Freshwater ecosystems worldwide now face widespread microplastic infiltration. These tiny plastic particles enter and accumulate within rivers, lakes,...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Freshwater ecosystems worldwide now face widespread microplastic infiltration. These tiny plastic particles enter and accumulate within rivers, lakes, and streams through runoff and atmospheric deposition—______ the process documented in a comprehensive 2023 environmental study. The research revealed striking regional variations: urban watersheds displayed the highest contamination levels, while protected wilderness areas showed minimal plastic presence.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
that is,
for instance,
likewise,
additionally,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Freshwater ecosystems worldwide now face widespread microplastic infiltration.' |
|
| 'These tiny plastic particles enter and accumulate within rivers, lakes, and streams through runoff and atmospheric deposition—' |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| 'the process documented in a comprehensive 2023 environmental study.' |
|
| 'The research revealed striking regional variations: urban watersheds displayed the highest contamination levels, while protected wilderness areas showed minimal plastic presence.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Microplastic contamination is widespread in freshwater systems, with research showing significant regional variations in contamination levels.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces microplastic infiltration as a global problem, explains how the contamination occurs, references research that documented this process, and presents the study's findings about regional differences in contamination levels.
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 table, we see that the sentence before the blank describes the specific process of how microplastics enter freshwater systems (through runoff and atmospheric deposition)
- The phrase after the blank refers to 'the process documented in a comprehensive 2023 environmental study'
- The logical relationship we need is one that shows the study documented the same infiltration process that was just described
- We need a connector that clarifies or restates - basically saying 'this process I just described is the same one that the study looked at'
that is,
- 'That is' signals clarification or restatement
- Perfect fit - shows the infiltration process just described is the same process the study documented
for instance,
- 'For instance' introduces a specific example
- The study isn't an example of the infiltration process - it's documentation of that process
likewise,
- 'Likewise' shows similarity between two different things
- We're not comparing two similar processes - we're referring to the same process
additionally,
- 'Additionally' adds new, separate information
- The study reference isn't additional information - it's clarification of the same process