Dr. Sarah Chen's research team had been struggling to synthesize a particular protein compound for months without success. They had...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Dr. Sarah Chen's research team had been struggling to synthesize a particular protein compound for months without success. They had exhausted conventional approaches and were considering abandoning the project altogether. _____ a breakthrough came when Chen discovered that lowering the reaction temperature by just two degrees produced the desired results.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Meanwhile,
Nevertheless,
Fortunately,
Additionally,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Sarah Chen's research team had been struggling to synthesize a particular protein compound for months without success." |
|
| "They had exhausted conventional approaches and were considering abandoning the project altogether." |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "a breakthrough came when Chen discovered that lowering the reaction temperature by just two degrees produced the desired results." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A research team's months of failure were suddenly resolved by a simple two-degree temperature adjustment.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a pattern of escalating research difficulties—first general struggle, then exhausted options, then near-abandonment—before revealing an unexpected simple solution.
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 have a stark contrast happening here
- Before the blank: months of struggle, exhausted methods, near-abandonment
- After the blank: breakthrough and success
- The transition needs to capture this dramatic shift from negative to positive
- Specifically, we need a word that acknowledges the fortunate nature of this timing—just when things looked hopeless, success arrived
- The relationship type needed is one that shows positive contrast or fortunate timing, not just simple contrast or continuation
- So the right answer should signal that this breakthrough was a fortunate turn of events given the dire circumstances
Meanwhile,
- "Meanwhile" suggests simultaneous action or parallel events
- Doesn't capture the shift from struggle to success—treats them as happening at the same time rather than the breakthrough resolving the struggle
Nevertheless,
- "Nevertheless" means "despite what was just said"
- While it shows contrast, it suggests the breakthrough happened despite the difficulties rather than fortunately resolving them
- This represents a trap where students might choose this because they recognize a contrast is needed, but "nevertheless" implies persistence through obstacles rather than fortunate resolution
Fortunately,
- "Fortunately" captures both the timing and positive nature of the breakthrough
- Perfectly matches our prethinking—shows this was a lucky turn of events just when the team was ready to quit
- Creates the right emotional shift from despair to relief
Additionally,
- "Additionally" suggests adding more information of the same type
- Completely wrong relationship—the breakthrough isn't additional struggle, it's the solution to the struggle