Maria González's groundbreaking climate research _______ combines atmospheric physics with marine biology to understand how ocean microorganisms affec...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Maria González's groundbreaking climate research _______ combines atmospheric physics with marine biology to understand how ocean microorganisms affect global weather patterns. Her innovative methodology represents the emerging trend in contemporary science, where researchers are breaking down traditional barriers between disciplines like physics and chemistry that were once studied in isolation to create more comprehensive approaches to complex problems.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
for instance,
in contrast,
as a result,
furthermore,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Maria González's groundbreaking climate research" |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "combines atmospheric physics with marine biology to understand how ocean microorganisms affect global weather patterns." |
|
| "Her innovative methodology represents the emerging trend in contemporary science, where researchers are breaking down traditional barriers between disciplines like physics and chemistry that were once studied in isolation to create more comprehensive approaches to complex problems." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[RESEARCHER INTRODUCTION] → [MISSING CONNECTOR] → [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WORK] → [BROADER SIGNIFICANCE]
Main Point: María González's climate research exemplifies the modern scientific trend of combining traditionally separate disciplines to tackle complex problems.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces González's groundbreaking research, then provides a specific example of how her work combines different fields, and finally explains how this approach represents a broader trend in contemporary science toward interdisciplinary methods.
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 blank comes right after we learn about González's "groundbreaking climate research," and then we get specific details about how her research "combines atmospheric physics with marine biology."
- This looks like the second part is giving us a specific example of what makes her research groundbreaking.
- The relationship we need is one where the specific combination of disciplines serves as an illustration or example of the broader characterization of her work as "groundbreaking."
- So the right answer should introduce the specific details as an example of the groundbreaking nature mentioned before the blank.
for instance,
- "For instance" introduces examples, which fits perfectly here.
- The combination of atmospheric physics and marine biology serves as a specific example of what makes her research "groundbreaking."
- This creates a clear logical flow from general characterization to specific illustration.
in contrast,
- "In contrast" signals opposition or difference.
- There's nothing in the passage suggesting the specific details about combining disciplines oppose or contrast with the idea of groundbreaking research.
- What trap this represents: Students might think there's contrast between "groundbreaking" and "combining" fields, but these ideas actually support each other.
as a result,
- "As a result" indicates cause and effect.
- The combination of disciplines isn't presented as a result of the research being groundbreaking—it's what makes it groundbreaking.
- The causation flows the wrong direction for this choice.
furthermore,
- "Furthermore" adds additional information of the same type.
- This would work if we were adding another way her research is groundbreaking, but instead we're getting specific details about the same point.
- What trap this represents: Students might see this as adding more information, but it's actually specifying rather than adding new points.