Medieval manuscript scholars have long puzzled over the appearance of a distinctive illumination technique found in religious texts from the...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Medieval manuscript scholars have long puzzled over the appearance of a distinctive illumination technique found in religious texts from the 12th century. The technique involves the use of ultramarine blue pigment applied in intricate layered patterns that create an unusual luminescent effect. Researchers have proposed various theories about which monasteries might have developed this specialized method, but no definitive source has been identified. Notably, religious manuscripts produced in the 13th century and later periods show no evidence of this illumination technique, indicating that _____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the specialized knowledge required to create this illumination technique was lost after the 12th century.
religious manuscripts from the 12th century are more artistically sophisticated than those from later periods.
the illumination technique was used briefly during the 12th century before scribes adopted different decorative methods.
modern methods for analyzing medieval manuscripts are inadequate for texts created after the 12th century.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Medieval manuscript scholars have long puzzled over the appearance of a distinctive illumination technique found in religious texts from the 12th century. |
|
| The technique involves the use of ultramarine blue pigment applied in intricate layered patterns that create an unusual luminescent effect. |
|
| Researchers have proposed various theories about which monasteries might have developed this specialized method, but no definitive source has been identified. |
|
| Notably, religious manuscripts produced in the 13th century and later periods show no evidence of this illumination technique, indicating that ____ |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A distinctive illumination technique from 12th century religious manuscripts has puzzled scholars, and its complete absence from later manuscripts suggests something significant happened to end its use.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a scholarly mystery about a unique 12th century illumination technique, describes its distinctive characteristics, notes that researchers have not identified its source, and then presents the key evidence that it completely disappeared after the 12th century, leading to a logical conclusion about what this pattern indicates.
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 key evidence is timing-based: this technique was present in 12th century manuscripts but completely absent from 13th century and later manuscripts
- When a specialized skill or knowledge completely disappears like this, it typically means the knowledge was somehow lost rather than simply abandoned for other reasons
- The right answer should indicate that the specialized knowledge or ability to create this technique was somehow lost after the 12th century
the specialized knowledge required to create this illumination technique was lost after the 12th century.
✓ Correct
- This directly follows from the evidence in our analysis
- If manuscripts from 13th century onward show no evidence of the technique, it indicates the knowledge disappeared
- Matches our prethinking about specialized knowledge being lost
religious manuscripts from the 12th century are more artistically sophisticated than those from later periods.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims 12th century manuscripts are more artistically sophisticated than later ones
- The passage only discusses one specific technique, not overall artistic sophistication
- Makes an overly broad comparison not supported by the limited evidence provided
the illumination technique was used briefly during the 12th century before scribes adopted different decorative methods.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests scribes simply adopted different decorative methods
- Does not explain why the technique would completely disappear rather than coexist with other methods
- This trap leads students to think this explains the change, but it does not account for the complete absence rather than just reduced use
modern methods for analyzing medieval manuscripts are inadequate for texts created after the 12th century.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims modern analysis methods are inadequate for texts created after the 13th century
- The passage discusses what is found in the manuscripts themselves, not limitations of modern analysis
- Reverses the timeframe by suggesting problems analyzing later texts when the issue is the technique's absence from later texts