While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Roughly 96% of Australia's estimated 200,000 animal species are invertebrates.Inver...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Roughly \(96\%\) of Australia's estimated \(200,000\) animal species are invertebrates.
- Invertebrates of the order Hymenoptera, which consists of sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants, are estimated to total \(14,800\) species in Australia.
- Invertebrates of the order Coleoptera, which consists of beetles and weevils, are estimated to total \(28,200\) species in Australia.
- Some of these invertebrates' populations are threatened by invasive bird and fish species.
The student wants to emphasize the different orders in which Australia's invertebrate animals are classified. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Solution
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Roughly 96% of Australia's estimated 200,000 animal species are invertebrates." |
|
| "Invertebrates of the order Hymenoptera, which consists of sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants, are estimated to total 14,800 species in Australia." |
|
| "Invertebrates of the order Coleoptera, which consists of beetles and weevils, are estimated to total 28,200 species in Australia." |
|
| "Some of these invertebrates' populations are threatened by invasive bird and fish species." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
Broad Context: Australia has 200k species, 96% invertebrates
Taxonomic Breakdown: Order Hymenoptera (sawflies, wasps, bees, ants) - 14,800 and Order Coleoptera (beetles, weevils) - 28,200
Threat Context: Some populations threatened by invasive species
Main Point: The research notes provide taxonomic classification data for Australia's major invertebrate orders along with species counts and threat information.
Argument Flow: The notes begin with broad statistical context about Australia's animal diversity, then break down into specific taxonomic orders with their constituent species and population numbers, and conclude with conservation concerns.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to select which choice most effectively emphasizes the different orders in which Australia's invertebrate animals are classified.
What type of answer do we need? A sentence that highlights the taxonomic classification system - specifically showing the different orders and how invertebrates are grouped within them.
Any limiting keywords? "Different orders" is key - the answer must show classification diversity, not just focus on one order. "Most effectively" means we need the choice that best accomplishes this specific rhetorical goal.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer needs to show the classification system in action by presenting multiple orders
- It should demonstrate how different invertebrate species are grouped into distinct taxonomic orders
- Since we have information about two orders (Hymenoptera and Coleoptera), the best answer would present both orders and show how different species belong to each one
- Only discusses Coleoptera order with beetles and weevils
- Fails to show "different orders" since it only mentions one
- Presents both Hymenoptera and Coleoptera orders
- Shows specific species that belong to each order
- Uses clear contrast structure that emphasizes the different classifications
- Only focuses on Hymenoptera order and threats to it
- Doesn't mention Coleoptera or show different orders
- Only discusses Hymenoptera order and its species count
- Fails to show different orders since Coleoptera isn't mentioned