New archaeological evidence found at the location has disputed a researcher's assertion that the historical community was deserted because of...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
New archaeological evidence found at the location has disputed a researcher's assertion that the historical community was deserted because of environmental catastrophes. This fresh evidence is improbable to _______ her findings entirely, yet might necessitate substantial modifications to the chronology she established.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
invalidate
confirm
elucidate
investigate
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "New archaeological evidence found at the location has disputed a researcher's assertion that the historical community was deserted because of environmental catastrophes." |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| "yet might necessitate substantial modifications to the chronology she established." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: New archaeological evidence challenges a researcher's theory but won't completely negate her work, though it may require significant modifications to her timeline.
Argument Flow: The passage presents new evidence that contradicts an existing theory, then explains that while this evidence won't completely eliminate the original findings, it will necessitate substantial revisions to the established chronology.
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 word must describe what the new evidence is "improbable" to do to her findings "entirely"
- The evidence has "disputed" her assertion, so there's already some contradiction
- The contrast word "yet" suggests the evidence won't completely do something, but will require modifications
- The logical relationship is: Evidence disputes her theory but won't completely [blank] it, just modify it
- So the right answer should be a word that means "completely reject" or "completely disprove"
invalidate
✓ Correct
- "Invalidate" means to make invalid or cancel out completely
- This fits perfectly with the logic: evidence disputes the theory but won't completely invalidate it, just require modifications
confirm
✗ Incorrect
- "Confirm" means to support or verify
- This creates illogical meaning: evidence that "disputed" her assertion wouldn't be "improbable to confirm" it
elucidate
✗ Incorrect
- "Elucidate" means to clarify or explain
- This doesn't fit the logical flow—if evidence disputed her theory, it wouldn't be about clarifying it entirely
investigate
✗ Incorrect
- "Investigate" means to examine or study
- This doesn't make sense—evidence wouldn't be "improbable to investigate findings entirely"