The equipment from the Apollo Moon landings (1969–1972), such as radiation detectors and temperature probes, remains there to this day,...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The equipment from the Apollo Moon landings (1969–1972), such as radiation detectors and temperature probes, remains there to this day, but the data from these missions were mostly inaccessible until a recent data-transfer project made them ________. This project has allowed researcher Seiichi Nagihara to make use of the information in investigating temperature changes on the Moon.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
predictable
complicated
representative
available
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The equipment from the Apollo Moon landings (1969-1972), such as radiation detectors and temperature probes, remains there to this day' |
|
| 'but the data from these missions were mostly inaccessible' |
|
| 'until a recent data-transfer project made them ______' |
|
| 'This project has allowed researcher Seiichi Nagihara to make use of the information in investigating temperature changes on the Moon.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[BACKGROUND: Apollo equipment still on Moon] → [PROBLEM: Data mostly inaccessible] → [SOLUTION: Data-transfer project made them ______] → [RESULT: Nagihara can now use data for research]
Main Point: A recent data-transfer project solved the accessibility problem with Apollo mission data, enabling new lunar research.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a contrast between the physical persistence of Apollo equipment and the inaccessibility of its data, then shows how a recent project resolved this problem, allowing current research to proceed.
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 word in the blank must describe what the data-transfer project did to the previously inaccessible Apollo data
- Since the project enabled Nagihara to 'make use of the information,' the blank needs a word that means the opposite of 'inaccessible' - something that describes data becoming obtainable or usable for research purposes
- So the right answer should indicate that the data became accessible or obtainable for researchers to use
predictable
- 'Predictable' means following an expected pattern
- This doesn't address the accessibility issue - data can be predictable but still inaccessible
- Doesn't explain how Nagihara gained the ability to use the information
complicated
- 'Complicated' means difficult to understand or deal with
- This would make the situation worse, not better
- Contradicts the positive outcome where Nagihara successfully uses the data
representative
- 'Representative' means serving as a typical example
- Doesn't solve the accessibility problem mentioned in the passage
- Fails to explain how the project enabled Nagihara's research
available
- 'Available' means accessible and ready for use
- Creates perfect logical contrast with 'mostly inaccessible'
- Directly explains how Nagihara could then 'make use of the information'
- Matches the positive function of the data-transfer project