The following text is from a 2020 museum acquisition report. The Smithsonian Institution recently obtained a collection of Civil War...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from a 2020 museum acquisition report. The Smithsonian Institution recently obtained a collection of Civil War letters from a private estate. Museum archivists carefully examined each document, catalogued the correspondence, and stored the materials in climate-controlled conditions to ensure they would be maintained for future researchers.
As used in the text, what does the word "maintained" most nearly mean?
Increased
Preserved
Created
Displayed
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The following text is from a 2020 museum acquisition report." |
|
| "The Smithsonian Institution recently obtained a collection of Civil War letters from a private estate." |
|
| "Museum archivists carefully examined each document, catalogued the correspondence, and stored the materials in climate-controlled conditions" |
|
| "to ensure they would be maintained for future researchers." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Smithsonian acquired Civil War letters and processed them through careful preservation procedures to keep them safe for future research.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from identifying the source and acquisition, then describes the systematic preservation steps taken by archivists, concluding with the ultimate purpose of this careful handling.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The meaning of the word "maintained" as it's used in this specific context.
What type of answer do we need? A synonym that fits the word's function in this sentence about preserving historical documents.
Any limiting keywords? "As used in the text" - we need the contextual meaning, not just any definition of "maintained."
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our analysis, "maintained" appears in the purpose statement explaining why archivists stored materials in climate-controlled conditions
- The goal is to keep these historical documents safe and in good condition so future researchers can access them
- In this context, "maintained" means kept in good condition or preserved from deterioration
Increased
- Suggests making something larger or more numerous
- Doesn't fit the context of storing documents for preservation
Preserved
- Perfectly captures the meaning of keeping documents in good condition over time
- Matches the context of climate-controlled storage designed to prevent deterioration
Created
- Means to make something new
- The documents already exist - they're not being created for future researchers
Displayed
- Means to show or exhibit
- While museums do display items, the passage focuses on storage and preservation, not exhibition