Traditional wildlife management relied on captive breeding programs to _____ endangered species, but recent conservation efforts have shifted toward h...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Traditional wildlife management relied on captive breeding programs to _____ endangered species, but recent conservation efforts have shifted toward habitat restoration as a more sustainable approach. The recovery of wolf populations in Yellowstone exemplifies this newer strategy's effectiveness.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
isolate
display
contain
preserve
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Traditional wildlife management relied on captive breeding programs to |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| endangered species, |
|
| but recent conservation efforts have shifted toward habitat restoration as a more sustainable approach. |
|
| The recovery of wolf populations in Yellowstone exemplifies this newer strategy's effectiveness. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Wildlife management has evolved from captive breeding programs to habitat restoration, with the latter proving more effective and sustainable.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the traditional captive breeding approach, then pivots to contrast it with modern habitat restoration methods, finally providing the Yellowstone wolf recovery as concrete evidence of the newer approach's success.
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
- We need a word that captures what captive breeding programs are fundamentally designed to accomplish with endangered species
- Since we're talking about wildlife management and endangered species, the programs' goal would be to protect these species from extinction
- The word should reflect a protective or saving purpose - something that aligns with conservation goals
isolate
✗ Incorrect
- Isolate suggests separating or keeping apart from others
- This doesn't capture the conservation purpose of captive breeding programs
- Wildlife management isn't about isolating species - it's about helping them survive
display
✗ Incorrect
- Display suggests showing species for viewing purposes
- While some captive breeding occurs in zoos, the primary management goal isn't exhibition
- Trap: Students might think of zoos and confuse the display aspect with the conservation mission
contain
✗ Incorrect
- Contain suggests keeping something confined or controlled
- This focuses on the physical aspect but misses the conservation purpose
- Trap: Students might focus on the captive aspect of 'captive breeding' and think containment is the goal rather than the method
preserve
✓ Correct
- Preserve means to keep safe, protect, or maintain
- This perfectly captures the conservation goal of captive breeding programs
- Matches our prethinking about protective purpose and aligns with the wildlife management context