Educational pioneer Maria Montessori _____ the inflexible framework of conventional classroom teaching: this resistance was demonstrated through her g...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Educational pioneer Maria Montessori _____ the inflexible framework of conventional classroom teaching: this resistance was demonstrated through her groundbreaking educational institutions, where students could transition freely among learning experiences and acquired knowledge through tactile discovery instead of mechanical repetition.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
forecasts
confronts
supports
disregards
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Educational pioneer Maria Montessori" |
|
| "[MISSING WORD]" |
|
| "the inflexible framework of conventional classroom teaching:" |
|
| "this resistance was demonstrated through her groundbreaking educational institutions," |
|
| "where students could transition freely among learning experiences and acquired knowledge through tactile discovery instead of mechanical repetition." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Maria Montessori opposed traditional rigid classroom teaching methods by creating innovative educational institutions that emphasized flexibility and hands-on learning.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces Montessori as an educational pioneer who took some action against conventional teaching methods. It then explains that this action was specifically "resistance," demonstrated through her schools that operated completely differently from traditional classrooms.
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
- From our analysis, we see that the text after the colon explicitly calls Montessori's relationship with conventional teaching "resistance."
- The evidence shows her schools operated in direct opposition to traditional methods.
- The missing word needs to capture this oppositional relationship and should indicate that Montessori actively opposed or challenged the conventional framework.
forecasts
- Means to predict or anticipate future events
- This doesn't create any logical relationship with "resistance" and makes no sense in context
confronts
- Means to face in opposition or challenge directly
- This perfectly matches the "resistance" described after the colon and creates logical flow
supports
- Means to back up or assist
- This contradicts the "resistance" mentioned right after the colon and would create an illogical contradiction
disregards
- Means to pay no attention to or ignore
- While this suggests some distance from conventional teaching, it's too passive for the active "resistance" described