The following text is adapted from a research methodology guide for environmental scientists. The author describes laboratory procedures for analyzing...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from a research methodology guide for environmental scientists. The author describes laboratory procedures for analyzing soil samples collected from various field sites.
The research team initiated sample testing by examining each specimen under controlled conditions, carefully documenting initial pH readings and organic matter content. The samples, like the field sites from which they came, displayed distinct individual properties-some specimens demonstrated immediate reactivity to chemical indicators, while others required extended processing time to yield measurable results. Each sample was then placed in a standardized testing apparatus, with monitoring equipment calibrated to detect even minimal changes in composition.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It elaborates on an aspect of the soil samples that the research team evaluates.
It contrasts the efficiency of different laboratory techniques used by the research team.
It describes the range of expertise demonstrated by the scientists during testing.
It emphasizes the technological advantages of the monitoring equipment.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The research team initiated sample testing by examining each specimen under controlled conditions, carefully documenting initial pH readings and organic matter content.' |
|
| 'The samples, like the field sites from which they came, displayed distinct individual properties—some specimens demonstrated immediate reactivity to chemical indicators, while others required extended processing time to yield measurable results.' |
|
| 'Each sample was then placed in a standardized testing apparatus, with monitoring equipment calibrated to detect even minimal changes in composition.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: [TESTING INITIATION] to [SAMPLE VARIATION OBSERVED] to [STANDARDIZED PROCESSING]
Main Point: The research team follows systematic procedures to test soil samples that display varying individual properties.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from describing initial testing procedures, to explaining the variability observed among samples, to detailing the standardized apparatus used for further analysis. The focus is on methodical documentation of sample characteristics and processing.
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 underlined sentence comes right after we learn about the initial testing procedures
- It tells us that the samples showed different individual properties - some reacted quickly to indicators, others needed more processing time
- This sentence is doing the job of explaining what the research team discovered about the samples during their evaluation
- It's elaborating on a specific aspect of what they found when testing these soil specimens
- The right answer should explain that this sentence provides more detail about the soil samples' characteristics that the research team observed during their testing process
It elaborates on an aspect of the soil samples that the research team evaluates.
✓ Correct
- This matches exactly what we see - the sentence elaborates on the soil samples' properties (different reaction times)
- It directly explains an aspect that the research team evaluates during their testing
- Fits perfectly with our prethinking about the sentence's function
It contrasts the efficiency of different laboratory techniques used by the research team.
✗ Incorrect
- The sentence doesn't mention different laboratory techniques at all
- It focuses on sample properties, not methodology comparisons
- What trap this represents: Students might confuse 'different processing times' with different techniques, but the text shows the samples requiring different amounts of time, not different methods
It describes the range of expertise demonstrated by the scientists during testing.
✗ Incorrect
- The sentence says nothing about the scientists' expertise or skills
- It's entirely focused on what the samples did, not what the scientists demonstrated
- What trap this represents: Students might think 'extended processing time' reflects scientist skill, but the text shows this as a sample characteristic, not researcher capability
It emphasizes the technological advantages of the monitoring equipment.
✗ Incorrect
- The underlined sentence doesn't mention monitoring equipment at all
- Equipment is discussed in the following sentence, not the underlined one
- The underlined sentence focuses on sample properties, not technological advantages