When archaeological excavations uncover ancient manuscripts, exposure to modern atmospheric conditions often threatens these irreplaceable documents. ...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
When archaeological excavations uncover ancient manuscripts, exposure to modern atmospheric conditions often threatens these irreplaceable documents. Despite surviving underground for centuries in stable environments, historical parchments prove extremely _____ to humidity fluctuations, and even minor changes in moisture levels can cause the delicate fibers to crack, warp, or disintegrate entirely.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
vulnerable
resistant
adapted
responsive
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'When archaeological excavations uncover ancient manuscripts, exposure to modern atmospheric conditions often threatens these irreplaceable documents.' |
|
| 'Despite surviving underground for centuries in stable environments,' |
|
| 'historical parchments prove extremely ______ to humidity fluctuations,' |
|
| 'and even minor changes in moisture levels can cause the delicate fibers to crack, warp, or disintegrate entirely.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Ancient manuscripts that survived for centuries in stable underground conditions become extremely susceptible to damage from humidity changes when exposed to modern atmospheric conditions.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that archaeological discoveries expose manuscripts to modern conditions that threaten them. It then contrasts this threat with their previous survival underground, before explaining that these documents are highly affected by humidity changes, with even small moisture variations causing serious physical damage.
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 word needs to describe how historical parchments relate to humidity fluctuations
- From our analysis, we know that when exposed to humidity changes, even minor ones cause damage (cracking, warping, disintegration)
- The word appears in the phrase 'prove extremely ______ to humidity fluctuations'
- The relationship is clearly one where humidity changes cause harm to the manuscripts
- So the right answer should indicate susceptibility to damage or harm from humidity changes
vulnerable
✓ Correct
- 'Vulnerable to' means susceptible to harm or damage from something
- Perfectly captures how humidity fluctuations cause the manuscripts to crack, warp, and disintegrate
- Creates the logical flow: survived stable conditions BUT are vulnerable to humidity changes
resistant
✗ Incorrect
- 'Resistant to' means able to withstand or oppose something
- This would suggest the manuscripts can withstand humidity changes, which contradicts the evidence that they crack and disintegrate
adapted
✗ Incorrect
- 'Adapted to' means adjusted or suited to particular conditions
- This would suggest the manuscripts are well-suited to humidity fluctuations, which contradicts the damage described
responsive
✗ Incorrect
- While manuscripts do react to humidity, 'responsive' typically suggests a neutral or positive reaction
- Does not capture the harmful nature of the relationship described