Researchers Maria Santos and David Chen have each investigated the mutualistic interactions occurring between mycorrhizal fungi and woodland trees wit...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Researchers Maria Santos and David Chen have each investigated the mutualistic interactions occurring between mycorrhizal fungi and woodland trees within temperate ecological systems. Their investigations reveal how such collaborative relationships strengthen nutrient transfer processes and bolster woodland stability when ecosystems face environmental challenges. Support for these interactions derives from soil examination and regulated laboratory experiments. Santos's 2019 investigation analyzed how young oak trees developed advantageous relationships with Pisolithus fungi, demonstrating enhanced phosphorus absorption and strengthened drought resistance upon establishment of the partnership.
Which option most accurately characterizes the role of the highlighted sentence?
It explains Santos's rationale for concentrating on oak saplings instead of alternative tree varieties in her investigation.
It provides a particular research investigation that exemplifies the mutualistic relationships between fungi and trees.
It implies that regulated laboratory experiments are more dependable than soil examination for investigating fungal relationships.
It suggests that the majority of ecologists regard Pisolithus fungi as more advantageous to trees than alternative fungal varieties.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Researchers Maria Santos and David Chen have each investigated the mutualistic interactions occurring between mycorrhizal fungi and woodland trees within temperate ecological systems. |
|
| Their investigations reveal how such collaborative relationships strengthen nutrient transfer processes and bolster woodland stability when ecosystems face environmental challenges. |
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| Support for these interactions derives from soil examination and regulated laboratory experiments. |
|
| Santos's 2019 investigation analyzed how young oak trees developed advantageous relationships with Pisolithus fungi, demonstrating enhanced phosphorus absorption and strengthened drought resistance upon establishment of the partnership. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[RESEARCH CONTEXT] Santos & Chen studied fungi-tree partnerships → [MAIN FINDING] These partnerships strengthen forests
├── Evidence sources: soil + lab tests
└── [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE] Santos 2019: Oak + Pisolithus → better nutrients + drought resistance
Main Point: Research by Santos and Chen demonstrates that mutualistic relationships between mycorrhizal fungi and trees strengthen forest ecosystems through improved nutrient transfer and environmental resilience.
Argument Flow: The passage opens by introducing two researchers and their focus on fungi-tree partnerships. It then presents their key finding that these collaborative relationships benefit forest health. After noting the evidence sources, it concludes with a specific example from Santos's work showing concrete benefits when oak trees partner with Pisolithus fungi.
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, the highlighted sentence about Santos's 2019 investigation does something very specific - it takes the general concept of fungi-tree partnerships that we learned about earlier and gives us a concrete, detailed example
- It shows us exactly what these 'mutualistic interactions' look like in practice with specific organisms (oak trees and Pisolithus fungi) and specific benefits (phosphorus absorption and drought resistance)
- The right answer should recognize that this sentence serves as a specific illustration or example of the broader research findings mentioned earlier in the passage
It explains Santos's rationale for concentrating on oak saplings instead of alternative tree varieties in her investigation.
- This choice suggests the sentence explains why Santos chose oak trees over other species
- The sentence doesn't provide any rationale or comparison - it simply describes what she studied and what she found
- We have no information about her decision-making process for choosing oak trees
It provides a particular research investigation that exemplifies the mutualistic relationships between fungi and trees.
- This choice accurately identifies that the sentence provides a specific research example
- It correctly connects this example to the broader topic of mutualistic relationships between fungi and trees
- This matches our analysis - the sentence gives concrete details (Santos, 2019, oak trees, Pisolithus fungi, specific benefits) that exemplify the general partnerships discussed earlier
It implies that regulated laboratory experiments are more dependable than soil examination for investigating fungal relationships.
- This suggests the sentence compares the reliability of laboratory experiments versus soil examination
- The sentence doesn't make any comparison between these methods - it simply describes Santos's findings
- The previous sentence mentioned both methods as sources of support, but this sentence doesn't evaluate their relative dependability
It suggests that the majority of ecologists regard Pisolithus fungi as more advantageous to trees than alternative fungal varieties.
- This implies the sentence suggests most ecologists prefer Pisolithus fungi over other fungal types
- The sentence only describes Santos's specific study with Pisolithus fungi
- There's no mention of what 'the majority of ecologists' think or any comparison with other fungal varieties