Ocean researcher Dr. Sarah Chen has profound respect for Dr. Sylvia Earle's groundbreaking methodological approaches to deep-sea ecosystem investigati...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Ocean researcher Dr. Sarah Chen has profound respect for Dr. Sylvia Earle's groundbreaking methodological approaches to deep-sea ecosystem investigation. Chen's latest research venture utilized methods that constitute an accurate ______ of Earle's methodology: experts knowledgeable about Earle's research would immediately recognize the procedural parallels.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
evaluation
replication
criticism
modification
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Ocean researcher Dr. Sarah Chen has profound respect for Dr. Sylvia Earle's groundbreaking methodological approaches to deep-sea ecosystem investigation.' |
|
| 'Chen's latest research venture utilized methods that constitute an accurate ______ of Earle's methodology:' |
|
| 'experts knowledgeable about Earle's research would immediately recognize the procedural parallels.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[CONTEXT: Chen's respect for Earle] → [MAIN CLAIM: Chen's methods = accurate [BLANK] of Earle's] → [EVIDENCE: Experts recognize procedural parallels]
Main Point: Chen's research methods closely mirror Earle's established methodological approaches.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Chen's respect for Earle's innovative methods, then describes how Chen's own methods relate to Earle's work (with the key relationship word missing), and concludes with evidence that experts can immediately see the clear procedural similarities between their approaches.
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 missing word must describe what Chen's methods represent in relation to Earle's methodology
- It must be something that can be 'accurate,' suggesting precision or faithfulness
- It must be consistent with experts being able to 'immediately recognize the procedural parallels'
- Given Chen's 'profound respect' for Earle and the emphasis on parallel procedures, Chen appears to be following Earle's approach rather than changing or critiquing it
- The right answer should indicate that Chen is faithfully copying or reproducing Earle's methodological approach
evaluation
- This would mean Chen's methods constitute an assessment or judgment of Earle's work
- Doesn't align with experts seeing 'procedural parallels' since you don't see parallel procedures in an evaluation
replication
- This means Chen's methods constitute an accurate reproduction of Earle's methodology
- Perfectly matches the evidence that experts recognize 'procedural parallels' and aligns with Chen's 'profound respect' for Earle's approaches
criticism
- This would mean Chen's methods constitute a critique of Earle's work
- Contradicts the opening description of Chen's 'profound respect' for Earle
modification
- This would mean Chen altered or changed Earle's methods
- If methods were modified, experts wouldn't see exact 'procedural parallels'