To protect themselves when being attacked, hagfish-jawless marine animals that resemble eels-will release large quantities of slimy, mucus-like thread...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
To protect themselves when being attacked, hagfish-jawless marine animals that resemble eels-will release large quantities of slimy, mucus-like threads. Because these threads are unusually strong and elastic, scientist Atsuko Negishi and her colleagues have been trying to recreate them in a lab as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based fibers that are often used in fabrics. The researchers want to reproduce the threads in the lab because farming hagfish for their slime would be expensive and potentially harmful to the hagfish.
Which choice best states the text's main idea?
The slimy threads that hagfish release might help researchers create a new kind of fabric.
Hagfish have inspired researchers to develop a new petroleum-based fabric.
Hagfish are not well suited to being raised in captivity.
The ability of hagfish to slime their attackers compensates for their being jawless.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'To protect themselves when being attacked, hagfish—jawless marine animals that resemble eels—will release large quantities of slimy, mucus-like threads.' |
|
| 'Because these threads are unusually strong and elastic, scientist Atsuko Negishi and her colleagues have been trying to recreate them in a lab as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based fibers that are often used in fabrics.' |
|
| 'The researchers want to reproduce the threads in the lab because farming hagfish for their slime would be expensive and potentially harmful to the hagfish.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Scientists are trying to recreate hagfish slime threads in the lab to develop an eco-friendly fabric alternative.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces hagfish's defensive slime mechanism, then shifts to explain how scientists want to harness these threads' strength and elasticity for fabric development, concluding with why lab reproduction is preferable to farming the animals directly.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
- What type of answer do we need? The central message that captures the passage's primary focus
- Any limiting keywords? 'Best states' means we need the most accurate and complete representation
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- It should mention the connection between hagfish threads and fabric research
- It should capture that this is about creating new materials, not just studying hagfish
- It should reflect that the threads have potential for practical application
- The right answer should connect hagfish slime threads to fabric development research
The slimy threads that hagfish release might help researchers create a new kind of fabric.
- Captures the core connection between hagfish threads and fabric creation
- Matches our prethinking about practical application potential
- Reflects the passage's main focus on research for material development
Hagfish have inspired researchers to develop a new petroleum-based fabric.
- Says 'petroleum-based fabric' when the passage states threads are an alternative TO petroleum-based fibers
- Reverses the key environmental benefit the researchers are seeking
Hagfish are not well suited to being raised in captivity.
- Focuses only on the brief mention of farming difficulties at the end
- Misses the main point about fabric research entirely
- Trap: Students might focus on the most concrete detail rather than the overarching purpose
The ability of hagfish to slime their attackers compensates for their being jawless.
- Focuses solely on hagfish biology rather than the research application
- Makes the passage about animal adaptation instead of scientific innovation
- Trap: Students might get distracted by interesting biological details and miss the human application focus