Environmental policy analyst Maria Santos's recent research challenges a fundamental assumption in energy transition discussions. While renewable ener...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Environmental policy analyst Maria Santos's recent research challenges a fundamental assumption in energy transition discussions. While renewable energy advocates often frame the shift to solar and wind power as an inevitable replacement of fossil fuel infrastructure, Santos's analysis of historical energy patterns suggests a different trajectory. Her examination of 20th century energy development reveals that natural gas expanded alongside coal rather than eliminating it, demonstrating what she terms 'complementary integration patterns.' This historical precedent, Santos argues, contradicts the replacement narrative that dominates current renewable energy discourse. Additionally, the advocates' characterization of clean energy as a recent innovation overlooks hydroelectric power's century-long recognition as environmentally friendly technology. Santos's conclusions point toward renewable sources integrating within existing energy networks rather than completely displacing them.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
It provides historical context about the development of natural gas and coal technologies.
It contradicts the assumptions of renewable energy advocates mentioned earlier in the text.
It suggests that policy analysts are better positioned than advocates to understand energy market dynamics.
It offers a detailed timeline of how hydroelectric power became accepted as clean energy.
Looking at this Text Structure and Purpose question, I'll work through it systematically.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Environmental policy analyst Maria Santos's recent research challenges a fundamental assumption in energy transition discussions.' |
|
| 'While renewable energy advocates often frame the shift to solar and wind power as an inevitable replacement of fossil fuel infrastructure, Santos's analysis of historical energy patterns suggests a different trajectory.' |
|
| 'Her examination of 20th century energy development reveals that natural gas expanded alongside coal rather than eliminating it, demonstrating what she terms 'complementary integration patterns.'' |
|
| 'This historical precedent, Santos argues, contradicts the replacement narrative that dominates current renewable energy discourse.' |
|
| 'Additionally, the advocates' characterization of clean energy as a recent innovation overlooks hydroelectric power's century-long recognition as environmentally friendly technology.' |
|
| 'Santos's conclusions point toward renewable sources integrating within existing energy networks rather than completely displacing them.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Maria Santos's research challenges the common assumption that renewable energy will replace fossil fuels, arguing instead that energy sources typically integrate rather than completely displace existing ones.
Argument Flow: The passage opens with Santos challenging a fundamental assumption about energy transition. It then contrasts the advocates' replacement narrative with Santos's historical analysis showing that energy sources have historically coexisted rather than replaced each other.
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 underlined portion provides concrete historical evidence that directly supports Santos's challenge to the advocates' assumptions
- The advocates claim renewable energy will inevitably replace fossil fuels, but Santos shows that historically, natural gas expanded alongside coal rather than eliminating it
- The right answer should explain how this historical evidence contradicts the advocates' replacement narrative
It provides historical context about the development of natural gas and coal technologies.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice focuses on providing historical context about technologies themselves
- But the underlined portion isn't just giving background - it's specifically chosen to contradict the replacement assumption
It contradicts the assumptions of renewable energy advocates mentioned earlier in the text.
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures what the historical evidence does - it directly contradicts the advocates' replacement narrative
- The passage explicitly states this connection
It suggests that policy analysts are better positioned than advocates to understand energy market dynamics.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't make a general comparison between policy analysts and advocates
- Santos happens to be a policy analyst, but the focus is on her specific research findings
It offers a detailed timeline of how hydroelectric power became accepted as clean energy.
✗ Incorrect
- The underlined portion is about natural gas and coal, not hydroelectric power
- This completely misidentifies what the underlined portion discusses