In the early 1960s, concerns about pesticide use and its environmental impact were largely absent from mainstream American discourse. Marine...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
In the early 1960s, concerns about pesticide use and its environmental impact were largely absent from mainstream American discourse. Marine biologist Rachel Carson, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, challenged this status quo with her 1962 book 'Silent Spring,' which documented the devastating effects of pesticides on bird populations and ecosystem health. The publication sparked widespread public awareness about environmental dangers and directly confronted the chemical industry's practices. Environmental historian Linda Lear observed that Carson's work 'fundamentally changed how Americans thought about nature and launched the modern environmental movement.'
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
It presents an environmental issue, illustrates how the issue affects wildlife populations, and shows how the public has responded to the issue.
It names the government agency where an important scientist worked, details the scientist's research at the agency, and provides an example of the recognition she received there.
It introduces an influential advocate, describes a significant contribution she made, and suggests why the contribution was societally important.
It mentions a publication, offers a summary of the publication's findings, and presents a historian's commentary on the publication.
I'll solve this step by step, analyzing the passage structure and then evaluating the answer choices.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In the early 1960s, concerns about pesticide use and its environmental impact were largely absent from mainstream American discourse.' |
|
| 'Marine biologist Rachel Carson, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, challenged this status quo with her 1962 book 'Silent Spring,' which documented the devastating effects of pesticides on bird populations and ecosystem health.' |
|
| 'The publication sparked widespread public awareness about environmental dangers and directly confronted the chemical industry's practices.' |
|
| 'Environmental historian Linda Lear observed that Carson's work 'fundamentally changed how Americans thought about nature and launched the modern environmental movement.'' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Rachel Carson's Silent Spring transformed American environmental consciousness by challenging the prevailing indifference to pesticide dangers.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from establishing a context of public indifference, to introducing Carson as the figure who disrupted this status quo through her influential book, to explaining both the immediate and lasting impacts of her contribution.
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 follows a clear pattern: it starts by setting up a situation (no environmental concerns in the early 60s)
- Then introduces a key person (Rachel Carson) who made an important contribution (Silent Spring)
- Finally explains why that contribution mattered (it changed American thinking and launched the environmental movement)
- The structure centers around Carson as the pivotal figure—we meet her, learn about her significant work, and understand its broader importance
It presents an environmental issue, illustrates how the issue affects wildlife populations, and shows how the public has responded to the issue.
✗ Incorrect
- This frames the structure around 'an environmental issue' as the central organizing principle
- But the passage isn't structured around the pesticide issue itself—it's structured around Carson as the person who brought attention to that issue
It names the government agency where an important scientist worked, details the scientist's research at the agency, and provides an example of the recognition she received there.
✗ Incorrect
- This makes the government agency and her work there the central organizing elements
- The passage mentions she worked with Fish and Wildlife Service, but this isn't the structural focus
It introduces an influential advocate, describes a significant contribution she made, and suggests why the contribution was societally important.
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the three-part structure: introduces Carson as an influential advocate, describes Silent Spring as her significant contribution, and uses Lear's quote to show why it was societally important
- The 'societally important' aspect is supported by Lear's observation about changing American thinking and launching the environmental movement
It mentions a publication, offers a summary of the publication's findings, and presents a historian's commentary on the publication.
✗ Incorrect
- This makes Silent Spring the publication the primary organizing element rather than Carson herself
- While the passage does mention the book's findings and includes historian commentary, this misses that Carson is the central figure holding the structure together