The restoration of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling required extraordinary precision and innovative techniques. Conservators spent years developi...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
The restoration of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling required extraordinary precision and innovative techniques. Conservators spent years developing specialized tools to remove centuries of accumulated grime without damaging the original pigments. _____ they had to master new chemical processes to stabilize areas where the paint had begun to flake away from the underlying plaster.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Therefore,
Additionally,
Nevertheless,
Subsequently,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The restoration of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling required extraordinary precision and innovative techniques." |
|
| "Conservators spent years developing specialized tools to remove centuries of accumulated grime without damaging the original pigments." |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "they had to master new chemical processes to stabilize areas where the paint had begun to flake away from the underlying plaster." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The restoration of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling was an extraordinarily complex project requiring multiple innovative approaches.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that the restoration required precision and innovation, then provides two specific examples of the challenges conservators faced and solved - developing new tools and mastering chemical processes.
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 our passage analysis, we have two separate challenges that conservators faced: developing specialized tools to remove grime, and mastering chemical processes to stabilize paint
- These are both examples of the innovation and precision required for the restoration
- The relationship between them is additive - the second sentence is adding another example of what the conservators had to do
Therefore,
Therefore
✗ Incorrect
- "Therefore" signals that what follows is a result or conclusion from what came before
- But mastering chemical processes isn't a result of developing tools - they're separate challenges
- This would incorrectly suggest a cause-and-effect relationship
Additionally,
Additionally
✓ Correct
- "Additionally" signals that we're adding another item to a list
- Perfectly captures that mastering chemical processes is another challenge alongside developing tools
- Matches our prethinking that these are two separate but related parts of the restoration work
Nevertheless,
Nevertheless
✗ Incorrect
- "Nevertheless" signals contrast or concession
- There's no contrast between developing tools and mastering chemical processes - both support the same point about the project's complexity
Subsequently,
Subsequently
✗ Incorrect
- "Subsequently" indicates time sequence
- While this work might have happened later, the passage doesn't emphasize timing - it emphasizes the variety of challenges