To explore how blinking affects social interactions, Dutch researchers observed interactions between human speakers and 'listeners' (animated human fa...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
To explore how blinking affects social interactions, Dutch researchers observed interactions between human speakers and 'listeners' (animated human faces on a screen). The researchers found that when the listeners blinked slowly, the speakers tended to talk for less time. ______ quicker blinks were associated with longer talking times.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For example,
Specifically,
Firstly,
By contrast,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "To explore how blinking affects social interactions, Dutch researchers observed interactions between human speakers and 'listeners' (animated human faces on a screen)." |
|
| "The researchers found that when the listeners blinked slowly, the speakers tended to talk for less time." |
|
| "quicker blinks were associated with longer talking times." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dutch researchers discovered that the speed of listener blinking affects how long speakers talk.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a research study, presents one finding about slow blinking, then presents a related finding about quick blinking. The relationship between these two findings needs to be clarified with the right transition.
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 analysis, we see slow blinks lead to shorter talking times, while quick blinks lead to longer talking times
- These are opposite effects - one decreases talking time, the other increases it
- We need a transition that signals this contrast between the two findings
For example,
For example
✗ Incorrect
- This would suggest that quicker blinks are an example of the slow blinking finding
- But quicker blinks have the opposite effect - they're not an example, they're a contrast
Specifically,
Specifically
✗ Incorrect
- This would suggest that quicker blinks provide more specific information about slow blinking
- But quicker blinks show a different effect entirely, not a more specific version of the same effect
Firstly,
Firstly
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests we're starting a sequence or list
- But we're not introducing the first item in a series - we're presenting a contrasting finding
By contrast,
By contrast
✓ Correct
- This perfectly signals that what follows contrasts with what came before
- Matches our analysis: slow blinks have one effect, while quick blinks have the opposite effect