Marine biologists have struggled to understand the migration patterns of deep-sea giant squids due to the creatures' elusive nature and...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Marine biologists have struggled to understand the migration patterns of deep-sea giant squids due to the creatures' elusive nature and extreme habitat depths. Dr. James Chen's research team recently developed specialized acoustic tags that can withstand crushing ocean pressures and track the squids' movements over vast distances. By analyzing the acoustic data collected from multiple tagged specimens and comparing movement patterns across different seasons, the scientists have mapped previously unknown migration routes that reveal the squids' breeding and feeding behaviors.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Scientists have developed new technology that can survive in extreme deep-sea environments.
Through innovative tracking methods, researchers have uncovered important information about giant squid migration patterns.
Marine biologists have solved the mystery of why giant squids are so difficult to study in their natural habitat.
Acoustic tagging technology has been successfully adapted for use in deep-ocean research.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Marine biologists have struggled to understand the migration patterns of deep-sea giant squids due to the creatures' elusive nature and extreme habitat depths.' |
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| 'Dr. James Chen's research team recently developed specialized acoustic tags that can withstand crushing ocean pressures and track the squids' movements over vast distances.' |
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| 'By analyzing the acoustic data collected from multiple tagged specimens and comparing movement patterns across different seasons, the scientists have mapped previously unknown migration routes that reveal the squids' breeding and feeding behaviors.' |
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Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
RESEARCH PROBLEM: Marine biologists struggled with giant squid migration patterns → SOLUTION DEVELOPED: Chen's team created specialized acoustic tags → RESULTS ACHIEVED: Mapped unknown migration routes and revealed behaviors
Main Point: Through innovative acoustic tracking technology, researchers have successfully uncovered previously unknown information about giant squid migration patterns and behaviors.
Argument Flow: The passage follows a classic problem-solution-results structure. It begins by establishing the research challenge with studying giant squids, then introduces the technological solution developed by Chen's team, and concludes by describing the significant discoveries this method enabled about squid migration and behavior.
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 correct answer should focus on the research breakthrough about giant squid migration patterns
- It should acknowledge both the innovative method (acoustic tracking technology) and the important results (discovering migration information)
- The main emphasis should be on what researchers accomplished - uncovering new information about these elusive creatures through better tracking methods
Scientists have developed new technology that can survive in extreme deep-sea environments.
- Incorrect - This focuses only on the technology development aspect and misses the main point about what was discovered using that technology
- Too narrow since the passage emphasizes the results, not just the tool creation
Through innovative tracking methods, researchers have uncovered important information about giant squid migration patterns.
- Correct - Captures both key elements: innovative methods AND the discoveries they enabled
- 'Innovative tracking methods' encompasses the acoustic tags while 'uncovered important information about giant squid migration patterns' matches the passage's emphasis on mapping routes and revealing behaviors
Marine biologists have solved the mystery of why giant squids are so difficult to study in their natural habitat.
- Incorrect - Overstates what was accomplished by claiming they 'solved the mystery' of why squids are difficult to study
- The passage shows they found a way to track them but doesn't claim to have solved the fundamental difficulty
Acoustic tagging technology has been successfully adapted for use in deep-ocean research.
- Incorrect - Focuses too narrowly on the technology adaptation rather than the research results and misses the main point about migration pattern discoveries