Traditional lecture-based teaching methods in many universities resulted in passive student engagement and poor retention of complex material. Recogni...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Traditional lecture-based teaching methods in many universities resulted in passive student engagement and poor retention of complex material. Recognizing these shortcomings in student learning outcomes, educational administrators began implementing various ______ in the 1990s, including interactive seminars, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and technology-enhanced learning environments.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
reforms
assessments
requirements
investigations
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Traditional lecture-based teaching methods in many universities resulted in passive student engagement and poor retention of complex material.' |
|
| 'Recognizing these shortcomings in student learning outcomes, educational administrators began implementing various' |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| 'in the 1990s, including interactive seminars, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and technology-enhanced learning environments.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
PROBLEM: Traditional lectures → passive students, poor retention
RECOGNITION & RESPONSE: Administrators saw problems → implemented various [MISSING WORD]
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: Interactive seminars, collaborative sessions, tech environments
Main Point: Universities recognized problems with traditional lecture methods and began implementing new approaches in the 1990s to improve student engagement.
Argument Flow: The passage identifies a problem with traditional teaching methods, then explains how administrators responded by implementing various new approaches, providing specific examples of these new methods.
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 missing word needs to describe what interactive seminars, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and technology-enhanced learning environments are, in the context of addressing problems with traditional lecture methods
- These new approaches represent changes or improvements made to fix the identified shortcomings
- The word should capture the idea that these are intentional modifications or improvements to the existing system
reforms
✓ Correct
- 'Reforms' perfectly captures what these new teaching methods represent - systematic changes made to improve the existing educational system
- Matches our prethinking exactly - these interactive and collaborative approaches are reforms designed to address the shortcomings of traditional lecture methods
assessments
✗ Incorrect
- 'Assessments' refers to evaluation methods, not teaching approaches
- The examples given are instructional methods, not ways to measure student performance
requirements
✗ Incorrect
- 'Requirements' suggests mandatory rules or standards
- The context shows administrators implementing new approaches, not creating new mandates
investigations
✗ Incorrect
- 'Investigations' means research or inquiry processes
- The examples are teaching methods being put into practice, not research studies being conducted