The Endangered Species Act of 1973 established strict protections for threatened wildlife and their habitats across the United States. _____...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 established strict protections for threatened wildlife and their habitats across the United States. _____ many species that were on the brink of extinction, including the bald eagle and gray wolf, have made remarkable recoveries.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Nevertheless,
For example,
As a result,
In contrast,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The Endangered Species Act of 1973 established strict protections for threatened wildlife and their habitats across the United States." |
|
| "_____" |
|
| "many species that were on the brink of extinction, including the bald eagle and gray wolf, have made remarkable recoveries." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Endangered Species Act led to successful recovery of previously endangered species.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that a law created strict protections for wildlife, then presents evidence of positive outcomes for endangered species. The logical relationship between the cause (protections) and effect (recoveries) needs to be established through the missing connector.
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 first sentence tells us about a law that created strict protections for wildlife
- The second sentence tells us that many endangered species have recovered remarkably
- We need a connector that shows the logical relationship between these two ideas
- The relationship is clearly cause-and-effect: the protections led to the recoveries
- So we need a transition that signals "because of what we just mentioned" or "as a consequence of the protections"
Nevertheless,
Nevertheless, ✗ Incorrect
- "Nevertheless" signals contrast or opposition
- This would suggest the recoveries happened despite the protections, which makes no logical sense
For example,
For example, ✗ Incorrect
- "For example" introduces a specific instance of a general point
- The recoveries aren't examples of the Act itself—they're results of it
As a result,
As a result, ✓ Correct
- Shows clear cause-and-effect relationship between the Act's protections and species recoveries
- Matches our prethinking perfectly—signals that recoveries happened because of the protections
In contrast,
In contrast, ✗ Incorrect
- "In contrast" signals opposition or difference
- This would suggest the recoveries oppose or differ from the protections, which makes no logical sense