Environmental scientist Dr. James Martinez has been investigating urban pollution patterns for over a decade. His research team documented air...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Environmental scientist Dr. James Martinez has been investigating urban pollution patterns for over a decade. His research team documented air quality changes in major metropolitan areas and analyzed the relationship between industrial emissions and respiratory health. _____ their latest study reveals how green infrastructure can reduce pollution by up to forty percent in dense urban environments.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
However,
For instance,
Similarly,
Additionally,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Environmental scientist Dr. James Martinez has been investigating urban pollution patterns for over a decade." |
|
| "His research team documented air quality changes in major metropolitan areas and analyzed the relationship between industrial emissions and respiratory health." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "their latest study reveals how green infrastructure can reduce pollution by up to forty percent in dense urban environments." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Martinez's urban pollution research has produced findings about how green infrastructure can significantly reduce pollution in cities.
Argument Flow: We learn about Dr. Martinez and his decade of pollution research, then about his team's work documenting air quality and analyzing emissions-health relationships. A missing connector then leads us to their latest study showing green infrastructure can reduce urban pollution by up to 40%.
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 have research activities (documenting air quality changes and analyzing emissions-health relationships) followed by a specific research finding (green infrastructure reducing pollution by 40%)
- The blank needs a connector that shows this latest study is providing additional information from the same research program
- We need a transition that indicates continuation or addition of related information
However,
✗ Incorrect
- "However" signals contrast or contradiction
- Nothing in the latest study finding contradicts the previous research activities
For instance,
✗ Incorrect
- "For instance" introduces a specific example of something already mentioned
- The latest study isn't an example of documenting air quality changes
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- "Similarly" compares two like things or situations
- We're not comparing the latest study to the previous research activities
Additionally,
✓ Correct
- Signals that we're adding more information about the research team's work
- Creates logical flow from general research activities to specific recent findings