Dr. Sarah Chen's three-year coral reef documentation stands out among marine research projects for its unusual comprehensiveness. While most field...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Dr. Sarah Chen's three-year coral reef documentation stands out among marine research projects for its unusual comprehensiveness. While most field studies focus solely on species counts and water conditions, Chen expanded her approach to include personal fieldwork observations, methodological notes, and detailed equipment records. Her documentation also captured the evolution of her research techniques over time. Marine ecology experts recognize that Chen's work serves a dual purpose: providing essential scientific data while also preserving a detailed account of contemporary research practices across multiple reef systems.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Chen's research provides comprehensive scientific data and a detailed record of modern marine research methods.
Marine biologists rely on detailed field documentation to understand changes in coral reef ecosystems over time.
Comprehensive field research projects are essential for advancing marine biology in contemporary science.
Chen's innovative approaches inspired other marine biologists to document both data and personal research experiences.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Dr. Sarah Chen's three-year coral reef documentation stands out among marine research projects for its unusual comprehensiveness. |
|
| While most field studies focus solely on species counts and water conditions, Chen expanded her approach to include personal fieldwork observations, methodological notes, and detailed equipment records. |
|
| Her documentation also captured the evolution of her research techniques over time. |
|
| Marine ecology experts recognize that Chen's work serves a dual purpose: providing essential scientific data while also preserving a detailed account of contemporary research practices across multiple reef systems. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Sarah Chen's coral reef documentation project stands out for its comprehensive approach that serves both scientific data collection and research methodology preservation.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Chen's study as unusually comprehensive, then contrasts it with typical research to show how she expanded beyond standard practices. It adds that she also tracked methodological evolution over time, and concludes with expert recognition of the dual value her work provides.
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 right answer should: mention Chen and her coral reef documentation as the central subject
- Capture the comprehensive/unusual nature of her approach
- Reflect the dual purpose identified by experts: scientific data AND research methodology documentation
- Focus on what Chen's work accomplished, not on general principles about marine biology
Chen's research provides comprehensive scientific data and a detailed record of modern marine research methods.
✓ Correct
- This directly matches our prethinking by identifying Chen's research as providing both comprehensive scientific data and a detailed record of modern marine research methods
- It captures the dual purpose that marine ecology experts recognized
Marine biologists rely on detailed field documentation to understand changes in coral reef ecosystems over time.
✗ Incorrect
- This makes a general statement about what marine biologists do rather than focusing on Chen's specific work
- It doesn't capture the comprehensive nature or dual purpose of Chen's particular study
Comprehensive field research projects are essential for advancing marine biology in contemporary science.
✗ Incorrect
- This makes a broad claim about what's essential for advancing marine biology rather than describing what Chen's work actually accomplished
- It's too general and doesn't capture the specific dual purpose of Chen's documentation
Chen's innovative approaches inspired other marine biologists to document both data and personal research experiences.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage never mentions that Chen's work inspired other marine biologists
- This introduces information not present in the text