In her archaeological research, Dr. Elena Vasquez usually conducts extensive field surveys before excavating any site. _____ when investigating a...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
In her archaeological research, Dr. Elena Vasquez usually conducts extensive field surveys before excavating any site. _____ when investigating a recently discovered burial mound in Peru, time constraints forced her to begin digging immediately after only a brief preliminary assessment; the hasty approach resulted in less systematic documentation than her rigorous standards normally require.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Therefore,
However,
Similarly,
Furthermore,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In her archaeological research, Dr. Elena Vasquez usually conducts extensive field surveys before excavating any site.' |
|
| '[MISSING TRANSITION]' |
|
| 'when investigating a recently discovered burial mound in Peru, time constraints forced her to begin digging immediately after only a brief preliminary assessment' |
|
| 'the hasty approach resulted in less systematic documentation than her rigorous standards normally require.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[NORMAL PRACTICE] Dr. V's usual approach: extensive surveys → excavate
↓
[MISSING CONNECTOR]
↓
[CONTRASTING SITUATION] Peru case: time constraints → immediate dig
↓
[NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE] Less systematic documentation than usual standards
Main Point: Dr. Vasquez's usual thorough archaeological approach had to be compromised in Peru due to time constraints, resulting in substandard documentation.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Dr. Vasquez's normally rigorous research methodology, then presents a specific case where circumstances forced her to deviate from this approach, leading to results below her usual standards.
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
- From our analysis, we can see that the sentence before the blank describes Dr. Vasquez's usual thorough approach (extensive field surveys before excavating)
- The sentence after the blank describes a situation where she had to do the opposite—dig immediately with minimal preparation due to time constraints
- This creates a clear contrast between her normal practice and what happened in this specific case
- The transition word needs to signal this contrast—that what follows goes against or differs from what we just read about her usual methods
- So the right answer should signal contrast or opposition between her normal rigorous approach and the rushed approach she had to take in Peru
Therefore,
✗ Incorrect
- 'Therefore' signals that what follows is a logical result or conclusion from what came before
- This doesn't work because digging immediately in Peru isn't a result of her usual extensive survey practice—it's the opposite
- What trap this represents: Students might think this works because the Peru situation 'follows' from her research career, but 'therefore' requires a logical consequence, not just chronological sequence
However,
✓ Correct
- 'However' signals a contrast between what came before and what follows
- This perfectly captures the relationship: she usually does extensive surveys, but (however) in Peru she had to dig immediately
- This matches our prethinking about needing a contrast transition
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- 'Similarly' suggests that what follows is comparable to or resembles what came before
- This is the opposite of what we need—the Peru situation is different from her usual approach, not similar to it
Furthermore,
✗ Incorrect
- 'Furthermore' adds additional information in the same direction or builds upon the previous point
- This doesn't work because the Peru situation doesn't add to or build upon her usual thorough approach—it contradicts it