The following text is adapted from a physics research paper on electromagnetic field studies.The experimental setup was designed to isolate...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from a physics research paper on electromagnetic field studies.
The experimental setup was designed to isolate electromagnetic effects from other variables. By controlling for temperature and pressure variations, the researchers could observe phenomena that were essentially electromagnetic in nature, eliminating interference from thermal or mechanical factors.
As used in the text, what does the word "essentially" most nearly mean?
Fundamentally
Approximately
Obviously
Temporarily
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The experimental setup was designed to isolate electromagnetic effects from other variables." | What it says: Setup = isolate EM effects from other vars What it does: Introduces the research design approach What it is: Context/methodology |
| "By controlling for temperature and pressure variations, the researchers could observe phenomena that were essentially electromagnetic in nature, eliminating interference from thermal or mechanical factors." | What it says: Control temp + pressure → observe phenomena = essentially EM nature, no thermal/mechanical interference What it does: Explains how the isolation method worked and what it revealed What it is: Evidence/explanation |
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Researchers designed an experimental setup that successfully isolated electromagnetic phenomena from other interfering factors.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes that the experimental design aimed to isolate electromagnetic effects. It then explains how controlling for temperature and pressure allowed researchers to observe phenomena that were purely electromagnetic in nature, free from other types of interference.
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 the context, "essentially electromagnetic in nature" appears after the researchers controlled for temperature and pressure variations
- The word "essentially" here describes the true, core nature of the phenomena once other factors were eliminated
- It's saying these phenomena are, at their fundamental core, electromagnetic rather than thermal or mechanical
- The right answer should capture this idea of "at the core" or "fundamentally" - describing what something truly is when stripped of other influences
Fundamentally
- "Fundamentally" perfectly captures the meaning in context
- The phenomena are fundamentally (at their core) electromagnetic once other factors are controlled
- Matches our prethinking about core nature
Approximately
- "Approximately" suggests an estimate or rough measurement
- Doesn't fit the context - the researchers aren't making an approximation about the nature of the phenomena
Obviously
- "Obviously" means clearly evident or apparent
- The context isn't about something being obvious - it's about the true nature of the phenomena
Temporarily
- "Temporarily" refers to something lasting for a short time
- Completely unrelated to the context about the nature of electromagnetic phenomena