Microplastics are pieces of plastic that are smaller than a grain of rice. These small plastics can be found in...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Microplastics are pieces of plastic that are smaller than a grain of rice. These small plastics can be found in large quantities in ocean waters. Ecologist Jessica Reichert and her team are studying the role reef-building corals have in capturing microplastics from ocean waters. Through research, her team has found that these corals may be storing up to 20 million kilograms of microplastics each year in their skeletons and tissues.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Ecologists are interested in learning more about how certain corals build large reefs.
Questions remain around the impact certain corals have on ocean ecosystems.
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that can be found in ocean waters.
Ecologists predict that corals store large amounts of microplastics from ocean waters.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Microplastics are pieces of plastic that are smaller than a grain of rice.' |
|
| 'These small plastics can be found in large quantities in ocean waters.' |
|
| 'Ecologist Jessica Reichert and her team are studying the role reef-building corals have in capturing microplastics from ocean waters.' |
|
| 'Through research, her team has found that these corals may be storing up to 20 million kilograms of microplastics each year in their skeletons and tissues.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Jessica Reichert's research has found that reef-building corals may be storing up to 20 million kilograms of microplastics annually from ocean waters.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The question asks for the main idea of the entire text.
What type of answer do we need? We need the central message that captures what the passage is primarily about.
Any limiting keywords? The question asks for the main idea of the entire text.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should focus on the research finding about corals storing microplastics, since that's what most of the passage builds toward
- It should mention the scale of the discovery and connect to the research context
Ecologists are interested in learning more about how certain corals build large reefs.
- Focuses on corals building reefs, which isn't what the passage discusses
- Misses the entire point about microplastic storage
Questions remain around the impact certain corals have on ocean ecosystems.
- Says 'questions remain' but the passage presents a definitive research finding
- Too vague about what impact is being studied
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that can be found in ocean waters.
- Only captures the opening definition, ignoring the main research content
- This is just setup information, not the passage's central focus
Ecologists predict that corals store large amounts of microplastics from ocean waters.
- Captures the core research finding that corals store large amounts of microplastics
- Includes the research element that matches Reichert's work and encompasses both the scientific context and the key discovery