Logically, a damaged fossil should provide less information than an intact one, but for paleontologist Brigitte Schoenemann, a broken area...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Logically, a damaged fossil should provide less information than an intact one, but for paleontologist Brigitte Schoenemann, a broken area on a fossilized trilobite (a crustacean-like creature) ________ fresh insight, allowing her to view the inner structure of the organism's eye.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
resolved
adjusted
offered
directed
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Logically, a damaged fossil should provide less information than an intact one,' |
|
| 'but for paleontologist Brigitte Schoenemann, a broken area on a fossilized trilobite (a crustacean-like creature)' |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| 'fresh insight, allowing her to view the inner structure of the organism's eye.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: While damaged fossils typically provide less information, in Schoenemann's case a broken area actually provided valuable new insight.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a logical expectation about damaged fossils providing less information, then presents a contrasting real-world example where damage actually enabled new discovery.
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 word that shows what the broken area did in relation to providing fresh insight
- The sentence structure shows that whatever happened enabled Schoenemann to view the inner structure - so the broken area must have provided or gave this insight
- The relationship is: broken area [ACTION] fresh insight, and this insight allowed her to see inside the eye structure
- So the right answer should be a word that means provided or gave - showing that the broken area supplied new understanding
resolved
- Resolved means solved or settled a problem
- This does not fit because the broken area did not solve insight - it provided insight
adjusted
- Adjusted means changed or adapted something
- This does not work because insight is not something that gets adjusted by a fossil area
offered
- Offered means provided or presented
- This perfectly fits the sentence logic: the broken area offered/provided fresh insight
- Creates the right cause-effect relationship: area offered insight which allowed viewing internal structure
directed
- Directed means guided or aimed toward something
- This does not fit because insight is not something that gets directed by a broken area