The following text is adapted from an academic journal article about research methodology. Dr. Martinez is a senior researcher known...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from an academic journal article about research methodology. Dr. Martinez is a senior researcher known for his rigorous standards.
While Dr. Martinez regularly criticized graduate students for insufficient data collection and demanded they maintain meticulous documentation of their experimental procedures, his own recent publications revealed that he had not maintained the same level of methodological rigor in his personal research projects.
As used in the text, what does the word "maintain" most nearly mean?
Repair and keep in good condition
Continue to have and possess
Uphold and adhere to
Assert and declare as true
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "While Dr. Martinez regularly criticized graduate students for insufficient data collection and demanded they maintain meticulous documentation of their experimental procedures," |
|
| "his own recent publications revealed that he had not maintained the same level of methodological rigor in his personal research projects." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Martinez holds his students to higher methodological standards than he applies to his own research.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Dr. Martinez as someone who demands rigorous methodology from graduate students, then reveals the contradiction that his own recent work doesn't meet these same standards.
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
- Looking at our analysis, Dr. Martinez "had not maintained the same level of methodological rigor."
- In this context, we're talking about keeping up with or continuing to follow a standard of quality
- The word "maintain" here refers to sustaining or preserving a level of rigor that was expected
- The right answer should capture the idea of continuing to uphold or stick to a standard, rather than physical maintenance, ownership, or declaration
Repair and keep in good condition
✗ Incorrect
- This refers to physical maintenance like fixing or preserving objects
- The passage isn't about repairing anything physical
Continue to have and possess
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests ownership or possession of something
- The passage isn't about Dr. Martinez owning rigor
Uphold and adhere to
✓ Correct
- This captures exactly what the passage means—Dr. Martinez failed to continue following the same standards of rigor
- "Uphold and adhere to" perfectly describes maintaining a level of quality in research practices
Assert and declare as true
✗ Incorrect
- This means stating or claiming something is true
- The passage isn't about Dr. Martinez declaring anything