The following text is adapted from a university newsletter profile. Professor Elena Rodriguez has worked in the administration for over...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is adapted from a university newsletter profile.
Professor Elena Rodriguez has worked in the administration for over fifteen years. Colleagues often joke that university walls could tell stories, but they would have nothing on Professor Rodriguez. She has witnessed budget crises, faculty disputes, and administrative changes that could provide material for campus discussions for years. Yet throughout her tenure, sensitive information has never traveled from her office to the faculty lounge. Her filing cabinet, colleagues note with respect, serves as a secure repository where confidential matters remain permanently protected.
Based on the text, how do Professor Rodriguez's colleagues most likely view her?
Most consider her highly trustworthy with sensitive information.
Many appreciate her despite her tendency to work in isolation.
Some worry that she knows too much about university affairs.
Few would seek her counsel were it not for her administrative experience.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Professor Elena Rodriguez has worked in the administration for over fifteen years." |
|
| "Colleagues often joke that university walls could tell stories, but they would have nothing on Professor Rodriguez." |
|
| "She has witnessed budget crises, faculty disputes, and administrative changes that could provide material for campus discussions for years." |
|
| "Yet throughout her tenure, sensitive information has never traveled from her office to the faculty lounge." |
|
| "Her filing cabinet, colleagues note with respect, serves as a secure repository where confidential matters remain permanently protected." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Professor Rodriguez is viewed by her colleagues as highly trustworthy because despite having extensive knowledge of sensitive university matters, she never shares confidential information.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Rodriguez's long tenure and extensive knowledge, then contrasts this with her perfect discretion, leading to colleagues' respectful view of her as completely trustworthy with sensitive information.
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 passage gives us clear evidence about colleagues' views through specific phrases and examples
- We know colleagues "joke" about her extensive knowledge, but more importantly, they "note with respect" her discretion
- The entire passage builds toward showing that while she knows a lot of sensitive information, she never shares it
- This creates a picture of someone colleagues would view as completely trustworthy
- The right elements for the correct answer should be:
- Focus on trustworthiness or reliability with sensitive information
- Reflect the respectful tone colleagues have toward her
- Connect to her discretion rather than just her knowledge
Most consider her highly trustworthy with sensitive information.
✓ Correct
- This directly matches what we see in the passage - colleagues view her "with respect" specifically because confidential matters "remain permanently protected" with her
- The word "trustworthy" captures exactly what the passage demonstrates through her perfect track record of discretion
- Matches our prethinking about colleagues respecting her reliability with sensitive information
Many appreciate her despite her tendency to work in isolation.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't suggest she works in isolation - she's been in administration for 15 years and clearly interacts with colleagues
- There's no "despite" relationship suggested - colleagues don't appreciate her in spite of anything negative
- Trap: Students might think her discretion means she's antisocial, but the passage shows colleagues respect her
Some worry that she knows too much about university affairs.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage shows the opposite - colleagues respect her precisely because she doesn't misuse what she knows
- No evidence of worry; instead we see respect and trust
- The concern would be about sharing too much, but she shares nothing confidential
Few would seek her counsel were it not for her administrative experience.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't discuss whether people seek her counsel at all
- This misses the main point about trustworthiness and focuses on a relationship dynamic not addressed in the text
- Trap: Students might think administrative experience alone drives respect, missing that it's specifically her discretion that matters