moment of clarity, when the data reveals its logic, gives me tremendous confidence in my methodology.
I've always been passionate about marine ecosystems. There's something magical about diving into these underwater worlds and witnessing the incredible diversity of life that most people never get to see.
Our research team spent three weeks aboard the vessel, collecting water samples at various depths and documenting species populations across different oceanic zones for our long-term climate study.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Content Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist, is described by colleagues as someone who derives confidence from rigorous data collection and pattern analysis:" |
|
Content Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Colleagues describe Dr. Chen as gaining confidence through systematic data work and recognizing patterns in that data.
Argument Flow: We have a specific claim about Dr. Chen's professional confidence that needs to be supported with evidence from her own words.
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 correct quote should show Dr. Chen talking about her confidence in a way that directly connects to working with data and finding patterns
- We need to hear her expressing confidence or security that comes specifically from analyzing data and recognizing how pieces fit together
I spend most of my time in the field collecting samples and recording oceanographic data, which requires extremely precise measurement protocols and careful attention to environmental variables.
- Describes her field work and data collection methods
- Focuses on precision and care but doesn't mention confidence at all
- Missing the key connection between data work and her confidence level
When I analyze months of data and suddenly recognize the underlying pattern—seeing how all these seemingly random measurements connect into a coherent system—I feel completely secure in my scientific approach. That moment of clarity, when the data reveals its logic, gives me tremendous confidence in my methodology.
- Directly shows Dr. Chen describing how analyzing data makes her feel "completely secure" and gives her "tremendous confidence"
- Specifically mentions recognizing patterns
- Perfect match for colleagues' description
I've always been passionate about marine ecosystems. There's something magical about diving into these underwater worlds and witnessing the incredible diversity of life that most people never get to see.
- Focuses on her passion for marine ecosystems and diving experiences
- About emotional connection to the work, not confidence from data analysis
Our research team spent three weeks aboard the vessel, collecting water samples at various depths and documenting species populations across different oceanic zones for our long-term climate study.
- Describes data collection activities but doesn't connect it to confidence
- Shows the work but not the confidence it produces