Marine biologist Dr. Elena Rodriguez spent months studying coral bleaching patterns in the Pacific. After analyzing water temperature data and...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Marine biologist Dr. Elena Rodriguez spent months studying coral bleaching patterns in the Pacific. After analyzing water temperature data and observing widespread coral death in previously healthy reefs, she noted that bleaching events coincided precisely with periods when ocean temperatures exceeded \(2°\mathrm{C}\) above historical averages. _____ Dr. Rodriguez concluded that rising sea temperatures were the primary driver of coral mortality in the region.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Meanwhile,
Thus,
However,
Similarly,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Marine biologist Dr. Elena Rodriguez spent months studying coral bleaching patterns in the Pacific.' |
|
| 'After analyzing water temperature data and observing widespread coral death in previously healthy reefs, she noted that bleaching events coincided precisely with periods when ocean temperatures exceeded 2°C above historical averages.' |
|
| 'Dr. Rodriguez concluded that rising sea temperatures were the primary driver of coral mortality in the region.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Rodriguez's research demonstrated that rising ocean temperatures are the primary cause of coral mortality in Pacific reefs.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces Rodriguez's coral bleaching study, presents her finding that bleaching events occur precisely when temperatures exceed normal levels by \(2°\mathrm{C}\), then states her conclusion that rising temperatures are the main driver of coral mortality.
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 sentence before the blank presents evidence that bleaching events happen exactly when temperatures go above normal by \(2°\mathrm{C}\)
- The sentence after the blank gives a conclusion that rising temperatures are the primary driver of coral mortality
- We need a logical connector that shows the conclusion follows directly from the evidence
Meanwhile,
- 'Meanwhile' suggests things happening at the same time
- This doesn't create a logical connection between evidence and conclusion
Thus,
- 'Thus' signals that what follows is a logical conclusion based on what came before
- It perfectly connects the evidence to the conclusion
However,
- 'However' introduces contrast or contradiction
- There's no contrast between the evidence and conclusion
Similarly,
- 'Similarly' shows comparison to something else
- There's nothing being compared here