Master violin makers have long relied on removing the instrument's bridge to analyze the internal sound chamber dimensions, a technique...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Master violin makers have long relied on removing the instrument's bridge to analyze the internal sound chamber dimensions, a technique that provides direct access to measure resonance spaces. However, a new acoustic scanning technology developed by researchers at MIT can capture detailed internal measurements while the violin remains fully assembled and playable, enabling continuous monitoring of how the wood responds to different performance conditions - something impossible with traditional bridge removal since _____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the procedure requires tools that exceed most workshop budgets.
the measurement process interferes with the instrument's natural resonance patterns.
the analysis takes more time than seasonal wood movement occurs.
the disassembly process alters the wood tensions essential for comparative measurements.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Master violin makers have long relied on removing the instrument's bridge to analyze the internal sound chamber dimensions" |
|
| "a technique that provides direct access to measure resonance spaces" |
|
| "However, a new acoustic scanning technology developed by researchers at MIT can capture detailed internal measurements while the violin remains fully assembled and playable" |
|
| "enabling continuous monitoring of how the wood responds to different performance conditions" |
|
| "something impossible with traditional bridge removal since _____" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[TRADITIONAL METHOD] Remove bridge → Direct access to chambers
↓
[CONTRAST - NEW METHOD] MIT scanning → No disassembly needed + violin playable
↓
[ADVANTAGE] Enables continuous performance monitoring
↓
[LIMITATION OF TRADITIONAL] Can't do continuous monitoring because → [BLANK]
Main Point: New MIT scanning technology offers advantages over traditional violin analysis by enabling measurements during performance, which traditional bridge removal cannot provide.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes how violin makers traditionally analyze instruments by removing bridges, then contrasts this with new MIT technology that works without disassembly. It highlights that this new approach enables continuous monitoring during performance—something the traditional method cannot accomplish for a reason that needs to be identified.
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
- We know that traditional bridge removal provides direct access but prevents continuous monitoring during performance
- The reason must be related to what happens when you remove the bridge
- When you remove a violin's bridge, you're fundamentally changing the instrument's structure and tension
- For continuous monitoring during performance, the violin needs to maintain its performance state—but removing the bridge would alter the very conditions you're trying to measure
- The right answer should explain how bridge removal changes something essential that makes comparative measurements during performance impossible
the procedure requires tools that exceed most workshop budgets.
✗ Incorrect
- This focuses on cost/budget limitations
- The passage isn't about financial constraints but about technical limitations of measurement accuracy
- Doesn't explain why continuous monitoring specifically is impossible
the measurement process interferes with the instrument's natural resonance patterns.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the measurement process interferes with resonance patterns
- But traditional bridge removal completely removes the bridge anyway—it doesn't just interfere, it eliminates the performance setup entirely
- Misses the core issue about structural changes
the analysis takes more time than seasonal wood movement occurs.
✗ Incorrect
- Compares analysis time to seasonal wood movement timing
- This doesn't address why continuous performance monitoring is impossible
- Time duration isn't the limiting factor here
the disassembly process alters the wood tensions essential for comparative measurements.
✓ Correct
- Identifies that disassembly alters wood tensions essential for comparative measurements
- This directly explains why continuous monitoring is impossible—once you remove the bridge, you've changed the instrument's tension state
- Matches our prethinking about structural changes preventing accurate performance measurements