Environmental scientist Dr. Maya Chen studies wetland restoration in collaboration with state agencies. In her recent research, she found that...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Environmental scientist Dr. Maya Chen studies wetland restoration in collaboration with state agencies. In her recent research, she found that establishing constructed wetlands in urban areas would _______ water quality improvement efforts, since municipal governments often allocate additional funding specifically for wetland conservation projects that demonstrate measurable environmental benefits.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
advance
undermine
complicate
postpone
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Environmental scientist Dr. Maya Chen studies wetland restoration in collaboration with state agencies." |
|
| "In her recent research, she found that establishing constructed wetlands in urban areas would" |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| "water quality improvement efforts, since municipal governments often allocate additional funding specifically for wetland conservation projects that demonstrate measurable environmental benefits." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Chen's research shows that constructed urban wetlands would have a positive impact on water quality improvement efforts because governments provide additional funding for wetland projects that show environmental benefits.
Argument Flow: We're introduced to Dr. Chen as a wetland restoration scientist. Her research reveals a relationship between establishing urban wetlands and water quality improvement efforts, with the reasoning that municipal governments financially support wetland conservation projects that demonstrate measurable environmental benefits.
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, the "since" clause provides supporting reasoning
- Municipal governments give extra funding to wetland projects that show environmental benefits
- This creates a positive, supportive relationship
- The logical flow is: Building wetlands would [relationship with] water quality efforts, because governments financially reward such projects
- Since governments provide additional funding for beneficial wetland projects, this would logically support water quality improvement efforts
- So the right answer should indicate that building urban wetlands would help, support, or boost water quality improvement efforts
advance
✓ Correct
- "Advance" means to help forward or promote progress
- This perfectly matches our prethinking - if governments fund wetland projects that show benefits, then building wetlands would help move water quality efforts forward
- Creates the logical positive relationship supported by the "since" clause
undermine
✗ Incorrect
- "Undermine" means to weaken or sabotage
- This contradicts the supporting logic - why would governments fund projects that weaken water quality efforts?
complicate
✗ Incorrect
- "Complicate" means to make more complex or difficult
- While wetlands might add complexity, the "since" clause indicates governments support these projects because they work - suggesting positive impact, not complications
postpone
✗ Incorrect
- "Postpone" means to delay or put off
- This doesn't align with the funding incentive logic - governments wouldn't fund projects specifically to delay water quality improvements