Heritage tomato varieties cultivated in particular Italian territories throughout the 1800s demonstrated production levels that substantially surpasse...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Heritage tomato varieties cultivated in particular Italian territories throughout the 1800s demonstrated production levels that substantially surpassed those of modern cultivars grown in identical locations. Scholars specializing in agricultural history originally credited this enhanced productivity to unique mineral compositions characteristic of these territories, yet contemporary soil testing has shown that present-day agricultural sites in these locations possess nearly identical nutrient profiles and acidity measurements compared to their 19th-century predecessors. However, recent analysis of archived seed specimens has revealed evidence of specialized farming techniques related to seed treatment methods, indicating that ________
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the superior production of 19th-century heritage cultivars stemmed from particular farming techniques employed by growers of that period.
modern tomato cultivars would probably reach comparable production levels if cultivated under alternative soil circumstances.
heritage tomatoes were likely not regarded as exceptional compared to other cultivars when they were originally grown.
current farming methods are equivalent to those used by Italian growers in the 19th century.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Heritage tomato varieties cultivated in particular Italian territories throughout the 1800s demonstrated production levels that substantially surpassed those of modern cultivars grown in identical locations." |
|
| "Scholars specializing in agricultural history originally credited this enhanced productivity to unique mineral compositions characteristic of these territories," |
|
| "yet contemporary soil testing has shown that present-day agricultural sites in these locations possess nearly identical nutrient profiles and acidity measurements compared to their 19th-century predecessors." |
|
| "However, recent analysis of archived seed specimens has revealed evidence of specialized farming techniques related to seed treatment methods, indicating that __________" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Recent seed analysis suggests that specialized farming techniques, not soil differences, explain why 19th-century Italian heritage tomatoes significantly outproduced modern varieties.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a scientific puzzle about superior historical crop yields, presents and then refutes the original soil-based explanation, and introduces new evidence about specialized techniques that points toward a different conclusion about what caused the productivity advantage.
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 passage has eliminated soil as the explanation for better yields
- Now we've discovered evidence of specialized seed treatment techniques from the 1800s
- The logical connection is clear: these techniques must be what caused the superior productivity
- The right answer should link these specialized farming techniques to the enhanced production levels of heritage tomatoes
- It should essentially say that the techniques (not the soil) were responsible for the better yields
the superior production of 19th-century heritage cultivars stemmed from particular farming techniques employed by growers of that period.
✓ Correct
- Directly connects the specialized farming techniques to the superior production levels
- Matches our prethinking perfectly - it explains that techniques (not soil) caused better yields
- Logically completes the "indicating that" phrase with the most reasonable conclusion from the evidence
modern tomato cultivars would probably reach comparable production levels if cultivated under alternative soil circumstances.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests modern cultivars could reach similar levels with different soil conditions
- Contradicts the passage's finding that soil conditions are nearly identical then and now
- Trap: Students might think this addresses the production difference, but it ignores the evidence that soil isn't the determining factor
heritage tomatoes were likely not regarded as exceptional compared to other cultivars when they were originally grown.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims heritage tomatoes weren't considered exceptional when originally grown
- Doesn't follow logically from the seed treatment evidence
- Completely sidesteps the productivity question the passage is addressing
current farming methods are equivalent to those used by Italian growers in the 19th century.
✗ Incorrect
- States that current and historical farming methods are equivalent
- Directly contradicts the discovery of specialized techniques from the archived seeds
- Goes against the entire direction of the argument