ResearchGate, a social networking platform for scientists, allows researchers to share publications, data, and collaborate across institutions. The pl...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
ResearchGate, a social networking platform for scientists, allows researchers to share publications, data, and collaborate across institutions. The platform hosts millions of research papers and facilitates direct communication between researchers worldwide. Dr. Sarah Chen recently uploaded her study on urban air pollution patterns to ResearchGate, making it accessible to the global scientific community. A technology journalist claims that platforms like ResearchGate are making traditional academic conferences obsolete for scientific collaboration.
Which choice, if true, would most directly challenge the journalist's claim?
ResearchGate hosts research papers from scientists at leading universities worldwide.
Despite online platforms, attendance at major scientific conferences has continued to increase annually over the past decade.
Dr. Chen's air pollution study has been downloaded by researchers from over thirty countries.
ResearchGate allows scientists to receive immediate feedback on their research from peers.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'ResearchGate, a social networking platform for scientists, allows researchers to share publications, data, and collaborate across institutions.' |
|
| 'The platform hosts millions of research papers and facilitates direct communication between researchers worldwide.' |
|
| 'Dr. Sarah Chen recently uploaded her study on urban air pollution patterns to ResearchGate, making it accessible to the global scientific community.' |
|
| 'A technology journalist claims that platforms like ResearchGate are making traditional academic conferences obsolete for scientific collaboration.' |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A journalist argues that online research platforms like ResearchGate are making traditional academic conferences unnecessary for scientific collaboration.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes what ResearchGate is and what it does, provides a specific example of its use, then presents the journalist's claim that such platforms are replacing traditional conferences.
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
- To challenge this claim directly, we need evidence showing that conferences are NOT becoming obsolete
- Such as maintained or growing conference attendance or relevance despite online platforms
ResearchGate hosts research papers from scientists at leading universities worldwide.
✗ Incorrect
- This tells us ResearchGate has global reach but doesn't address whether conferences are becoming obsolete
Despite online platforms, attendance at major scientific conferences has continued to increase annually over the past decade.
✓ Correct
- This directly contradicts the journalist's claim by showing conference attendance is increasing over a decade, not declining as would be expected if conferences were becoming obsolete
Dr. Chen's air pollution study has been downloaded by researchers from over thirty countries.
✗ Incorrect
- This shows the platform's effectiveness but doesn't challenge the claim about conferences becoming obsolete
ResearchGate allows scientists to receive immediate feedback on their research from peers.
✗ Incorrect
- This highlights an advantage of online platforms, which actually supports rather than challenges the journalist's argument