During a 2021 launch, Rocket Labs' Electron rocket experienced an unexpected failure: its second-stage booster shut down suddenly after ignition....
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
During a 2021 launch, Rocket Labs' Electron rocket experienced an unexpected failure: its second-stage booster shut down suddenly after ignition. ________ instead of downplaying the incident, Rocket Labs' CEO publicly acknowledged what happened and apologized for the loss of the rocket's payload, which had consisted of two satellites.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Afterward,
Additionally,
Indeed,
Similarly,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'During a 2021 launch, Rocket Labs' Electron rocket experienced an unexpected failure: its second-stage booster shut down suddenly after ignition.' |
|
| '[MISSING TRANSITION]' |
|
| 'instead of downplaying the incident, Rocket Labs' CEO publicly acknowledged what happened and apologized for the loss of the rocket's payload, which had consisted of two satellites.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Rocket Labs responded to their rocket failure with transparency and accountability rather than trying to hide or minimize the incident.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a failure incident, then shows how the company responded in a way that contrasts with what we might typically expect from companies facing public failures.
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
- We need a word that shows the sequence of events - first the failure happened, then the CEO's response came
- The transition should indicate a temporal relationship, moving from the failure event to what the company did next
Afterward,
✓ Correct
- 'Afterward' creates a clear temporal sequence from the failure to the CEO's response
- Shows that the CEO's acknowledgment and apology came following the incident
- This matches our prethinking perfectly
Additionally,
✗ Incorrect
- 'Additionally' suggests we're adding more information about the same topic
- Doesn't establish the time sequence we need
Indeed,
✗ Incorrect
- 'Indeed' emphasizes or confirms something previously stated
- The CEO's response isn't confirming the failure - it's what happened next
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- 'Similarly' indicates that two things are alike or comparable
- The CEO's response isn't similar to the failure itself - it's what came after it