In 2019, marine biologist Dr. Sarah Chen began developing equipment for studying organisms in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
In 2019, marine biologist Dr. Sarah Chen began developing equipment for studying organisms in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean. At depths approaching 36,000 feet, water pressure reaches over 1,000 times that found at sea level. Standard underwater cameras and sampling devices designed for shallow-water research would be crushed immediately under such extreme conditions. Chen's team spent three years engineering reinforced housings and pressure-resistant components. The instruments they ultimately created can survive in the deep-sea environment because their casings are significantly thicker and built from specialized materials, unlike equipment designed for surface-level marine studies.
According to the text, why would shallow-water research equipment fail in the Mariana Trench?
Because equipment designed for shallow water lacks the mobility needed for deep-sea navigation
Because the pressure conditions at extreme ocean depths differ drastically from those at the surface
Because the temperature fluctuations in deep ocean trenches exceed equipment specifications
Because shallow-water devices are too large to be deployed effectively at such depths
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In 2019, marine biologist Dr. Sarah Chen began developing equipment for studying organisms in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean.' |
|
| 'At depths approaching 36,000 feet, water pressure reaches over 1,000 times that found at sea level.' |
|
| 'Standard underwater cameras and sampling devices designed for shallow-water research would be crushed immediately under such extreme conditions.' |
|
| 'Chen's team spent three years engineering reinforced housings and pressure-resistant components.' |
|
| 'The instruments they ultimately created can survive in the deep-sea environment because their casings are significantly thicker and built from specialized materials, unlike equipment designed for surface-level marine studies.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Chen's team had to spend three years developing specialized pressure-resistant equipment because the extreme conditions in the Mariana Trench would crush standard shallow-water research tools.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the research context, then explains the specific challenge (extreme pressure that destroys regular equipment), and finally describes how Chen's team solved this problem through specialized engineering.
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 is very clear about this: shallow-water equipment would fail because the pressure in the Mariana Trench is over 1,000 times greater than at sea level
- This extreme pressure would 'crush immediately' any standard equipment designed for shallow water
- The passage emphasizes that the pressure conditions are the key difference - that's why Chen's team had to engineer 'pressure-resistant components' and 'thicker casings'
- The right answer should focus on the dramatic difference in pressure conditions between shallow water and the extreme depths of the Mariana Trench
Because equipment designed for shallow water lacks the mobility needed for deep-sea navigation
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the problem is lack of mobility for navigation
- The passage never mentions mobility or navigation as issues
- The failure described is immediate crushing due to pressure, not movement problems
Because the pressure conditions at extreme ocean depths differ drastically from those at the surface
✓ Correct
- Identifies pressure conditions as the key difference between surface and extreme depths
- Directly matches the passage's explanation that pressure reaches 'over 1,000 times that found at sea level'
- Aligns with why standard equipment 'would be crushed immediately under such extreme conditions'
Because the temperature fluctuations in deep ocean trenches exceed equipment specifications
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on temperature fluctuations
- The passage never mentions temperature as a factor
- This represents a trap where students might assume deep ocean conditions involve multiple extreme factors, but the passage specifically identifies pressure as the critical issue
Because shallow-water devices are too large to be deployed effectively at such depths
✗ Incorrect
- Claims shallow-water devices are too large for deployment
- The passage states the problem is immediate crushing, not size limitations
- Equipment size for deployment isn't discussed in the text