Roughly once an hour, a torrent of boiling water shoots up 100 feet or more from Yellowstone's Old Faithful geyser...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Roughly once an hour, a torrent of boiling water shoots up 100 feet or more from Yellowstone's Old Faithful geyser before plunging back to the surface—a cycle seemingly inhospitable to life. ______ as microbiologist Eric Boyd attests, 'the geyser is…almost like a cradle for biodiversity,' home to numerous bacteria species that thrive in its sulfurous waters.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Thus,
Specifically,
Still,
In other words,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Roughly once an hour, a torrent of boiling water shoots up 100 feet or more from Yellowstone's Old Faithful geyser before plunging back to the surface—a cycle seemingly inhospitable to life.' |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| 'as microbiologist Eric Boyd attests, 'the geyser is…almost like a cradle for biodiversity,' home to numerous bacteria species that thrive in its sulfurous waters.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Despite appearing hostile to life, Old Faithful geyser actually supports a thriving bacterial ecosystem.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes an apparent contradiction—first presenting Old Faithful as seemingly inhospitable to life due to its extreme conditions, then revealing through expert testimony that it's actually teeming with bacterial life that thrives in those very conditions.
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 transition must connect two opposing ideas: the geyser seems inhospitable but actually supports lots of life
- We need a word that signals contrast or contradiction—something that says 'despite what we just established'
Thus,
Thus
✗ Incorrect
- 'Thus' signals a logical conclusion or result
- This would suggest the biodiversity follows from the harsh conditions, but the passage presents them as seemingly contradictory
- Creates the wrong logical relationship
Specifically,
Specifically
✗ Incorrect
- 'Specifically' introduces a more detailed example of what was just mentioned
- This would suggest Boyd's statement elaborates on the 'inhospitable' nature, but he's actually contradicting it
Still,
Still
✓ Correct
- 'Still' signals contrast—it acknowledges what was just said while introducing contradictory information
- Perfect fit for 'it seems inhospitable, STILL (despite this appearance) it's actually biodiverse'
In other words,
In other words
✗ Incorrect
- 'In other words' introduces a restatement or clarification of the same idea
- This would suggest Boyd is rephrasing 'inhospitable to life,' but he's presenting the opposite view