Researchers investigated how different study environments affect college students' learning outcomes. They examined the impact of background music on ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Researchers investigated how different study environments affect college students' learning outcomes. They examined the impact of background music on students' performance across various academic tasks. While background music had no measurable effect on students' reading comprehension or note-taking abilities, it significantly impaired their performance on memory recall tests. These results indicate that _____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
students who choose to study with background music demonstrate better reading comprehension than students who study in silence.
memory recall is more significantly affected by background music than reading comprehension is, though background music enhances both cognitive processes.
students' academic success would be compromised if they consistently chose to study in environments with background music present.
the learning outcomes of college students are more negatively affected by background music than the learning outcomes of other age groups are.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Researchers investigated how different study environments affect college students' learning outcomes." |
|
| "They examined the impact of background music on students' performance across various academic tasks." |
|
| "While background music had no measurable effect on students' reading comprehension or note-taking abilities," |
|
| "it significantly impaired their performance on memory recall tests." |
|
| "These results indicate that _____" |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Research shows that background music has mixed effects on students' academic performance - no impact on some tasks but significant impairment on memory recall.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a research study on background music's effects, then presents contrasting findings: neutral effects on reading and note-taking but harmful effects on memory recall. This sets up the need for a logical conclusion about what these mixed results mean for students.
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 evidence shows that background music either has no effect (reading, note-taking) or a negative effect (memory recall) on academic tasks
- There are no positive effects mentioned
- Since memory recall is crucial for academic success and background music significantly impairs this ability, the logical conclusion should suggest that background music is problematic for students' overall academic performance
- The right answer should acknowledge that background music creates more harm than benefit for students' academic work, making it unwise for consistent use during studying
students who choose to study with background music demonstrate better reading comprehension than students who study in silence.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims background music improves reading comprehension
- Directly contradicts the passage, which states background music had no measurable effect on reading comprehension
memory recall is more significantly affected by background music than reading comprehension is, though background music enhances both cognitive processes.
✗ Incorrect
- Correctly notes that memory recall is more affected than reading comprehension
- Falsely claims background music enhances both cognitive processes
- The passage shows background music has no effect on reading comprehension and impairs memory recall
students' academic success would be compromised if they consistently chose to study in environments with background music present.
✓ Correct
- Logically concludes that consistent background music use would compromise academic success
- Matches our prethinking: since background music impairs memory recall (crucial for academics) and provides no benefits for other tasks, regular use would be problematic
- Follows directly from the evidence without overreaching
the learning outcomes of college students are more negatively affected by background music than the learning outcomes of other age groups are.
✗ Incorrect
- Makes a comparison between college students and other age groups
- The passage only studies college students and provides no information about other age groups