Professional chefs understand that the Maillard reaction occurs when proteins and sugars in food are exposed to high temperatures during...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Professional chefs understand that the Maillard reaction occurs when proteins and sugars in food are exposed to high temperatures during cooking. _____ this chemical process creates the distinctive brown coloring and complex flavors found in seared steaks and toasted bread.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For example,
Consequently,
However,
Meanwhile,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Professional chefs understand that the Maillard reaction occurs when proteins and sugars in food are exposed to high temperatures during cooking.' |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| 'this chemical process creates the distinctive brown coloring and complex flavors found in seared steaks and toasted bread.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Maillard reaction is a cooking process that produces the brown coloring and complex flavors we see in foods like seared steaks and toasted bread.
Argument Flow: The passage first defines what the Maillard reaction is and when it occurs, then explains what this chemical process produces as its result.
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
- Looking at our table, we can see the first sentence explains what the Maillard reaction is (proteins and sugars exposed to high heat)
- The sentence after the blank explains what this reaction produces (brown coloring and complex flavors)
- So we need a transition that shows the second sentence is a direct result or consequence of what was described in the first sentence
- This is a clear cause-and-effect relationship
- So the right answer should be a transition word that signals 'as a result of this' or 'because of this process'
For example,
✗ Incorrect
- 'For example' suggests the second sentence would provide a specific instance of the Maillard reaction
- But the second sentence isn't giving an example of the reaction—it's explaining what the reaction produces
- This creates an illogical relationship between the sentences
Consequently,
✓ Correct
- 'Consequently' perfectly shows the cause-and-effect relationship we identified
- The brown coloring and complex flavors are direct consequences of the Maillard reaction
- This matches our prethinking about needing a result-indicating transition
However,
✗ Incorrect
- 'However' signals contrast or opposition between ideas
- But there's no contrast here—both sentences work together to explain the same process
- Using this would suggest the second sentence contradicts the first, which makes no sense
Meanwhile,
✗ Incorrect
- 'Meanwhile' indicates two things happening simultaneously
- But we're not describing parallel events—we're showing how one thing leads to another
- This transition would make the relationship between the sentences unclear