Marine biologist Dr. Maria Rodriguez has finished a joint research initiative investigating coastal marsh rehabilitation methods in collaboration with...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Marine biologist Dr. Maria Rodriguez has finished a joint research initiative investigating coastal marsh rehabilitation methods in collaboration with Dr. James Chen, an environmental engineer. The investigation combines Rodriguez's species diversity evaluation techniques with Chen's advanced water purification systems and sediment management innovations to show how technological interventions can improve natural habitat restoration processes. Initial academic evaluations indicate that their research questions traditional restoration schedules, suggesting that purposeful technology integration can substantially speed up ecosystem regeneration.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
It provides an overview of marsh rehabilitation studies, contrasts two distinct research methodologies, and assesses which approach demonstrated superior effectiveness in habitat restoration.
It presents a joint research investigation, describes the combined methodology employed to carry out the study, and then offers an illustration of how scholars have reacted to the results.
It outlines initiatives to rehabilitate coastal marshlands, offers personal background details about two scientists, and theorizes about the extended consequences of their research techniques.
It links two researchers to an identical investigation, clarifies the particular function each performed in separate experiments, and supplies a summary of the information gathering methods utilized.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Marine biologist Dr. Maria Rodriguez has finished a joint research initiative investigating coastal marsh rehabilitation methods in collaboration with Dr. James Chen, an environmental engineer." |
|
| "The investigation combines Rodriguez's species diversity evaluation techniques with Chen's advanced water purification systems and sediment management innovations to show how technological interventions can improve natural habitat restoration processes." |
|
| "Initial academic evaluations indicate that their research questions traditional restoration schedules, suggesting that purposeful technology integration can substantially speed up ecosystem regeneration." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Two researchers conducted a joint study combining their expertise to demonstrate how technology can improve coastal marsh restoration, and their work has been positively received by the academic community.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes the collaborative nature of the research and the researchers' backgrounds, then explains how their different expertise areas were combined in the methodology, and finally presents how the academic community has evaluated their findings.
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 right answer should recognize that this passage has a clear three-part structure
- First, it establishes that we're dealing with a joint research project between two specialists
- Second, it explains how their different areas of expertise were combined in the study's methodology
- Third, it reports on how the academic community has reacted to their results
It provides an overview of marsh rehabilitation studies, contrasts two distinct research methodologies, and assesses which approach demonstrated superior effectiveness in habitat restoration.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the passage "contrasts two distinct research methodologies" and "assesses which approach demonstrated superior effectiveness"
- This mischaracterizes the structure since the passage shows the methodologies working together, not being contrasted
It presents a joint research investigation, describes the combined methodology employed to carry out the study, and then offers an illustration of how scholars have reacted to the results.
✓ Correct
- Accurately captures the three-part structure: "presents a joint research investigation, describes the combined methodology employed to carry out the study, and then offers an illustration of how scholars have reacted to the results"
- This matches our analysis perfectly
It outlines initiatives to rehabilitate coastal marshlands, offers personal background details about two scientists, and theorizes about the extended consequences of their research techniques.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the passage "offers personal background details about two scientists"
- The passage only provides their professional titles and research focus, not personal background
It links two researchers to an identical investigation, clarifies the particular function each performed in separate experiments, and supplies a summary of the information gathering methods utilized.
✗ Incorrect
- Says the researchers performed "separate experiments" when the passage clearly describes a joint investigation