The following text is adapted from an entrepreneurship manual. When launching her startup, Jennifer recognized that she needed to devise...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from an entrepreneurship manual. When launching her startup, Jennifer recognized that she needed to devise an entirely new marketing approach that would distinguish her product in the competitive technology sector. Her innovative strategy combined digital outreach methods that had never been implemented together in her industry.
As used in the text, what does the word "devise" most nearly mean?
Examine
Formulate
Purchase
Imitate
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The following text is adapted from an entrepreneurship manual." |
|
| "When launching her startup, Jennifer recognized that she needed to devise an entirely new marketing approach that would distinguish her product in the competitive technology sector." |
|
| "Her innovative strategy combined digital outreach methods that had never been implemented together in her industry." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Jennifer needed to create a completely new marketing strategy to make her startup stand out in the competitive technology market.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up Jennifer's business challenge, explains her recognition that she needed an original marketing approach, then describes how her solution involved combining digital methods in a way that hadn't been done before in her field.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? This is a Words in Context question asking us to choose the best meaning for "devise" as it's used in the passage.
What type of answer do we need? The answer must fit the specific context of Jennifer needing to create a marketing approach for her startup.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at the context, Jennifer "needed to devise an entirely new marketing approach."
- She's starting a company and facing a competitive market, so she needs to create or develop something original.
- The word "devise" here suggests actively creating or formulating something strategic and purposeful.
Examine
- "Examine" means to look at or study something that already exists.
- This doesn't fit because Jennifer isn't studying existing approaches - she's creating something "entirely new"
Formulate
- "Formulate" means to create or develop systematically, especially something strategic like a plan or approach.
- This perfectly matches the context - Jennifer needs to create a new marketing strategy.
Purchase
- "Purchase" means to buy something.
- This makes no sense in context - you can't buy an "entirely new" approach that doesn't exist yet.
Imitate
- "Imitate" means to copy or mimic something else.
- This contradicts the passage, which emphasizes that her approach was "entirely new" and "had never been implemented together"