Environmental scientists predicted that the new wetland restoration project would struggle to attract wildlife due to its proximity to industrial...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Environmental scientists predicted that the new wetland restoration project would struggle to attract wildlife due to its proximity to industrial development and heavy vehicle traffic in the surrounding area. ______ within six months, over 200 bird species and numerous mammal populations had established thriving communities in the restored habitat.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Therefore,
Nevertheless,
Similarly,
Additionally,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Environmental scientists predicted that the new wetland restoration project would struggle to attract wildlife due to its proximity to industrial development and heavy vehicle traffic in the surrounding area." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "within six months, over 200 bird species and numerous mammal populations had established thriving communities in the restored habitat." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Despite predictions that industrial proximity would harm wildlife attraction, the wetland restoration project successfully established thriving animal communities.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a negative scientific expectation, then reveals that reality contradicted this prediction with remarkably positive results.
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 right answer should signal contrast and show that reality contradicted the scientific prediction
- We need a word that highlights the contradiction between negative expectations and positive results
Therefore,
✗ Incorrect
- "Therefore" signals cause and effect, suggesting the thriving wildlife was expected based on the prediction, which is backwards
Nevertheless,
✓ Correct
- "Nevertheless" perfectly signals contrast and contradiction, showing that despite the negative prediction, positive results occurred anyway
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- "Similarly" indicates comparison, but the outcome wasn't similar to the prediction—it was opposite
Additionally,
✗ Incorrect
- "Additionally" adds information in the same direction, implying the thriving wildlife supports the struggle prediction, which is illogical