Researchers have found a nearly 164,000-year-old molar from a member of the archaic human species known as Denisovans in a...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Researchers have found a nearly 164,000-year-old molar from a member of the archaic human species known as Denisovans in a cave in Laos, suggesting that Denisovans lived in a wider range of environments than indicated by earlier evidence. Before the discovery, Denisovans were thought to have lived only at high altitudes in relatively cold climates in what are now Russia and China, but the discovery of the tooth in Laos suggests that they may have lived at low altitudes in relatively warm climates in Southeast Asia as well.
Which choice best states the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
It dismisses as untrue the research presented in the previous sentence.
It defines a term used in the description that follows in the rest of the sentence.
It emphasizes the main goal of the research introduced in the previous sentence.
It provides context that clarifies the significance of the information that follows in the rest of the sentence.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Researchers have found a nearly 164,000-year-old molar from a member of the archaic human species known as Denisovans in a cave in Laos, suggesting that Denisovans lived in a wider range of environments than indicated by earlier evidence.' |
|
| 'Before the discovery, Denisovans were thought to have lived only at high altitudes in relatively cold climates in what are now Russia and China,' |
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| 'but the discovery of the tooth in Laos suggests that they may have lived at low altitudes in relatively warm climates in Southeast Asia as well.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A newly discovered Denisovan tooth in Laos challenges previous beliefs about where this ancient human species lived, suggesting they inhabited a much wider range of environments than scientists previously thought.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with a significant archaeological discovery, then explains what scientists believed before this discovery, and finally contrasts that old understanding with what the new evidence suggests.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the specific underlined portion within the overall text structure
What type of answer do we need? The role or purpose that this particular sentence serves in the passage's argument
Any limiting keywords? Content Genre: Sciences, Content Format: Text-only, Question Type: Purpose (specific part), Language Complexity: Moderate
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined portion tells us what scientists believed about Denisovans before this new discovery
- This sentence is crucial because it establishes the baseline understanding that makes the new discovery significant
- Without knowing what was believed before, we couldn't understand why finding a tooth in Laos matters
- The right answer should explain that this sentence provides the necessary background information that helps us understand why the new discovery is important and meaningful
It dismisses as untrue the research presented in the previous sentence.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice suggests the sentence dismisses previous research as untrue
- The underlined portion doesn't dismiss anything—it simply states what was previously believed
It defines a term used in the description that follows in the rest of the sentence.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the sentence defines a term used later
- The underlined portion doesn't define any terms—it describes a previous belief about Denisovan habitats
It emphasizes the main goal of the research introduced in the previous sentence.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the sentence emphasizes the main goal of the research
- The underlined portion doesn't discuss research goals at all—it explains what was believed before the current discovery
It provides context that clarifies the significance of the information that follows in the rest of the sentence.
✓ Correct
- The sentence provides the previous understanding about Denisovan habitats (high altitude, cold climates)
- This background context makes the new discovery meaningful—without knowing the old belief, we wouldn't understand why finding a tooth in warm, low-altitude Laos is significant