While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:In 2013, paleontology professor Hesham Sallam and his students from...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- In 2013, paleontology professor Hesham Sallam and his students from Mansoura University in Egypt made a discovery.
- The team found a partial dinosaur skeleton at a site in Egypt's Dakhla Oasis.
- The skeleton belonged to a dinosaur species that lived approximately 80 million years ago.
- The new species was named Mansourasaurus to recognize the team that discovered it.
The student wants to explain the origin of the species' name. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Mansourasaurus, a new species discovered in Egypt in 2013, lived approximately 80 million years ago.
A partial dinosaur skeleton found in Egypt's Dakhla Oasis belonged to a species named Mansourasaurus.
Mansourasaurus, a species that lived approximately 80 million years ago, was discovered in 2013 by Egyptian paleontologist Hesham Sallam and a team of university students.
The new species was named Mansourasaurus to recognize the team that discovered it, a professor and students from Mansoura University.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In 2013, paleontology professor Hesham Sallam and his students from Mansoura University in Egypt made a discovery." |
|
| "The team found a partial dinosaur skeleton at a site in Egypt's Dakhla Oasis." |
|
| "The skeleton belonged to a dinosaur species that lived approximately 80 million years ago." |
|
| "The new species was named Mansourasaurus to recognize the team that discovered it." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[DISCOVERY CONTEXT] 2013: Sallam + Mansoura U students → [WHAT THEY FOUND] Partial dinosaur skeleton (Dakhla Oasis) → [SPECIES INFO] 80 million years old → [NAMING RATIONALE] Named Mansourasaurus to honor team
Main Point:
Egyptian researchers discovered a new dinosaur species and named it Mansourasaurus to honor their discovery team from Mansoura University.
Argument Flow:
The notes establish the discovery context (who, when, where), provide scientific details about the find (age, location), and conclude with the naming rationale that connects the species name directly to the university team that made the discovery.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked?
The student wants to explain the origin of the species' name - specifically, why it was called "Mansourasaurus."
What type of answer do we need?
A statement that uses relevant information from the notes to clearly explain how the species got its name.
Any limiting keywords?
"Most effectively" means we need the choice that does the best job of explaining the naming origin, and it must use "relevant information from the notes."
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must directly address why the species was named "Mansourasaurus"
- From our notes, we know the key information: the species "was named Mansourasaurus to recognize the team that discovered it," and that team was from Mansoura University
- The right answer should:
- Explicitly state that the naming was intentional (not coincidental)
- Connect the name to honoring/recognizing the discovery team
- Make the link clear between "Mansourasaurus" and "Mansoura University"
- The right answer should directly explain that the name was chosen to honor the discovery team and make the connection to Mansoura University clear
Mansourasaurus, a new species discovered in Egypt in 2013, lived approximately 80 million years ago.
- States when and where the species was discovered and its age
- Completely ignores the origin of the name - doesn't explain why it's called "Mansourasaurus"
- Fails to address the student's specific goal
A partial dinosaur skeleton found in Egypt's Dakhla Oasis belonged to a species named Mansourasaurus.
- Mentions the discovery location and that the species was named Mansourasaurus
- Doesn't explain why it received this particular name
- Missing the key connection between the name and the discovery team
Mansourasaurus, a species that lived approximately 80 million years ago, was discovered in 2013 by Egyptian paleontologist Hesham Sallam and a team of university students.
- Provides species age, discovery date, and identifies the discoverers
- Mentions the university connection but doesn't explain the naming rationale
- What trap this represents: This choice includes relevant information about who discovered it, but students might miss that it doesn't explicitly connect this information to explain why the name was chosen
The new species was named Mansourasaurus to recognize the team that discovered it, a professor and students from Mansoura University.
- Directly states that "the new species was named Mansourasaurus to recognize the team that discovered it"
- Identifies the team as "a professor and students from Mansoura University"
- Makes the clear connection between "Mansourasaurus" and "Mansoura University" through the naming rationale
- Perfectly matches our prethinking by explaining both the purpose (recognition) and the connection (Mansoura University team)