Mineralogical differences are detectable in samples collected from two locations on the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu, but such differences may not...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Mineralogical differences are detectable in samples collected from two locations on the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu, but such differences may not indicate substantial compositional variations in the asteroid. Cosmochemist Kazuhide Nagashima and colleagues note that at the small scale of the samples, the distribution of minerals is unlikely to be ______.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
neglected
redundant
ongoing
uniform
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Mineralogical differences are detectable in samples collected from two locations on the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu,' |
|
| 'but such differences may not indicate substantial compositional variations in the asteroid.' |
|
| 'Cosmochemist Kazuhide Nagashima and colleagues note that at the small scale of the samples, the distribution of minerals is unlikely to be .______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Small-scale mineralogical differences in asteroid samples don't necessarily indicate substantial compositional variations across the entire asteroid.
Argument Flow: The passage first presents a scientific observation (mineral differences detected), then questions its broader significance (may not indicate major variations), and finally provides expert reasoning for this caution based on the nature of small-scale mineral distribution.
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 logical flow is: mineral differences exist between samples, BUT these don't necessarily mean big compositional variations in the whole asteroid. Why not? Because at small scales, mineral distribution is unlikely to be uniform
- The word needs to explain why small samples might show differences even if the overall asteroid composition is fairly consistent
- If minerals aren't distributed evenly at small scales, then you'd naturally expect variation between small samples just due to local clustering or patchiness
neglected
Neglected
✗ Incorrect
- 'Neglected' means ignored or not given proper attention
- This doesn't make logical sense in a scientific context about spatial distribution patterns
redundant
Redundant
✗ Incorrect
- 'Redundant' means unnecessary or repetitive
- This doesn't fit the scientific context about spatial distribution of minerals
ongoing
Ongoing
✗ Incorrect
- 'Ongoing' means continuing or in progress
- While geological processes might be ongoing, this doesn't explain the relationship between small-scale samples and asteroid-wide composition
uniform
Uniform
✓ Correct
- 'Uniform' means consistent or evenly distributed throughout
- This perfectly explains the logic: if mineral distribution is unlikely to be uniform at small scales, then small samples would naturally show differences due to local clustering and variations
- This matches our prethinking—non-uniform small-scale distribution explains why local sample differences don't necessarily indicate major asteroid-wide compositional variations