In 1974, Mexican chemist Mario Molina and US chemist F. Sherwood Rowland discovered that chemicals called CFCs were harmful to...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Source: Practice Test
Expression of Ideas
Transitions
MEDIUM
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Notes
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In 1974, Mexican chemist Mario Molina and US chemist F. Sherwood Rowland discovered that chemicals called CFCs were harmful to the ozone layer. Their research was extremely influential in the fight against CFCs. ______ it laid the foundation for a 1987 treaty that phased out the use of CFCs across the globe.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A
Regardless,
B
Specifically,
C
However,
D
Earlier,
Solution
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In 1974, Mexican chemist Mario Molina and US chemist F. Sherwood Rowland discovered that chemicals called CFCs were harmful to the ozone layer." |
|
| "Their research was extremely influential in the fight against CFCs." |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "it laid the foundation for a 1987 treaty that phased out the use of CFCs across the globe." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Molina and Rowland's 1974 discovery about CFCs harming the ozone layer had significant real-world impact, leading to global action.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from a specific scientific discovery to its broad influence, then gives a concrete example of that influence through international policy action.
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 sentence 2 makes a broad claim about the research being "extremely influential."
- Then sentence 4 gives us a concrete example of exactly HOW it was influential - by leading to the 1987 treaty.
- So we need a transition that signals: "Here's a specific example of what I just said."
- This is a relationship where the second part elaborates on or specifies the first part.
- The logical relationship needed is: elaboration/specification - we're about to get a specific instance of the broad influence mentioned.
Answer Choices Explained
A
Regardless,
Regardless
- "Regardless" signals that what follows happens despite what came before
- This would suggest the treaty happened even though the research was influential, which makes no logical sense
- Creates an opposition relationship when we need a supportive/elaborative one
B
Specifically,
Specifically
- "Specifically" signals that we're about to get a concrete example of the general claim
- Perfectly connects "extremely influential" with the specific way it was influential (the treaty)
- Creates the exact elaboration relationship our analysis identified
C
However,
However
- "However" signals contrast or contradiction
- Would suggest the treaty somehow goes against the research being influential
- Students might choose this if they think there's tension between scientific research and policy action, but the passage shows they work together
D
Earlier,
Earlier
- "Earlier" is about time sequence, suggesting something happened before
- But the treaty (1987) came after the research (1974), so this creates temporal confusion
- Doesn't address the logical relationship between general influence and specific example
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