The following text is from a historian's preface to a biography of Mary Anning, the 19th-century fossil collector.We have chosen...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is from a historian's preface to a biography of Mary Anning, the 19th-century fossil collector.
We have chosen to document the life of Mary Anning not because she possessed extraordinary personal qualities—indeed, by most accounts she was a working-class woman of modest education who lived her entire life in the small coastal town of Lyme Regis—but because her discoveries fundamentally altered scientific understanding of prehistoric life. While Anning herself remained largely unrecognized by the scientific establishment of her time, the fossils she unearthed provided crucial evidence for emerging theories of extinction and geological time. Her story, though that of someone society deemed unremarkable, reveals how transformative knowledge can emerge from the most unexpected sources.
What does the text most strongly suggest about Mary Anning's biographical significance?
Her life demonstrates that truly important scientific contributions can come from individuals who appear unremarkable, and this contradiction between her humble circumstances and profound impact is what makes her story valuable to study.
Though she was an ordinary person who made extraordinary discoveries, the scientific establishment's failure to recognize her contributions is the primary reason her story merits documentation.
Because she lived in obscurity despite making important fossil discoveries, her story must be told in a way that emphasizes how social circumstances can overshadow scientific merit.
While her discoveries were undeniably significant, the fact that she remained unrecognized by contemporary scientists suggests that her personal story is less important than her scientific contributions.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| We have chosen to document the life of Mary Anning not because she possessed extraordinary personal qualities—indeed, by most accounts she was a working-class woman of modest education who lived her entire life in the small coastal town of Lyme Regis— |
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| but because her discoveries fundamentally altered scientific understanding of prehistoric life. |
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| While Anning herself remained largely unrecognized by the scientific establishment of her time, |
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| the fossils she unearthed provided crucial evidence for emerging theories of extinction and geological time. |
|
| Her story, though that of someone society deemed unremarkable, reveals how transformative knowledge can emerge from the most unexpected sources. |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Mary Anning was chosen for biographical documentation not because of her personal qualities but because her fossil discoveries fundamentally changed scientific understanding, demonstrating how transformative knowledge can come from unexpected sources.
Argument Flow: The historian first establishes what Anning was NOT—someone with extraordinary personal qualities, just a working-class woman from a small town. Then they reveal the real reason for documenting her: her discoveries revolutionized scientific understanding of prehistoric life. They acknowledge she was not recognized by the scientific establishment, but emphasize that her fossils were crucial evidence for major theories. The passage concludes by highlighting the broader lesson: her story shows how transformative knowledge can emerge from the most unexpected sources.
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 emphasizes a clear contrast: Anning appeared ordinary and unremarkable (working-class, modest education, small town life, unrecognized by scientists) but made discoveries that fundamentally altered scientific understanding.
- The historian explicitly states they did not choose her for her personal qualities but because of this transformative impact.
- The concluding sentence drives home the key point: Her story, though that of someone society deemed unremarkable, reveals how transformative knowledge can emerge from the most unexpected sources.
- The biographical significance lies in this contradiction—someone who seemed unimportant made incredibly important contributions.
- This teaches us something valuable about where knowledge and discovery can come from.
Her life demonstrates that truly important scientific contributions can come from individuals who appear unremarkable, and this contradiction between her humble circumstances and profound impact is what makes her story valuable to study.
- Perfectly captures the passage's emphasis on the contradiction between her unremarkable appearance and profound scientific impact.
- Matches the passage's concluding point about transformative knowledge emerging from the most unexpected sources.
- Aligns with the historian's explanation that they chose her story precisely because of this contrast, not her personal qualities.
Though she was an ordinary person who made extraordinary discoveries, the scientific establishment's failure to recognize her contributions is the primary reason her story merits documentation.
- Claims the scientific establishment's failure to recognize her is the primary reason for documentation.
- The passage clearly states the primary reason is her discoveries' impact on scientific understanding, not the lack of recognition.
Because she lived in obscurity despite making important fossil discoveries, her story must be told in a way that emphasizes how social circumstances can overshadow scientific merit.
- Suggests the story must be told in a specific way to emphasize social circumstances.
- The passage does not prescribe how the story should be told or focus primarily on social barriers.
- The emphasis is on the unexpected source of knowledge, not social injustice.
While her discoveries were undeniably significant, the fact that she remained unrecognized by contemporary scientists suggests that her personal story is less important than her scientific contributions.
- Claims her personal story is less important than her scientific contributions.
- The passage actually argues the opposite—that her personal story as someone deemed unremarkable IS what makes it significant to tell.