While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Research conducted at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has focused...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Research conducted at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has focused on marine ecosystem impacts.
- Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist there, published "Coral Bleaching Patterns in Warming Oceans: A Pacific Analysis" in 2019, which examined coral reef degradation across fifteen Pacific Ocean sites.
- Chen's 2021 research, "Microplastic Distribution in Deep-Sea Ecosystems," analyzed water samples from over 100 deep-ocean locations worldwide.
The student wants to describe the study that Chen published in 2019. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
"Coral Bleaching Patterns in Warming Oceans: A Pacific Analysis," a study by Dr. Sarah Chen at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, examined coral reef degradation across fifteen Pacific Ocean sites.
Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, published studies in both 2019 and 2021.
Published at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the study "Microplastic Distribution in Deep-Sea Ecosystems" analyzed water samples from over 100 deep-ocean locations worldwide.
While one study that Dr. Sarah Chen published examined coral reefs, another analyzed water samples from deep-ocean locations.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Research conducted at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has focused on marine ecosystem impacts." |
|
| "Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist there, published 'Coral Bleaching Patterns in Warming Oceans: A Pacific Analysis' in 2019, which examined coral reef degradation across fifteen Pacific Ocean sites." |
|
| "Chen's 2021 research, 'Microplastic Distribution in Deep-Sea Ecosystems,' analyzed water samples from over 100 deep-ocean locations worldwide." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Sarah Chen at Scripps Institution has conducted two major marine ecosystem studies—one on coral bleaching (2019) and one on microplastics (2021).
Argument Flow: The notes establish Scripps as a marine research institution, then detail two specific studies by Dr. Chen, showing her research spans from coral reef degradation in the Pacific to global deep-sea microplastic contamination.
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 right answer should focus specifically on Chen's 2019 study, not her 2021 work
- Include the study's title: "Coral Bleaching Patterns in Warming Oceans: A Pacific Analysis"
- Mention what the study examined: coral reef degradation across fifteen Pacific Ocean sites
- Include contextual information like Chen being a marine biologist at Scripps Institution
"Coral Bleaching Patterns in Warming Oceans: A Pacific Analysis," a study by Dr. Sarah Chen at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, examined coral reef degradation across fifteen Pacific Ocean sites.
✓ Correct
- Includes the exact title of the 2019 study
- Mentions Chen's credentials and institutional affiliation
- Describes what the study examined
- Stays focused exclusively on the 2019 study
Dr. Sarah Chen, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, published studies in both 2019 and 2021.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply states that Chen published studies in both 2019 and 2021
- Provides no description of what the 2019 study actually examined
Published at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the study "Microplastic Distribution in Deep-Sea Ecosystems" analyzed water samples from over 100 deep-ocean locations worldwide.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes the 2021 microplastic study instead of the 2019 coral study
- Completely missing the target
While one study that Dr. Sarah Chen published examined coral reefs, another analyzed water samples from deep-ocean locations.
✗ Incorrect
- Vaguely references both studies without describing either one specifically
- Doesn't mention titles or specific findings of the 2019 study