Research conducted in natural environments—including both direct behavioral observations and environmental sample gathering—provides researchers with ...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Research conducted in natural environments—including both direct behavioral observations and environmental sample gathering—provides researchers with comprehensive understanding of ecological processes that controlled laboratory settings are unable to reproduce. Consequently, marine researcher Dr. James Chen carried out his coral ecosystem studies by establishing residence on isolated islands for prolonged durations, conducting daily underwater observations of aquatic species behavior and coral condition. By means of this comprehensive field investigation, he uncovered formerly undocumented mutualistic associations among organisms.
Which choice best describes the function of the highlighted sentence in the text as a whole?
It supplies particular geographic information regarding isolated island sites.
It explains the advantages Dr. Chen gained by integrating environmental research methods into his investigation.
It contends that Dr. Chen possesses expertise in oceanic preservation regulations.
It introduces a significant ecological emergency impacting coral reef systems.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Research conducted in natural environments—including both direct behavioral observations and environmental sample gathering—provides researchers with comprehensive understanding of ecological processes that controlled laboratory settings are unable to reproduce. |
|
| Consequently, marine researcher Dr. James Chen carried out his coral ecosystem studies by establishing residence on isolated islands for prolonged durations, conducting daily underwater observations of aquatic species behavior and coral condition. |
|
| By means of this comprehensive field investigation, he uncovered formerly undocumented mutualistic associations among organisms. |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Natural environment research methods enable discoveries that controlled laboratory settings cannot achieve.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that natural environment research provides superior understanding compared to lab work, then demonstrates this principle through Dr. Chen's successful field research methodology, which led to new ecological discoveries.
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 highlighted sentence comes right after the opening claim about natural environment research being superior
- The word Consequently signals that Chen is doing something as a direct result of that opening principle
- The sentence shows Chen's specific methodology - he lived on islands and conducted daily observations, which is exactly the type of natural environment research described in the first sentence
- The right answer should explain that this sentence demonstrates how Chen implemented the environmental research approach that was just established as superior to lab work
It supplies particular geographic information regarding isolated island sites.
- This choice focuses on geographic details about island locations
- The sentence mentions isolated islands but that's not its main function - it's about Chen's research methodology, not geographic specifics
It explains the advantages Dr. Chen gained by integrating environmental research methods into his investigation.
- This choice captures exactly what we identified in our prethinking
- The sentence shows Chen integrating the environmental research methods mentioned in the opening sentence
- The advantages he gained are implied by the word Consequently - he's following the superior approach described earlier
It contends that Dr. Chen possesses expertise in oceanic preservation regulations.
- Nothing in the highlighted sentence discusses Chen's expertise in preservation regulations
- The sentence is about his research methodology, not regulatory knowledge
It introduces a significant ecological emergency impacting coral reef systems.
- The sentence doesn't introduce any ecological emergency or crisis
- It describes Chen's research approach, not environmental problems