Health researchers studying sleep patterns have documented significant links between screen time exposure and sleep quality deterioration. Multiple st...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Health researchers studying sleep patterns have documented significant links between screen time exposure and sleep quality deterioration. Multiple studies confirm that excessive device usage before bedtime disrupts natural circadian rhythms. ______ these findings provide strong support for current recommendations to limit electronic device use in the hours before sleep.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For instance,
Collectively,
Nevertheless,
Similarly,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Health researchers studying sleep patterns have documented significant links between screen time exposure and sleep quality deterioration." |
|
| "Multiple studies confirm that excessive device usage before bedtime disrupts natural circadian rhythms." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "these findings provide strong support for current recommendations to limit electronic device use in the hours before sleep." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Research findings about screen time's negative effects on sleep support current recommendations to limit electronic device use before bedtime.
Argument Flow: The passage presents two pieces of research evidence about screen time harming sleep, then uses these findings to justify existing recommendations about limiting device use before bed.
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 passage analysis, we have two separate research findings before the blank, and then after the blank we see "these findings" - referring to both pieces of evidence together
- The transition needs to show that we're taking both findings and using them together to support the recommendations
- The relationship we need is one that shows the two pieces of evidence working together or being considered as a group to support the conclusion
For instance,
✗ Incorrect
- "For instance" introduces an example or specific case
- The sentence after the blank isn't providing an example of the research findings - it's drawing a conclusion from them
- This creates the wrong logical relationship
Collectively,
✓ Correct
- "Collectively" means "as a group" or "together"
- This perfectly captures how the two research findings work together to support the recommendations
- Matches our prethinking - we need to show multiple pieces of evidence combining to support a conclusion
Nevertheless,
✗ Incorrect
- "Nevertheless" signals contrast or contradiction
- There's no contrast here - the conclusion agrees with and flows from the evidence
- Students might choose this if they misread the passage flow
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- "Similarly" shows that one thing is like another thing
- The sentence after the blank isn't showing similarity - it's showing how evidence supports recommendations
- This creates an illogical comparison where none exists