The following text is adapted from Dr. Sarah Chen's 2019 research paper on wetland ecosystem services. The passage discusses natural...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Dr. Sarah Chen's 2019 research paper on wetland ecosystem services. The passage discusses natural flood management systems.
Wetland ecosystems demonstrate remarkable flood management capabilities through their buffering capacity during storm events. These natural systems absorb excess precipitation and slow water flow, preventing downstream communities from experiencing severe flooding. When storm systems bring heavy rainfall to watersheds, intact wetlands can reduce peak discharge rates by up to 70%. The buffering effect becomes especially critical during hurricane seasons when coastal communities face multiple storm threats.
As used in the text, what does the word "buffering" most nearly mean?
Delaying
Moderating
Reflecting
Concentrating
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Wetland ecosystems demonstrate remarkable flood management capabilities through their buffering capacity during storm events." |
|
| "These natural systems absorb excess precipitation and slow water flow, preventing downstream communities from experiencing severe flooding." |
|
| "When storm systems bring heavy rainfall to watersheds, intact wetlands can reduce peak discharge rates by up to 70%." |
|
| "The buffering effect becomes especially critical during hurricane seasons when coastal communities face multiple storm threats." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Wetland ecosystems provide crucial flood management by buffering storm impacts through water absorption and flow control.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes wetlands as effective flood managers, explains the mechanism behind their buffering capacity, provides quantified evidence of their effectiveness, and emphasizes their importance during peak storm seasons.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The meaning of "buffering" as used in this wetland passage
What type of answer do we need? A word that captures the same meaning as "buffering" in this flood management context
Any limiting keywords? "As used in the text" - so we need the contextual meaning, not a dictionary definition
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- From our analysis, "buffering" relates to how wetlands handle storm water
- The passage shows wetlands don't completely stop flooding - they absorb excess water, slow the flow, and reduce discharge rates by up to 70%
- So "buffering" means lessening or reducing the impact rather than eliminating it completely
- The word should capture the idea of softening the blow, reducing intensity, or lessening the severity of something harmful
- The right answer should mean reducing or lessening the severity of the storm's impact
Delaying
✗ Incorrect
- "Delaying" suggests putting off the flooding until later
- The passage doesn't indicate wetlands postpone flooding - they reduce its intensity
Moderating
✓ Correct
- "Moderating" means reducing the intensity or severity of something
- Perfectly matches how wetlands lessen flood impacts through absorption and flow control
- Aligns with the 70% reduction in discharge rates - not eliminating flooding but making it more manageable
Reflecting
✗ Incorrect
- "Reflecting" means bouncing back or mirroring something
- Wetlands absorb and slow water - they don't bounce it back
Concentrating
✗ Incorrect
- "Concentrating" means gathering or intensifying something
- This is the opposite of what wetlands do - they spread out and reduce water intensity