When established companies invest heavily in research and development, they often discover breakthrough technologies that revolutionize their core pro...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
When established companies invest heavily in research and development, they often discover breakthrough technologies that revolutionize their core products. These innovations, _____ attract new customers and expand market share significantly.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
for example,
in turn,
however,
in fact,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "When established companies invest heavily in research and development, they often discover breakthrough technologies that revolutionize their core products." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "These innovations attract new customers and expand market share significantly." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Companies' R&D investments lead to breakthrough technologies that ultimately attract new customers and expand market share.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a cause-and-effect chain where companies investing in research and development leads to breakthrough technologies, which then results in business benefits like attracting customers and expanding market share. The missing transition needs to connect these two related but distinct phases of this process.
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 passage analysis, we need a transition that shows the logical progression from breakthrough technologies to business outcomes
- The first sentence describes how companies develop innovative products through R&D, and the second sentence describes what happens as a result
- The relationship is sequential and consequential - the breakthrough technologies lead to or result in the business benefits mentioned in the second sentence
- So the right answer should show a cause-and-effect or consequential relationship
for example,
✗ Incorrect
- This transition introduces an example or illustration
- The second sentence is not providing an example of breakthrough technologies - it is describing what happens because of them
- Students might think the second sentence is giving an example when it is actually describing consequences
in turn,
✓ Correct
- This transition shows a logical sequence or consequence
- It perfectly connects the breakthrough technologies (cause) with attracting customers and expanding market share (effect)
- This matches our prethinking by showing that these business outcomes follow as a result of the innovations
however,
✗ Incorrect
- This transition shows contrast or opposition
- There is no contrasting relationship between breakthrough technologies and their positive business outcomes
in fact,
✗ Incorrect
- This transition adds emphasis or provides clarification
- The second sentence is not clarifying or emphasizing the first - it is describing what happens next in the sequence