The Coastal Futures Conservatory in Virginia is known for creating aural representations of ecological data. One such effort combines underwater...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
The Coastal Futures Conservatory in Virginia is known for creating aural representations of ecological data. One such effort combines underwater audio recorded in seagrass beds with data that track rising carbon levels in the seagrass. As carbon levels increase, the audio is correspondingly distorted; ______ listeners can 'hear' the changes in the carbon levels.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
furthermore,
by comparison,
for instance,
thus,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The Coastal Futures Conservatory in Virginia is known for creating aural representations of ecological data.' |
|
| 'One such effort combines underwater audio recorded in seagrass beds with data that track rising carbon levels in the seagrass.' |
|
| 'As carbon levels increase, the audio is correspondingly distorted;' |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| 'listeners can hear the changes in the carbon levels.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[BACKGROUND] Conservatory creates audio from ecological data → [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE] Project combines seagrass audio plus carbon data → [MECHANISM] Higher carbon equals more distorted audio → [MISSING CONNECTOR] → [RESULT] Listeners can hear carbon level changes
Main Point: The Coastal Futures Conservatory has created a way for people to literally hear environmental changes through audio that becomes more distorted as carbon levels rise.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from general background about the Conservatory work to a specific project example, then explains the technical mechanism, and concludes with the practical result for listeners.
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, we have a clear cause-and-effect relationship here
- The sentence before the blank explains that as carbon levels increase, the audio gets distorted
- The sentence after the blank tells us that listeners can hear the carbon level changes
- The missing transition needs to show that the second part is a direct result of the first part
- We need a logical connector that indicates as a consequence or as a result
- So the right answer should indicate that the ability to hear carbon changes is a direct consequence of the distortion mechanism described in the previous sentence
furthermore,
- Furthermore means in addition to what was just said
- This would suggest we are adding more information rather than showing a result
- Does not capture the cause-and-effect relationship between distortion and hearing changes
by comparison,
- By comparison introduces a contrast between two different things
- There is no comparison being made here - we are showing a consequence
- This connector would make the sentence logic confusing
for instance,
- For instance introduces a specific example of something general
- The listeners hearing changes is not an example - it is the direct result of the distortion
- Mischaracterizes the logical relationship between the two parts
thus,
- Thus means as a result or therefore
- Perfectly captures the cause-and-effect relationship: because audio becomes distorted as carbon increases, listeners can therefore hear the changes
- Creates the logical flow our prethinking identified: mechanism leads to result