The following text is adapted from a 2019 academic journal article about field research methodology. Dr. Sarah Chen's extensive work...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from a 2019 academic journal article about field research methodology. Dr. Sarah Chen's extensive work in remote archaeological sites led her colleagues to believe she had contracted an almost intuitive ability to locate significant artifacts where others found nothing.
As used in the text, what does the word "contracted" most nearly mean?
Acquired
Negotiated
Summarized
Prevented
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The following text is adapted from a 2019 academic journal article about field research methodology." |
|
| "Dr. Sarah Chen's extensive work in remote archaeological sites" |
|
| "led her colleagues to believe" |
|
| "she had contracted an almost intuitive ability to locate significant artifacts where others found nothing." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Sarah Chen's extensive archaeological fieldwork led her colleagues to believe she had developed an almost supernatural ability to find artifacts.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Chen as an experienced archaeologist, then explains how her colleagues interpreted her success - they believed her extensive work had resulted in her developing an almost intuitive skill for locating artifacts that others couldn't find.
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
- Looking at our analysis, we see that Dr. Chen's "extensive work" led to her developing this ability
- The sentence structure suggests that through her experience, she gained or developed this skill
- The word "contracted" here describes how she came to possess this ability - not through negotiation or prevention, but through acquiring it over time through her work
- The right answer should describe the process of gaining or developing something through experience or practice
Acquired
✓ Correct
- "Acquired" means to gain or develop something, which perfectly fits the context
- Chen's extensive work led her to gain/develop this intuitive ability
- Matches our prethinking about developing skills through experience
Negotiated
✗ Incorrect
- "Negotiated" means to discuss terms or make a deal
- Makes no sense in context - Chen didn't make a deal to get archaeological abilities
Summarized
✗ Incorrect
- "Summarized" means to give a brief account or overview
- Doesn't fit the context at all - Chen didn't summarize an ability
Prevented
✗ Incorrect
- "Prevented" means to stop something from happening
- Makes no logical sense - she didn't prevent an ability
- Completely contradicts the positive context about her developing skills