Researcher Lucy Salazar is using radiocarbon dating to study Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan fortress in the Andes Mountains. She...

GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions

Source: Practice Test

Craft and Structure

Words in Context

EASY

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Notes

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Researcher Lucy Salazar is using radiocarbon dating to study Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan fortress in the Andes Mountains. She and her colleagues have found that the site's age differs from the _____ estimate: it is approximately 20 years older than scholars thought when first encountering Machu Picchu in 1911.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

genuine

intentional

independent

original

Solution

Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage

Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table

Text from Passage	Analysis
Researcher Lucy Salazar is using radiocarbon dating to study Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan fortress in the Andes Mountains.	What it says: Salazar = researcher, using radiocarbon dating on Machu Picchu (Incan fortress, Andes) What it does: Introduces the researcher and her current project What it is: Background context
She and her colleagues have found that the site's age differs from the _______ estimate:	What it says: Her team found age != some kind of estimate What it does: Presents the main finding - a difference from a previous estimate What it is: Main claim with missing descriptor
it is approximately 20 years older than scholars thought when first encountering Machu Picchu in 1911.	What it says: Site = 20 yrs older than 1911 scholars thought What it does: Provides specific details about the age difference and timing What it is: Supporting evidence/clarification

Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements

Main Point: Radiocarbon dating reveals Machu Picchu is older than previously estimated by scholars who first studied it in 1911.

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 analysis, we need a word that describes what type of estimate the 1911 scholars made
The key context clue is when first encountering Machu Picchu in 1911 - this tells us we're talking about the very first estimate made by scholars when they initially discovered and studied the site
The word should indicate that this was the initial, first estimate made back in 1911, as opposed to subsequent estimates made by other researchers over time
So the right answer should describe the estimate as being the first or initial one made when scholars originally studied Machu Picchu

Answer Choices Explained

genuine

Incorrect

Genuine means real or authentic
Doesn't fit because the issue isn't whether the 1911 estimate was real or fake - it was a real estimate that just turned out to be inaccurate

intentional

Incorrect

Intentional means done on purpose
Doesn't make sense here because we're not discussing whether the estimate was deliberate or accidental

independent

Incorrect

Independent means separate or not influenced by others
Misses the key point about this being the first estimate made in 1911

original

Correct

Original means first or initial
Perfectly captures that we're talking about the first estimate made by scholars when they originally encountered Machu Picchu in 1911
Creates the logical contrast: new radiocarbon dating vs. the original 1911 estimate

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