While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Drought-resistant plants have developed various adaptations to survive in arid...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Drought-resistant plants have developed various adaptations to survive in arid environments.
- Cacti are desert plants that store water in their thick, fleshy stems and have waxy coatings to reduce water loss.
- Succulents can retain moisture for extended periods through specialized tissue structures.
- Desert plants often have small or needle-like leaves to minimize surface area and reduce evaporation.
- Some xerophytic plants, meaning 'dry-loving,' can close their stomata during hot daylight hours.
The student wants to provide an example of a xerophytic plant that stores water. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Cacti, which are xerophytic plants, store water in their thick, fleshy stems and have additional adaptations like waxy coatings.
Desert plants have developed numerous adaptations to survive in arid environments, including water storage capabilities.
Xerophytic plants, meaning 'dry-loving,' can close their stomata during hot daylight hours to conserve moisture.
Succulents and other drought-resistant plants can retain moisture through specialized adaptations to arid conditions.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Drought-resistant plants have developed various adaptations to survive in arid environments.' |
|
| 'Cacti are desert plants that store water in their thick, fleshy stems and have waxy coatings to reduce water loss.' |
|
| 'Succulents can retain moisture for extended periods through specialized tissue structures.' |
|
| 'Desert plants often have small or needle-like leaves to minimize surface area and reduce evaporation.' |
|
| 'Some xerophytic plants, meaning 'dry-loving,' can close their stomata during hot daylight hours.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Plants that live in dry environments have developed various specific adaptations to conserve and store water.
Argument Flow: The notes begin with a general statement about drought adaptations, then provide four specific examples of different adaptive strategies: water storage (cacti), moisture retention (succulents), reduced evaporation through leaf structure (desert plants), and behavioral water conservation (xerophytic plants closing stomata).
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find a choice that gives a specific example of a xerophytic plant AND shows that it stores water.
What type of answer do we need? A concrete example that combines two specific criteria: being xerophytic and having water storage capability.
Any limiting keywords? The student wants to provide an example of a xerophytic plant that stores water.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should name a specific plant, not just talk about plants in general
- The right answer should explicitly identify that plant as xerophytic (or clearly establish the xerophytic connection)
- The right answer should demonstrate that this plant stores water, not just mention other adaptations
Cacti, which are xerophytic plants, store water in their thick, fleshy stems and have additional adaptations like waxy coatings.
✓ Correct
- Explicitly names cacti as xerophytic plants and states they store water in their stems
- Perfectly matches our prethinking by providing the specific example with both required characteristics
- Uses information directly from the notes about cacti's water storage
Desert plants have developed numerous adaptations to survive in arid environments, including water storage capabilities.
✗ Incorrect
- Talks about 'desert plants' in general rather than giving a specific example
- Mentions water storage capabilities but doesn't identify any particular xerophytic plant
Xerophytic plants, meaning 'dry-loving,' can close their stomata during hot daylight hours to conserve moisture.
✗ Incorrect
- Defines xerophytic plants and mentions their stomata behavior
- Focuses on moisture conservation through stomata rather than water storage
- Doesn't provide a specific example
Succulents and other drought-resistant plants can retain moisture through specialized adaptations to arid conditions.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions succulents, which do retain moisture, but doesn't explicitly identify them as xerophytic
- The connection between succulents and xerophytic plants isn't clearly established