Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, Charles Darwin engaged in comprehensive fieldwork. His conviction centered on thorough, methodical study of natural...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, Charles Darwin engaged in comprehensive fieldwork. His conviction centered on thorough, methodical study of natural occurrences within their native habitats. Darwin invested months in isolated areas, carefully recording the differences he witnessed among flora and fauna. He maintained a special journal exclusively for cataloging surprising discoveries. During this era, the majority of naturalists performed their studies mainly within laboratories or museums, depending on conserved samples and regulated environments. Consequently, naturalists generally concentrated on categorizing established species instead of examining behavioral tendencies. Darwin's methodology for scientific research was thus ______
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
very unusual for the period.
copied by many of Darwin's contemporaries.
familiar to naturalists who had worked in museums.
superior to modern field research methods.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, Charles Darwin engaged in comprehensive fieldwork." |
|
| "His conviction centered on thorough, methodical study of natural occurrences within their native habitats." |
|
| "Darwin invested months in isolated areas, carefully recording the differences he witnessed among flora and fauna." |
|
| "He maintained a special journal exclusively for cataloging surprising discoveries." |
|
| "During this era, the majority of naturalists performed their studies mainly within laboratories or museums, depending on conserved samples and regulated environments." |
|
| "Consequently, naturalists generally concentrated on categorizing established species instead of examining behavioral tendencies." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Darwin's hands-on fieldwork approach in natural environments contrasted sharply with the typical laboratory-based methods of his contemporary naturalists.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Darwin's fieldwork methodology, then contrasts it with how most naturalists of his era conducted research, setting up a conclusion about how Darwin's approach compared to the norm of his time.
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 passage sets up a clear contrast between Darwin's fieldwork approach and what "the majority of naturalists" did during the same era
- Darwin worked in natural habitats for months, recording discoveries, while most others worked in labs and museums with preserved specimens
- The word "thus" tells us we need to draw a logical conclusion from this comparison
- The right answer should characterize Darwin's methodology as different from or uncommon compared to the standard practices of naturalists in the 1830s and 1840s
very unusual for the period.
✓ Correct
- Directly captures the contrast established in the passage
- "Very unusual for the period" aligns perfectly with the evidence that "the majority of naturalists" did something completely different
copied by many of Darwin's contemporaries.
✗ Incorrect
- Contradicts the passage's clear statement that "the majority of naturalists" worked differently
- The passage shows Darwin's approach was uncommon, not widely copied
familiar to naturalists who had worked in museums.
✗ Incorrect
- Contradicts the passage by suggesting Darwin's methods would be familiar to museum-based naturalists
- The passage explicitly contrasts Darwin's field approach with museum work
- Trap: Students might think "familiar" is supported because the passage mentions museums, missing that Darwin's approach was the opposite of museum work
superior to modern field research methods.
✗ Incorrect
- Makes a comparison to "modern field research methods" that the passage never addresses
- The passage only compares Darwin to his contemporaries, not to modern methods