Medieval manuscript experts have reached a compelling consensus about the notorious Voynich Manuscript: Dr. Lisa Fagin Davis and her colleagues...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Medieval manuscript experts have reached a compelling consensus about the notorious Voynich Manuscript: Dr. Lisa Fagin Davis and her colleagues now favor the theory that this mysterious text represents an encoded form of a known language, possibly Latin, disguised through a systematic cipher. This interpretation emerged after decades of failed attempts using traditional approaches. Since its 1912 discovery, the manuscript's unknown script and illustrations have resisted conventional decoding methods that successfully unlock other medieval texts. Two major alternative explanations have proven inadequate: the hoax theory fails because creating such a complex and consistent unknown writing system would require extraordinary effort for a mere forgery, while proposals that the manuscript represents an unknown natural language have been undermined by statistical analysis revealing patterns inconsistent with any authentic linguistic structure.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
It introduces a historical puzzle, dismisses two potential solutions to that puzzle, and then presents a third solution that experts consider more credible.
It describes a scholarly debate, examines evidence supporting different positions in that debate, and then argues that further research is needed to resolve the matter.
It presents a research challenge, contrasts that challenge with similar challenges in the field, and then explains why those similar challenges are easier to solve.
It discusses a discovery, evaluates the significance of that discovery for the field, and then describes how new methodologies have changed scholarly understanding.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Medieval manuscript experts have reached a compelling consensus about the notorious Voynich Manuscript: Dr. Lisa Fagin Davis and her colleagues now favor the theory that this mysterious text represents an encoded form of a known language, possibly Latin, disguised through a systematic cipher." |
|
| "This interpretation emerged after decades of failed attempts using traditional approaches." |
|
| "Since its 1912 discovery, the manuscript's unknown script and illustrations have resisted conventional decoding methods that successfully unlock other medieval texts." |
|
| "Two major alternative explanations have proven inadequate: the hoax theory fails because creating such a complex and consistent unknown writing system would require extraordinary effort for a mere forgery, while proposals that the manuscript represents an unknown natural language have been undermined by statistical analysis revealing patterns inconsistent with any authentic linguistic structure." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[EXPERT CONSENSUS: Encoded known language theory] supported by [HISTORICAL CONTEXT: Emerged after failed attempts] building on [PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Manuscript resists decoding since 1912] followed by [ELIMINATION: Two alternative theories proven inadequate]
Main Point: Medieval manuscript experts now believe the mysterious Voynich Manuscript represents an encoded form of a known language rather than a hoax or unknown language.
Argument Flow: The passage opens with the current expert consensus, provides context for how this view developed, explains why the manuscript has been so puzzling, and then systematically dismisses two major alternative theories that experts have rejected.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to identify how the text is organized, its structural pattern.
What type of answer do we need? A description of the overall organizational framework the author uses to present information.
Any limiting keywords? "Overall structure" tells us we are looking at the big-picture organization, not specific details.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our structure map, we can see the passage follows a clear pattern
- It starts by presenting what experts currently think (the encoded language theory)
- Then explains how we got to this point
- Finally eliminates two competing theories that do not work
- So the right answer should describe a structure where we get a current solution to a puzzle, followed by dismissal of alternative explanations
It introduces a historical puzzle, dismisses two potential solutions to that puzzle, and then presents a third solution that experts consider more credible.
✓ Correct
- Matches our passage perfectly: introduces the Voynich Manuscript puzzle, dismisses the hoax and unknown language theories, then presents the encoded known language solution that experts favor
- Captures the logical flow from our structure map
It describes a scholarly debate, examines evidence supporting different positions in that debate, and then argues that further research is needed to resolve the matter.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the passage argues "further research is needed" but the passage presents a definitive expert consensus
- The passage does not examine evidence supporting different positions equally
It presents a research challenge, contrasts that challenge with similar challenges in the field, and then explains why those similar challenges are easier to solve.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the passage contrasts the Voynich Manuscript with "similar challenges in the field" but the passage never compares this manuscript to other decoding challenges
It discusses a discovery, evaluates the significance of that discovery for the field, and then describes how new methodologies have changed scholarly understanding.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on "new methodologies" changing understanding, but the passage does not emphasize new methods
- The structure is not about evaluating significance for the field