Hospital environments can be overwhelming for patients, with bright fluorescent lighting, constant beeping of machines, and high activity levels contr...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Hospital environments can be overwhelming for patients, with bright fluorescent lighting, constant beeping of machines, and high activity levels contributing to anxiety and stress. Music therapy programs introduce carefully selected instrumental pieces into patient rooms and common areas. The gentle melodies help mask jarring sounds and provide emotional comfort. This creates a more ______ healing environment where patients can focus on recovery.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
clinical
advanced
soothing
efficient
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Hospital environments can be overwhelming for patients, with bright fluorescent lighting, constant beeping of machines, and high activity levels contributing to anxiety and stress." |
|
| "Music therapy programs introduce carefully selected instrumental pieces into patient rooms and common areas." |
|
| "The gentle melodies help mask jarring sounds and provide emotional comfort." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Music therapy transforms overwhelming hospital environments into better healing spaces by providing gentle melodies that mask harsh sounds and offer emotional comfort.
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 music therapy provides "gentle melodies" that "mask jarring sounds and provide emotional comfort"
- The resulting environment should reflect these calming, comforting qualities
- The word we need should reflect the calming effect of gentle melodies
- Should connect to providing "emotional comfort"
- Should contrast with the "overwhelming" environment described earlier
clinical
✗ Incorrect
- "Clinical" describes a sterile, medical environment
- This doesn't connect to the emotional comfort and gentle melodies mentioned
advanced
✗ Incorrect
- "Advanced" suggests technological sophistication
- Nothing in the passage discusses technology or advancement
soothing
✓ Correct
- "Soothing" directly connects to the "gentle melodies" and "emotional comfort"
- Creates a logical contrast with the "overwhelming" environment described earlier
- Fits perfectly with masking "jarring sounds"—a soothing environment is exactly what gentle, comforting music would create
efficient
✗ Incorrect
- "Efficient" relates to productivity or effectiveness
- While patients focusing better might suggest efficiency, the passage emphasizes emotional comfort, not operational efficiency