Environmental scientists studying ecosystem recovery have found that restoration projects often succeed when they incorporate traditional methods ___ ...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Environmental scientists studying ecosystem recovery have found that restoration projects often succeed when they incorporate traditional methods ___ by indigenous communities. These time-tested approaches, developed over generations of land stewardship, frequently prove more effective than contemporary techniques alone.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
questioned
employed
studied
mentioned
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Environmental scientists studying ecosystem recovery have found that restoration projects often succeed when they incorporate traditional methods" |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| "by indigenous communities." |
|
| "These time-tested approaches, developed over generations of land stewardship, frequently prove more effective than contemporary techniques alone." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Environmental restoration projects are often more successful when they incorporate traditional methods from indigenous communities rather than relying solely on contemporary techniques.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a research finding about restoration success, then provides supporting explanation for why indigenous traditional methods are so effective—they're time-tested and developed through generations of land stewardship experience.
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 word needs to describe the relationship between "traditional methods" and "indigenous communities."
- Looking at our analysis, we see that indigenous communities are the source and practitioners of these methods—they developed them "over generations of land stewardship."
- The blank needs a word that shows indigenous communities actively used or practiced these traditional methods.
questioned
- "Questioned" suggests indigenous communities doubted or challenged these methods
- This contradicts the passage's emphasis that these are "time-tested approaches" that prove effective
employed
- "Employed" means actively used or put into practice
- Perfectly matches our prethinking—indigenous communities used these methods through "generations of land stewardship"
studied
- "Studied" suggests indigenous communities researched these methods academically
- This misses the practical, hands-on nature emphasized by "land stewardship" and "time-tested"
mentioned
- "Mentioned" is far too weak—just talking about methods wouldn't make restoration projects successful
- Doesn't capture the deep, generational relationship between indigenous communities and these practices