The ancient Maya codices discovered in Guatemala contained intricate astronomical calculations, but the hieroglyphic writing system remained largely u...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The ancient Maya codices discovered in Guatemala contained intricate astronomical calculations, but the hieroglyphic writing system remained largely undeciphered for decades, preventing modern scientists from understanding these sophisticated observations. After linguist Dr. Patricia Morales developed new translation methods, the mathematical content of these texts became ______ to contemporary astronomers. Her breakthrough has revealed celestial knowledge that predates European discoveries by centuries.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
valuable
detailed
comprehensible
authentic
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The ancient Maya codices discovered in Guatemala contained intricate astronomical calculations," |
|
| "but the hieroglyphic writing system remained largely undeciphered for decades," |
|
| "preventing modern scientists from understanding these sophisticated observations." |
|
| "After linguist Dr. Patricia Morales developed new translation methods," |
|
| "the mathematical content of these texts became _____ to contemporary astronomers." |
|
| "Her breakthrough has revealed celestial knowledge that predates European discoveries by centuries." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Patricia Morales' new translation methods solved the long-standing problem of undeciphered Maya hieroglyphs, making their sophisticated astronomical knowledge accessible to modern scientists.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a problem-solution structure. It begins by highlighting the sophistication of Maya astronomical texts but explains how the undeciphered writing system prevented modern understanding. Dr. Morales' breakthrough in translation methods resolves this barrier, and the final sentence emphasizes the historical significance of what was revealed.
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 passage clearly establishes that the Maya texts were previously unreadable, which prevented scientists from understanding their content.
- Dr. Morales solved this problem by developing new translation methods.
- So the blank describes the state of the texts after they became readable.
- The key elements the correct answer must have: Shows the contrast with the previous undeciphered state, reflects that scientists can now access/use the information, and logically follows from successful translation/decoding.
- So the right answer should indicate that the mathematical content became understandable or accessible to contemporary astronomers.
valuable
- While the content may indeed be valuable, this doesn't directly address the core issue
- The problem wasn't that the texts lacked value—it was that they couldn't be understood
- Doesn't create the logical connection between translation breakthrough and the result
detailed
- The texts were always detailed (they contained intricate astronomical calculations)
- This choice suggests the translation methods added detail, which doesn't make logical sense
- Misses the key transformation from unreadable to readable
comprehensible
- Directly addresses the central problem: texts went from undeciphered to understandable
- Creates perfect logical flow: undeciphered leads to new translation methods leads to comprehensible
- Comprehensible means able to be understood, which precisely captures what happened to the texts after Dr. Morales' breakthrough
authentic
- The texts were always authentic Maya documents
- Translation methods don't change authenticity—they change understandability
- This represents a trap where students might think authentic sounds academic and important, but it doesn't fit the logical progression of the passage