Modern solar panels efficiently convert sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells that are ______ silicon and other semiconducting material...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Modern solar panels efficiently convert sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells that are ______ silicon and other semiconducting materials. Engineers precisely layer these components to create an electric field that generates current when photons strike the surface, achieving energy conversion rates that older technologies could never match.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
engineered from
indicated by
represented through
collected with
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Modern solar panels efficiently convert sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells that are' |
|
| [MISSING WORD/PHRASE] |
|
| 'silicon and other semiconducting materials.' |
|
| 'Engineers precisely layer these components to create an electric field that generates current when photons strike the surface, achieving energy conversion rates that older technologies could never match.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Modern solar panels achieve superior energy conversion through precisely engineered photovoltaic cells made from silicon and other semiconducting materials.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes solar panels as efficient converters, identifies the key materials used in their construction, then explains the engineering process that makes them superior to older technologies.
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 blank comes after 'photovoltaic cells that are' and before 'silicon and other semiconducting materials.'
- We need a phrase that logically connects photovoltaic cells to these materials.
- The relationship should indicate that photovoltaic cells are constructed or made from these materials.
engineered from
✓ Correct
- Creates the logical relationship that photovoltaic cells are constructed/built from silicon and semiconducting materials
- Matches perfectly with the engineering context established in the sentence about layering components
- Fits the technical tone and precision suggested by the passage
indicated by
✗ Incorrect
- Would mean that silicon somehow points to or suggests photovoltaic cells
- This reverses the logical relationship - materials don't indicate the technology; rather, the technology uses the materials
- Makes no sense in the context of how solar panels are constructed
represented through
✗ Incorrect
- Would suggest that photovoltaic cells are symbolized or depicted by these materials
- Doesn't establish the physical construction relationship needed
- Too abstract for a passage about concrete engineering processes
collected with
✗ Incorrect
- Would imply that photovoltaic cells are gathered together with silicon
- Doesn't show that silicon is a component material of the cells