Educational researchers Dr. Maria Fernandez and David Kim examined academic patterns among university students throughout California. Fernandez and Ki...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Educational researchers Dr. Maria Fernandez and David Kim examined academic patterns among university students throughout California. Fernandez and Kim conducted surveys with undergraduate students regarding their educational experiences, learning motivations, and preferred study settings. These researchers assert that academically successful students who prioritize scholastic achievement typically select study environments that reduce potential interruptions.
Which survey response from a university student in California would best support the researchers' assertion?
I'm in my final year maintaining a 3.8 grade point average and I'm pursuing admission to graduate school. While I could work in my residence hall or at the campus café, I consistently choose the silent section of the library since there are minimal disruptions in that area.
I'm in my first year and still learning how to manage my responsibilities. I prefer working with background music in my residence.
My grades are satisfactory, but I prioritize my social connections and campus involvement over strict academic performance.
I maintain solid academic performance, but I've recently struggled with focus due to family matters, so my study time has decreased.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Educational researchers Dr. Maria Fernandez and David Kim examined academic patterns among university students throughout California.' |
|
| 'Fernandez and Kim conducted surveys with undergraduate students regarding their educational experiences, learning motivations, and preferred study settings.' |
|
| 'These researchers assert that academically successful students who prioritize scholastic achievement typically select study environments that reduce potential interruptions.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: RESEARCH CONTEXT (Researchers F & K study CA students) leads to METHODOLOGY (Surveys on experiences, motivations, study settings) leads to CENTRAL ASSERTION (Successful + achievement-focused students choose low-interruption environments)
Main Point: Researchers Fernandez and Kim assert that academically successful students who prioritize achievement choose study environments with fewer interruptions.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the research context by introducing the researchers and their focus on California university students. It then describes their survey methodology before presenting their key finding about the relationship between academic success, achievement priorities, and study environment choices.
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 correct response needs to show a student who demonstrates
- Clear academic success (high grades, strong performance indicators)
- Prioritizes scholastic achievement over other concerns
- Actively chooses study environments specifically to reduce interruptions
- The student should explicitly mention selecting quieter or less disruptive locations over more social or distracting alternatives
I'm in my final year maintaining a 3.8 grade point average and I'm pursuing admission to graduate school. While I could work in my residence hall or at the campus café, I consistently choose the silent section of the library since there are minimal disruptions in that area.
✓ Correct
- Shows clear academic success (3.8 GPA, final year, pursuing grad school)
- Demonstrates achievement priorities (maintaining high grades, graduate school goals)
- Explicitly chooses low-interruption environment (silent library section over residence hall or café specifically because there are minimal disruptions)
- Perfectly matches all three elements from our prethinking
I'm in my first year and still learning how to manage my responsibilities. I prefer working with background music in my residence.
✗ Incorrect
- First-year student still learning suggests developing rather than established success
- Working with background music contradicts reducing interruptions
- No evidence of prioritizing achievement over other concerns
My grades are satisfactory, but I prioritize my social connections and campus involvement over strict academic performance.
✗ Incorrect
- Satisfactory grades suggest adequate but not exceptional performance
- Explicitly states prioritizing social connections and campus involvement over strict academic performance
- Directly contradicts the assertion about prioritizing scholastic achievement
I maintain solid academic performance, but I've recently struggled with focus due to family matters, so my study time has decreased.
✗ Incorrect
- Struggled with focus and decreased study time suggest declining rather than successful performance
- Family matters causing problems contradicts the assertion about successful students
- No mention of choosing low-interruption environments