Drought-resistant crops were developed specifically to thrive in arid conditions with minimal water. Many farmers in wet climates assumed these...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Drought-resistant crops were developed specifically to thrive in arid conditions with minimal water. Many farmers in wet climates assumed these varieties would be unnecessary for their regions. _____ these drought-resistant crops have proven valuable even in areas with adequate rainfall because they also show improved resistance to other environmental stresses.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For instance,
As expected,
However,
Therefore,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Drought-resistant crops were developed specifically to thrive in arid conditions with minimal water." |
|
| "Many farmers in wet climates assumed these varieties would be unnecessary for their regions." |
|
| "these drought-resistant crops have proven valuable even in areas with adequate rainfall because they also show improved resistance to other environmental stresses." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Drought-resistant crops have proven useful beyond their intended purpose, even benefiting farmers in wet climates.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces drought-resistant crops and their intended purpose, then presents farmers' assumptions about their limited usefulness, but reveals that these crops actually provide broader benefits than expected.
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 farmers assumed the crops would be unnecessary in wet climates, but then we learn they actually are valuable in wet climates
- This creates a contrast between expectation and reality
- The transition needs to signal this contradiction
- The right answer should indicate that what follows contradicts or goes against what came before—specifically that the reality differs from the farmers' assumptions
- So the right answer should signal a contrast or contradiction
For instance,
- This transition introduces examples that support a previous point
- Here we need contrast, not support—the crops being valuable contradicts the farmers' assumptions
As expected,
- This suggests the information confirms what was predicted
- But the crops being valuable in wet climates goes against what farmers expected
However,
- This signals contrast, which matches our analysis perfectly
- It shows that reality differs from the farmers' assumptions
- Creates the logical flow: farmers thought unnecessary BUT actually they're valuable
Therefore,
- This signals a conclusion or result following from previous information
- But the crops being valuable doesn't follow from farmers thinking they're unnecessary—it contradicts it