Text 1The fossil record suggests that mammoths went extinct around 11 thousand years (kyr) ago. In a 2021 study of...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The fossil record suggests that mammoths went extinct around 11 thousand years (kyr) ago. In a 2021 study of environmental DNA (eDNA)—genetic material shed into the environment by organisms—in the Arctic, Yucheng Wang and colleagues found mammoth eDNA in sedimentary layers formed millennia later, around 4 kyr ago. To account for this discrepancy, Joshua H. Miller and Carl Simpson proposed that arctic temperatures could preserve a mammoth carcass on the surface, allowing it to leach DNA into the environment, for several thousand years.
Text 2
Wang and colleagues concede that eDNA contains DNA from both living organisms and carcasses, but for DNA to leach from remains over several millennia requires that the remains be perpetually on the surface. Scavengers and weathering in the Arctic, however, are likely to break down surface remains well before a thousand years have passed.
Which choice best describes how Text 1 and Text 2 relate to each other?
Text 1 discusses two approaches to studying mammoth extinction without advocating for either, whereas Text 2 advocates for one approach over the other.
Text 1 presents findings by Wang and colleagues and gives another research team's attempt to explain those findings, whereas Text 2 provides additional detail that calls that explanation into question.
Text 1 describes Wang and colleagues' study and a critique of their methodology, whereas Text 2 offers additional details showing that methodology to be sound.
Text 1 argues that new research has undermined the standard view of when mammoths went extinct, whereas Text 2 suggests a way to reconcile the standard view with that new research.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The fossil record suggests that mammoths went extinct around 11 thousand years (kyr) ago." |
|
| "In a 2021 study of environmental DNA (eDNA)—genetic material shed into the environment by organisms—in the Arctic, Yucheng Wang and colleagues found mammoth eDNA in sedimentary layers formed millennia later, around 4 kyr ago." |
|
| "To account for this discrepancy, Joshua H. Miller and Carl Simpson proposed that arctic temperatures could preserve a mammoth carcass on the surface, allowing it to leach DNA into the environment, for several thousand years." |
|
| "Wang and colleagues concede that eDNA contains DNA from both living organisms and carcasses, but for DNA to leach from remains over several millennia requires that the remains be perpetually on the surface." |
|
| "Scavengers and weathering in the Arctic, however, are likely to break down surface remains well before a thousand years have passed." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Text 1 presents a research puzzle and proposed solution, while Text 2 points out why that solution is problematic.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How the two texts relate to each other structurally and functionally
What type of answer do we need? A description of the relationship between the texts - whether they complement, contradict, build on each other, etc.
Any limiting keywords? None specified
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should show Text 1 offering a research finding plus explanation, with Text 2 raising doubts about that explanation.
Text 1 discusses two approaches to studying mammoth extinction without advocating for either, whereas Text 2 advocates for one approach over the other.
- Claims Text 1 discusses "two approaches to studying mammoth extinction" without advocating for either.
- Text 1 doesn't present two study approaches.
Text 1 presents findings by Wang and colleagues and gives another research team's attempt to explain those findings, whereas Text 2 provides additional detail that calls that explanation into question.
- Accurately describes Text 1 as presenting Wang's findings plus Miller/Simpson's explanation attempt.
- Correctly characterizes Text 2 as providing additional detail that questions that explanation.
Text 1 describes Wang and colleagues' study and a critique of their methodology, whereas Text 2 offers additional details showing that methodology to be sound.
- Claims Text 1 describes a "critique of methodology."
- Text 1 never critiques Wang's methods.
Text 1 argues that new research has undermined the standard view of when mammoths went extinct, whereas Text 2 suggests a way to reconcile the standard view with that new research.
- Says Text 1 "argues that new research has undermined the standard view."
- Text 1 doesn't argue this.