Mosses can struggle in harsh desert conditions because these plants require enough sunlight for photosynthesis but not so much that...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Mosses can struggle in harsh desert conditions because these plants require enough sunlight for photosynthesis but not so much that they risk drying out. Researchers Jenna Ekwealor and Kirsten M. Fisher found several species of Syntrichia caninervis, a type of desert moss, growing under quartz crystals in California's Mojave Desert. To evaluate whether these semitransparent rocks benefited the moss, the researchers compared the shoot tissue, a measure of plant growth, of S. caninervis when growing on the soil surface versus when the moss was growing under the quartz rocks. They found that the shoot tissue was \(\mathrm{62\%}\) longer for moss growing under the quartz as compared to moss on the soil surface, suggesting that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
S. caninervis is one of the few types of moss that can survive under semitransparent rocks.
quartz crystals do not transmit the necessary sunlight for photosynthesis in S. caninervis.
S. caninervis growing under quartz crystals experience lower light intensity and are thus able to retain more moisture.
quartz crystals are capable of supporting S. caninervis growth if the crystals are not too thin.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Mosses can struggle in harsh desert conditions because these plants require enough sunlight for photosynthesis but not so much that they risk drying out.' |
|
| 'Researchers Jenna Ekwealor and Kirsten M. Fisher found several species of Syntrichia caninervis, a type of desert moss, growing under quartz crystals in California's Mojave Desert.' |
|
| 'To evaluate whether these semitransparent rocks benefited the moss, the researchers compared the shoot tissue, a measure of plant growth, of S. caninervis when growing on the soil surface versus when the moss was growing under the quartz rocks.' |
|
| 'They found that the shoot tissue was \(62\%\) longer for moss growing under the quartz as compared to moss on the soil surface,' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A study found that desert moss grows significantly better under quartz crystals than on the soil surface.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that desert mosses face a dilemma of needing sunlight but not too much. Researchers discovered moss growing under quartz crystals and designed a study to test whether this location benefits the moss. The results showed dramatically better growth under the crystals.
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 research showed that moss grows much better under quartz crystals
- Given that mosses need sunlight for photosynthesis but struggle with too much light that causes drying, the crystals must be providing some optimal balance
- The crystals are semitransparent, meaning they let some light through but reduce intensity
S. caninervis is one of the few types of moss that can survive under semitransparent rocks.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims S. caninervis is one of the few types that can survive under rocks
- The passage gives us no information about other moss species, so this comparison is unsupported
quartz crystals do not transmit the necessary sunlight for photosynthesis in S. caninervis.
✗ Incorrect
- Says quartz crystals don't transmit necessary sunlight for photosynthesis
- This contradicts the results - if crystals blocked necessary light, moss wouldn't grow better under them
S. caninervis growing under quartz crystals experience lower light intensity and are thus able to retain more moisture.
✓ Correct
- Explains that moss under quartz experiences lower light intensity and retains more moisture
- This perfectly explains why the moss grew better - the crystals create optimal conditions by providing light at reduced intensity while preventing water loss
quartz crystals are capable of supporting S. caninervis growth if the crystals are not too thin.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on crystal thickness, which isn't mentioned in the passage and doesn't explain why moss grew better
- Doesn't explain why moss grew better