GPS technology and modern navigation systems are becoming standard across Pacific maritime communities. This technological shift means fewer young peo...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
GPS technology and modern navigation systems are becoming standard across Pacific maritime communities. This technological shift means fewer young people in traditional Polynesian societies learn ancestral wayfinding techniques. Yet these traditional methods contain crucial knowledge—cultural practices of wayfinding societies preserve 80 percent of the environmental cues needed for Pacific navigation, according to recent research. Recognizing this knowledge gap, experienced Polynesian navigators have prioritized teaching traditional techniques to younger generations. In preserving these time-tested navigation methods, communities accomplish something beyond cultural continuity: they are also ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
preserving detailed knowledge about oceanic conditions and natural navigation markers.
developing new technologies that combine traditional and modern navigation methods.
ensuring that community members have access to modern navigation equipment.
transferring traditional navigation concepts into contemporary mapping systems.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'GPS technology and modern navigation systems are becoming standard across Pacific maritime communities.' |
|
| 'This technological shift means fewer young people in traditional Polynesian societies learn ancestral wayfinding techniques.' |
|
| 'Yet these traditional methods contain crucial knowledge—cultural practices of wayfinding societies preserve 80 percent of the environmental cues needed for Pacific navigation, according to recent research.' |
|
| 'Recognizing this knowledge gap, experienced Polynesian navigators have prioritized teaching traditional techniques to younger generations.' |
|
| 'In preserving these time-tested navigation methods, communities accomplish something beyond cultural continuity: they are also ______' |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
- Main Point: While modern GPS technology is replacing traditional Polynesian wayfinding knowledge, experienced navigators are teaching these methods to preserve both cultural continuity and valuable navigation knowledge.
- Argument Flow: The passage establishes tension between modern technology adoption and traditional knowledge loss, shows value of traditional methods through research data, and concludes by highlighting how preservation efforts serve multiple purposes beyond cultural preservation.
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 correct answer should connect to the research finding that traditional wayfinding methods 'preserve 80 percent of the environmental cues needed for Pacific navigation.'
- This suggests these methods contain detailed, practical knowledge about ocean conditions and navigation markers - not just cultural value.
- The right answer should identify the practical navigation knowledge that communities are preserving - something about environmental understanding or navigation expertise that has concrete value beyond cultural significance.
preserving detailed knowledge about oceanic conditions and natural navigation markers.
✓ Correct
- This directly connects to the passage - traditional methods 'preserve 80 percent of the environmental cues needed for Pacific navigation'
- Matches our prethinking by identifying practical knowledge (oceanic conditions and natural navigation markers) that goes beyond cultural value
- 'Detailed knowledge' reflects the specific, technical information embedded in these traditional practices
developing new technologies that combine traditional and modern navigation methods.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage mentions GPS technology becoming standard but says nothing about communities developing new combined technologies
- This introduces an idea not supported by the text
ensuring that community members have access to modern navigation equipment.
✗ Incorrect
- This contradicts the passage focus - GPS is already becoming standard
- The passage emphasizes preserving traditional techniques, not ensuring access to modern equipment
transferring traditional navigation concepts into contemporary mapping systems.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage does not mention transferring concepts into contemporary mapping systems
- This assumes technological integration not discussed in the text