Art conservators employ various techniques to restore damaged paintings to their original condition. Traditional restoration methods involve careful r...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Art conservators employ various techniques to restore damaged paintings to their original condition. Traditional restoration methods involve careful removal of old varnish, dirt, and previous repair attempts that may have altered the artwork's appearance. Master restorers have been observed using specialized solvents and delicate brushwork during the early morning hours when humidity levels are most stable.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It offers a detail about how master restorers carry out the technique discussed in the text.
It describes the materials used in traditional restoration methods mentioned earlier in the text.
It introduces a qualification that affects the restoration outcome described later in the text.
It explains how new protective coatings differ from the original materials discussed in the text.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Art conservators employ various techniques to restore damaged paintings to their original condition.' |
|
| 'Traditional restoration methods involve careful removal of old varnish, dirt, and previous repair attempts that may have altered the artwork's appearance.' |
|
| 'Master restorers have been observed using specialized solvents and delicate brushwork during the early morning hours when humidity levels are most stable.' |
|
| 'Once the cleaning process is complete, conservators apply new protective coatings that will preserve the painting for future generations,' |
|
| 'even when the new materials differ significantly from those originally used by the artist.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
TOPIC INTRODUCTION: Art conservation techniques → TRADITIONAL METHODS EXPLAINED: Remove varnish, dirt, old repairs → SPECIFIC DETAIL: Master restorers use specialized tools and optimal timing → NEXT PHASE: Apply new protective coatings → QUALIFICATION: Materials may differ from originals
Main Point: Art conservators use careful, methodical techniques to restore damaged paintings, combining traditional cleaning methods with modern protective materials.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from general conservation techniques to specific traditional methods to very specific expert practices to the next phase with a final note about material differences.
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 underlined sentence comes right after we learn about traditional restoration methods
- It takes those general methods and gets very specific about how master restorers actually do this work - what tools they use (specialized solvents and delicate brushwork) and when they do it (early morning when humidity is stable)
- It elaborates on the restoration techniques by showing how they are carried out in practice
- So the right answer should describe this sentence as providing specific details or examples of how the restoration work mentioned earlier is actually performed
It offers a detail about how master restorers carry out the technique discussed in the text.
✓ Correct
- This matches exactly what we see
- The sentence gives us specifics about how master restorers carry out the restoration techniques
- It provides concrete details about the general restoration methods mentioned in the previous sentence
It describes the materials used in traditional restoration methods mentioned earlier in the text.
✗ Incorrect
- While the sentence mentions specialized solvents, it's not primarily about describing materials
- The focus is more on the technique and timing than just materials
It introduces a qualification that affects the restoration outcome described later in the text.
✗ Incorrect
- This sentence doesn't introduce any kind of limitation or condition that affects later outcomes
- It's adding detail about current practices, not introducing a qualification
It explains how new protective coatings differ from the original materials discussed in the text.
✗ Incorrect
- This sentence doesn't mention protective coatings at all - those come later in the passage
- The sentence is about the cleaning/restoration phase, not about material differences